ACCRA, Ghana – In a decisive push toward continental stability, the African Union High Representative for Silencing the Guns, Dr. Mohamed Ibn Chambas, has called for an urgent alliance between traditional rulers, faith leaders, and judicial authorities to eliminate conflict across Africa.
Speaking at a two-day Inaugural African Union Continental Dialogue with Traditional, Interfaith, and Judicial Leaders in Accra on Tuesday, June 16, Dr. Chambas emphasized that a united front is the only way to transform peace rhetorical commitments into visible grassroots action.
Shifting from Dialogue to Action
Addressing delegates in Accra, the seasoned diplomat urged stakeholders to move away from symbolic declarations and establish concrete systems of governance and transparency.
“Let this gathering in Accra be remembered not only for its significance, but for its impact,” Dr. Chambas stated, urging a decisive shift from intent to implementation. He noted that the combined authority of cultural heritage, religious guidance, and formal legal structures forms an unbreakable framework capable of resolving the continent’s most stubborn divisions.
Five Pillars for a Conflict-Free Africa
The AU envoy outlined a comprehensive roadmap for sustainable peace, built upon five foundational pillars:
• Embracing Diversity: Transitioning from ethnic and political fragmentation to utilizing cultural differences as a source of continental strength.
• Impartial Justice: Expanding formal and customary legal networks to guarantee fair, accessible, and unbiased conflict resolution.
• Faith-Driven Cohesion: Leveraging the moral authority of religious institutions to promote reconciliation and counter violent extremism.
• Traditional Governance: Engaging customary leaders as frontline mediators to prevent communal tensions before they escalate.
• Accountable Leadership: Reforming administrative governance to prioritize public service and transparency, directly tackling the socioeconomic root causes of war.
The dialogue brought together faith leaders, traditional leaders, youth activists, members of the Judiciary and media as well as national institutions civil, society organisations working to promote peace in Africa.
Target 2030: The Road Ahead
The Accra dialogue marks a vital operational step for the AU Silencing the Guns Initiative, a flagship project of Agenda 2063 aimed at ending all wars, civil conflicts, and gender-based violence across Africa.
Following an extension of the original 2020 timeline by the AU Assembly, the continent is working under a strict deadline to achieve a weapon-free status by 2030. By integrating formal judiciary systems with trusted community and religious leaders, the African Union aims to accelerate weapon disposal, boost local ownership of peace processes, and secure development for future generations.
