Dr. Workneh Champions Unity for African Peace at AU Summit

“The African continent’s path to lasting peace and stability must be rooted in regional unity and cooperation.”

This was the central message from H.E. Dr. Workneh Gebeyehu, Executive Secretary of the Intergovernmental Authority on Development (IGAD) https://igad.int/, during the 47th Ordinary Session of the Executive Council of the African Union (AU) in Malabo.

As Chair of the Inter-Regional Economic Communities (Inter-REC) Coordination Platform, Dr. Workneh reinforced IGAD’s commitment to peace, unity, and integration across Africa.

His remarks came at a critical time. Conflicts in Sudan and growing tensions in Kenya continue to disrupt progress toward the continent’s development goals.

“Peace is not the absence of war; it is the presence of justice, opportunity, and cooperation,” he said. He emphasized that Africa must focus not only on crisis response, but also on building long-term systems that prevent conflict before it begins.

Stronger Regional Collaboration for a Safer Future

IGAD, which consists of eight East African countries, has led successful peace efforts in places like South Sudan and Somalia.

At the summit, Dr. Workneh urged regional economic communities (RECs) across Africa to strengthen collaboration and act with one voice. According to him, only through unity can Africa achieve lasting peace.

Foreign ministers and senior diplomats attended the Malabo session to review progress on the AU’s development and security agenda.

Dr. Workneh reminded them that development cannot happen without peace. Cross-border trade, infrastructure growth, and regional partnerships rely on stability.

He also praised the AU’s 2025 theme: “Justice for Africans and People of African Descent Through Reparations.”

He stressed that reparative justice should go beyond historical injustices to address the root causes of modern-day conflicts like exclusion, marginalization, and inequality.

Dr. Workneh Champions Unity for African Peace at AU Summit

Putting Communities at the Center of Peacebuilding

Under Dr. Workneh’s leadership, IGAD has shifted its focus to people-centered peacebuilding. In 2024, the organization organized community peace dialogues in border areas and launched peace caravans to promote reconciliation among pastoralist communities.

He highlighted that peace must grow from the ground up. “Peace is not just negotiated in boardrooms,” he said. “It must be built in the hearts of people especially youth and women who too often remain excluded from formal processes.”

IGAD also plans to expand partnerships with the AU and other regional blocs. These collaborations will support stronger early warning systems, conflict prevention tools, and peacekeeping coordination.

As the summit concluded, leaders widely agreed: Africa’s future depends on unity. That unity must extend beyond nations to include communities and institutions. Dr. Workneh delivered a clear message

Africa cannot afford division. Only a united, peaceful continent will unlock its full potential.

By leading through example, IGAD is helping transform the African Union’s vision of “silencing the guns” into a concrete, lasting reality.