African Union Commission (AUC) Chairperson had a meeting with Brig. Paul Kahuria Njema, Director General of the Eastern Africa Standby Force (EASF) Secretariat.
The Chairperson of the AU Commission H.E. Mahmoud Ali Youssouf, had a meeting with Brig. Paul Kahuria Njema, Director General of the Eastern Africa Standby Force (EASF) Secretariat this morning.
Their discussions focused on the peace&security landscape in Eastern DRC, Sudan, Somalia,&the Gulf of Aden. They reaffirmed the imperative of a sustained, coordinated approach to conflict resolution&the importance of securing sustainable&predictable funding for African-led peace support operations.
Distributed by APO Group on behalf of African Union (AU).
Hashtags

Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles

Zawya
17 hours ago
- Zawya
Africa: Unlocking the Power of Women and building strong movement for Peace in the Sahel
Since the outbreak of crises in Libya in 2012, then in Mali and the entire central Sahel, as well as the proliferation of Boko Haram in the countries of the Lake Chad Basin, the Sahel region has been facing enormous security challenges that are aggravated by political, geopolitical, socio-economic, and environmental factors. The deterioration of the security situation is aggravated by highly porous borders, attacks by non-state armed groups as well as inter-community conflicts that have had and continue to have negative impacts on communities and force millions of people to be displaced. But also this situation has generated a major crisis of governance and lack of confidence in the governments of the affected countries having led to a wave of coups d'état and political transitions in : Mali, Niger and Burkina Faso and Chad. The crisis in the Sahel prevails in a context where women were already subject to several forms of violence and discrimination underpinned by socio-cultural barriers deeply rooted in tradition. Against this backdrop, women are actively working for peace. They have organized themselves into associations at local, national, and regional levels to influence peace and to advocate for the advancement of their rights. But their efforts face several challenges, mainly organizational and lack of funding. It is in this context that UN Women has developed and is implementing since 2023 a program aimed at strengthening the capacities of women's organizations for peace in the Sahel. Funded by the Government of Netherlands, the program plans to support 103 organizations applying a comprehensive approach combining institutional, technical and advocacy support and partnership. Building on the commitments of UNSCR 1325, 2024 marked a pivotal shift toward strengthening local women's organizations and positioning them as key actors for inclusive peace. At the core of the initiative, lies a powerful bet on grassroots transformation. A total of 103 women-led peace organizations received tailored support spanning institutional diagnostics, technical training, coaching, and access to equipment. Twelve organizations now operate from fully equipped, staffed offices, and five have successfully mobilized new funding based on project proposals developed with the program's guidance. Fifteen organizations began designing income-generating initiatives to secure independent funding streams. 'The project transformed our structure. We revised our policies, gained visibility, and secured international funding.' – Young women leader, APSJ Mauritania Beyond capacity building, the program invested in coalition building and advocacy. A mapping of peace-focused women's organizations was completed in all five countries, laying the foundation for connected national networks and an emerging regional alliance. Virtual convenings and a digital platform piloted in Mali are facilitating knowledge exchange and cross-border solidarity. The 103 organizations are now informally networked across countries, forming the backbone of a regional movement of women peacebuilders in the Sahel. A cohort of 170 women leaders across the five countries received in-depth training in advocacy strategy, messaging, and influence. Women's organizations developed national advocacy plans with concrete actions, strategic targets, and implementation roadmaps. The execution of those plans has already begun through targeted lobbying and partner engagement. So many successful advocacy initiatives have been conducted. For example, a National Women's Dialogue was organized in Niger after the July 2023 coup, uniting 44 women's groups to define priorities for inclusive transition. Those priorities were presented to the government and some of them considered in the transition roadmap. In all the five countries, women hold quarterly citizen dialogues to reflect on solutions for durable peace and their inclusion in peace processes. With a dedicated visual identity 'Sahel Women's Leadership for Peace" the initiative rolled out communications campaigns targeted millions of people across all countries. Public debates, radio programs, and digital storytelling amplified the voices and priorities of women peacebuilders, while increasing public awareness of the WPS agenda. With this innovative approach, UNWOMEN is catalyzing deep shifts in the peace infrastructure of the region. From grassroots organizations gaining legitimacy and funding, to regional coalitions taking shape and national advocacy plans being rolled out, women are now repositioned as peace leaders. The initiative is not just building capacity, it is reshaping systems. And as these women organize, influence, and lead, they are redefining what inclusive peace looks like in some of the region's most fragile contexts. Even though the region is still in crisis, there is hope that this women's movement will contribute to the stabilization of the region. Distributed by APO Group on behalf of UN Women - Africa.

Zawya
18 hours ago
- Zawya
African Union Commission (AUC) Chairperson received H.E. Charles Karamba, Ambassador of the Republic of Rwanda to Ethiopiaa
The Chairperson of the AU Commission, H.E. Mahmoud Ali Youssouf, received H.E. Charles Karamba, Ambassador of the Republic of Rwanda to Ethiopia&Permanent Representative to the African Union. They exchanged views on regional peace and security, with a focus on the situations in the Democratic Republic of Congo, South Sudan, and Somalia. The Chairperson welcomed the collaborative efforts of the EAC and SADC in de-escalating tensions in Eastern DRC and acknowledged progress towards a peace agreement. The Chairperson&Amb. Karamba reaffirmed their commitment to advancing the implementation of the South Sudan peace agreement. On peacekeeping on the continent, they underscored the importance of sustainable peacekeeping financing, with UNSC Resolution 2719 providing a key framework for predictable support. Ambassador Karamba expressed appreciation for the Chairperson's early visit to Kigali and reiterated Rwanda's continued support for his leadership. Distributed by APO Group on behalf of African Union (AU).


The National
19 hours ago
- The National
Israel-Iran conflict delivers double hit to airlines on security fears and fuel costs
Israel's attack on Iran is the latest in a series of global conflicts that are ratcheting airlines' security concerns, while weighing on their operations and profitability. An increasing number of conflict zones around the world means airlines are forced to take longer and costlier routes – impacting fuel, emissions and passengers. For passengers, this means flight cancellations and delays or longer journeys as jets are diverted away from conflict areas. Airlines are grappling with more airspace closures, threats from missiles or drones and GPS jamming. Israel's attack on Friday is part of a broader trend of escalating geopolitical tensions that are 'directly impacting global aviation', following the situations in Ukraine and the Red Sea, according to independent security, aviation, maritime and energy analyst Dean Mikkelsen. 'We're witnessing a growing patchwork of restricted airspace and this is putting considerable pressure on airlines and passengers alike,' he told The National. For travellers, the most immediate impact will be on fares as aviation disruption results in longer flight times due to rerouting. In this case, routes need to be adapted around Iranian, Syrian and at times even Iraqi airspace, Mr Mikkelsen said. Fuel consumption is expected to rise significantly. Jet fuel already makes up around 30 per cent of an airline's operating costs and that burden only grows when 30 to 90 minutes of extra flight time is needed. Mr Mikkelsen estimates that routes from Asia to Europe or the Gulf to North America could translate to a 7 per cent to 15 per cent increase in fares, particularly on long-haul itineraries, especially as the peak summer season approaches. Other knock-on effects are those on crew hours, insurance premiums and scheduling complexity, all of which erode profitability, he noted. 'Carriers already operating on tight post-pandemic margins will feel this sharply,' he added. The Israel-Iran conflict throws the region's aviation industry into question, especially with the uncertainty about how long the hostility will last. Airspaces should always remain neutral and accessible when it is safe to do so, according to the International Air Travel Association. Closures, in addition to using them in retaliatory ways, 'fragment global connectivity, disrupt operations and hurt passengers and economies', the Geneva-based Iata said. Conflict zones substantially add to the disruption risks: in 2024, geopolitical conflicts led to significant airspace restrictions, affecting a substantial portion of long-haul routes, according to Iata data. For instance, the Russia-Ukraine conflict, now in its fourth year, forced the rerouting of about 1,100 daily flights, leading to longer flight times and increased operational challenges, it said. Fuel and emissions have also surged. Detours around conflict zones can lead to an average fuel consumption increase of 13 per cent on affected routes, Iata added. When British Airways had to suspend flights to Beijing because it needed to avoid Russian airspace, the flight time was almost three hours longer and fuel costs increased by a fifth. In October 2024 alone, multiple flights encountered Iranian missiles aimed at Israel, leading to diversions and emergency manoeuvres, Iata said. The effect that conflict zones have on airspaces is also reflected in the shift of activity to other areas. For instance, countries like Egypt, with many rerouted flights passing through its airspace, would result in increased overflight fees and greater regional air traffic. 'The Cairo Flight Information Region is becoming a crucial alternative corridor, alongside Jordan and Saudi Arabia,' Mr Mikkelsen said. Airlines across the region have delayed and cancelled flights following Israel's early morning attack on Iran. Ben Gurion Airport in Tel Aviv has shut down until further notice, Iran has declared its airspace closed and Iraq has temporarily suspended civilian operations at all its airports. In the UAE, Etihad Airways cancelled its services to and from Tel Aviv, as Israel placed its air defence systems on high alert in anticipation of possible retaliation. Other major airlines, including Emirates, Lufthansa and Air India, rerouted services mid-flight on Friday. An Emirates flight from Manchester was diverted to Istanbul, while an Air India flight from New York to Delhi was diverted to Sharjah.