AU PSC Summit in New York : Algeria Supports Efforts to Reposition the AU and Revitalize Its Central Role
Algerian Foreign Minister Ahmed Attaf stressed on Wednesday in New York the need for an effective African diplomatic vision on the ground, reaffirming Algeria’s full support for African Union (AU) Commission Chairperson Mahmoud Ali Youssouf in his efforts to reposition the AU and revitalize its central role.
Speaking at the AU Peace and Security Council Summit on “Revitalizing Efforts for Conflict Prevention and Resolution in Africa,” held on the sidelines of the UN General Assembly, Attaf warned that Africa is facing unprecedented instability stretching from the Sahel to the Horn of Africa, the Great Lakes region, and parts of North Africa.
He highlighted the alarming surge in terrorism, noting a 400% increase in attacks and a 237% rise in related deaths over the past decade. Today, Africa accounts for nearly 63% of all terrorism-related deaths worldwide, with the Sahel alone registering over half.
Attaf lamented that despite escalating threats, Africa’s continental diplomatic response has weakened, leaving a dangerous vacuum as international interest and peacekeeping efforts in Africa decline. He called for urgent reforms of the African Peace and Security Architecture (APSA), stressing that its early warning system and standby force remain inactive.
The minister underscored that the AU’s unique strength lies in diplomacy and mediation, not military operations, recalling that its Peace Fund was created to support such initiatives. He argued that when military action becomes necessary, UN financing should fully cover AU-led peace operations, as it does in other regions. Concluding, Attaf urged member states to assume their responsibility, strengthen mechanisms, and commit resources, describing the session as “a call for serious measures in favor of African solutions to African problems.”
