African Peace and Security Annual Conference (APSACO) - 9th Edition

The Policy Center for the New South will host the 9th edition of the African Peace and Security Annual Conference (APSACO) on June 19–20, 2025. A conference fostering debate on peace and security in Africa, APSACO convenes policymakers, academics, civil society representatives and practitioners to engage in discussions on the continent’s strategic positioning in global affairs. This year’s edition will explore the theme: “Africa Amid Global Uncertainties.”

The shifting international order—marked by intensifying great power rivalries, evolving security threats, and geopolitical realignments—presents Africa with both challenges and opportunities. The continent, long a focal point of geopolitical competition, is now an increasingly assertive actor in shaping global governance, security frameworks, and economic strategies. However, the fragmentation of global power, the rise of hybrid conflicts, and the persistence of structural vulnerabilities necessitate a recalibrated African approach to international affairs.

This conference will examine Africa’s Agency in navigating these global transformations. Discussions will explore the continent’s response to shifting U.S. policies, the competition for influence among emerging and traditional powers, and Africa’s strategic imperatives in an increasingly multipolar world. The resilience of African peace and security mechanisms, the effectiveness of its defense policies, and the ability to frame an independent intellectual and geopolitical narrative will be central to the debate.

Beyond diagnosis, APSACO 2025 aims to foster discussions on how Africa can reinforce its strategic resilience, strengthen governance and security institutions, and reposition itself in an evolving global order. The urgency of an African response lies not in passive adaptation, but in the assertion of a proactive and cohesive vision for the continent’s future.