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African Peace and Security Annual Conference (APSACO) - 8th Edition : Mediation in African Internal Conflicts

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10
2:00 pm June 2024

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11
6:00 pm June 2024
Add to Calendar 2024-06-10 14:00:00 2024-06-11 18:00:00 African Peace and Security Annual Conference (APSACO) - 8th Edition : Mediation in African Internal Conflicts Description Location Policy Center Policy Center Africa/Casablanca public

APSACO

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The persistent conflict hotspots in Africa, ranging from West Africa's Sahel to the Horn of Africa, continue to pose challenges despite efforts from various African, regional, and international bodies. These conflicts often stem from internal political transitions, escalating into civil wars or crises. The emergence of armed rebellions, terrorist networks, and mercenaries further exacerbates regional instability.
 
Mediation efforts by actors such as the African Union (AU), in alignment with UN standards but drawing from African traditions, aim to resolve conflicts. However, civil society's role in mediation remains inadequate, and the governance of mediation faces political and institutional hurdles due to leadership fragmentation and divergent national interests within the AU.
 
To enhance mediation, cooperation between the AU and Regional Economic Communities (RECs) is crucial, guided by the principle of subsidiarity. Involving civilian actors in negotiations and implementing peace agreements could improve their effectiveness. Additionally, the strategic partnership between the UN and AU needs better leveraging of their respective strengths to maximize their impact in conflict resolution.
 

Monday, June 10th, 2024

14:00 – 14:30

Registration & Welcome Coffee

14:30 – 14:45

Introductory Remarks

Karim El Aynaoui, Executive President, Policy Center for the New South (Morocco)

Rachid El Houdaigui, Senior Fellow, Policy Center for the New South (Morocco)

15:15 – 16:30

Panel 1:  Mechanisms and Approaches to Mediation in Internal Conflicts

This panel will explore innovative strategies and specific mediation mechanisms for internal conflicts in Africa, seeking to understand and resolve complex challenges. Emphasis will be placed on solutions tailored to the African context and on promoting sustainable peace, drawing on the achievements and limitations of institutional mechanisms, and ongoing or completed mediation processes. What are the institutional and political challenges confronting mediation in Africa? How can the effectiveness of African actors in mediation be improved? What are some new African mediation practices?

Moderator:

Mohammed Loulichki, Senior Fellow, Policy Center for the New South (Morocco)

Speakers:

Jean-Hervé Jezequel, Project Director, International Crisis Group (France)

Ajay Sethi, Senior Advisor, Ceasefire and security arrangements, Mediation Support Unit, United Nations (India)

Lassina Zerbo, Former Prime Minister of Burkina Faso (Burkina Faso)

Shawn Holtz, Deputy Director of AFRICOM/J5 (USA)

17:00 – 18:15

Panel 2:  Innovation for Better Coordination of Local, National, Regional, and International Processes

This panel calls for reflections on the innovations needed to strengthen coordination between local, national, regional, and UN levels, aiming to enhance the effectiveness of mediation processes. The objective is to develop more integrated approaches for more effective, coordinated, and non-competitive conflict management. What avenues exist for better integrating AU, REC, and UN mediation approaches? How can traditional norms be consolidated in the mediation process? What synergies can be found between AU leadership, REC primacy, the utility of civil society, and the sovereignty of conflict-affected states?

Moderator:

Sara Hasnaa Mokaddem, Manager - Strategic Monitoring & Analysis Unit, Policy Center for the New South (Morocco)

Speakers:

Nejat Abdulrahman Issa, Senior Program Officer, Counter Terrorism Capacity Building, IGAD

Loredana Teodorescu, Head of the Mediterranean Women Mediators Network (Italy)

Paul-Simon Handy, Senior Advisor, Institute for Security Studies (South Africa)

Tuesday, June 11th, 2024

10:00 – 11:15

Panel 3:  Regional Perspectives on Internal Crises in the Sahelo-Saharan Region

The panel aims to gain a nuanced understanding of the challenges hindering mediation efforts in countries undergoing internal challenges and facing a transition period, such as Mali, Niger, and Burkina Faso. It seeks to identify the conditions and options conducive to fostering peace and stability in the Sahel. By examining crises in the region, the panel will explore valuable lessons and effective mediation strategies that are aimed at preventing its fragmentation. Furthermore, it will assess the roles of both regional and international actors in supporting these efforts and ensuring their success and sustainability. What lessons can be learned from crises in the Sahel? What mediation strategies are in place and proposed to ensure a smooth transition to constitutional rule?

Moderator:

Rida Lyammouri, Senior Fellow, Policy Center for the New South (Morocco)

Speakers:

Babacar Gaye, Former Head of the United Nations Integrated Peacebuilding Office for the Central African Republic (BINUCA) (Senegal)

Issaka Ouedraogo, Director, Sahel Politica (Burkina Faso)

Bakary Sambe, Chairman, Executive Director, Timbuktu Institute (Senegal)

11:45 – 13:00

Panel 4:  African Civil Society and Strengthening Ceasefires

This panel will explore the crucial role of African civil society in ceasefire processes, focusing on its proactive role in peacebuilding and conflict resolution. Participants will discuss the value of inclusive peace processes at different stages of ceasefire negotiations and implementation. What formal means can boost the participation of political parties, NGOs, women, and young people in ceasefire and peace negotiation processes?

Moderator:

Kidane Kiros, Senior Fellow, Policy Center for the New South (Ethiopia)

Speakers:

Saïd Abass Ahamed, Director, Thinking Africa (Comoros)

Oumar Ba, Associate Expert, Les Afriques dans le monde (Sénégal)

Judith van den Boogert, Mediator and Dialogue Facilitator in Social and Conflict Transformation, Independent (Netherlands)

Mohamed Jeghllaly, Mediation Advisor, HD Centre (Morocco)

14:30 – 15:45

Panel 5:   Valuing African Skills and Expertise for a Common Mediation Approach

This panel will highlight African skills and expertise in mediation, aiming to develop a common and collaborative approach. Emphasis will be placed on enhancing and valuing regional skills to strengthen mediation capacities in Africa. Concrete recommendations for a training program could emerge from this panel, to be further developed among the AU, RECs, and think tanks. Why and how should the African knowledge community (think tanks, research centers, universities) strengthen and pool their knowledge and training capacities in mediation?

Moderator:

Nouzha Chekrouni, Senior Fellow, Policy Center for the New South (Morocco)

Speakers:

Ibrahim Abusheriah, Professor, Sebha University (Libya)

David Anetey Akrong, Deputy Commandant, The Kofi Annan International Peacekeeping Training Center – KAIPTC (Ghana)

Ahmed Mahmoud Dahan, Director, IMES (Mauritania)

Amine Ghoulidi, Visiting Fellow, Heritage Foundation (USA)

16:15 – 17:30

Report Presentation – Annual Report on the African Geopolitics

Moderator:

Mohamed Brick, Program Officer, Policy Center for the New South (Morocco)

Speakers:

Abdou Cissé, Journalist, APA News (Senegal)

Imen Chaanbi, Founder, 5WE Consulting Services & Business Solutions Co (Tunisia)

Discussants:

Enrico Castello, Analyst, NATO Strategic Direction South-Hub (Italy)

17:30 – 17:45

Closing Remarks