New York. Tanzania’s Minister for Foreign Affairs and East African Cooperation, Ambassador Mahmoud Thabiti Kombo, represented President Samia Suluhu Hassan at the 1303rd meeting of the African Union (AU) Peace and Security Council (PSC), held on September 24, 2025 in New York.
In his address, Mr Kombo reaffirmed Tanzania’s commitment to working with development partners in safeguarding peace and resolving conflicts through diplomatic means.
He said African leaders recognise progress made in strengthening peace and security mechanisms, particularly through the implementation of the African Peace and Security Architecture and the Governance Architecture.
“These efforts have facilitated the establishment of platforms for knowledge-sharing among AU member states, thereby strengthening solidarity and collective determination to ensure lasting peace in Africa,” Mr Kombo noted.
He recalled that in 2013, as Africa marked the 50th anniversary of the AU, the continent committed to end wars by 2020 through the “Silencing the Guns” initiative. However, the timeline has since been extended to 2030 to allow Africa to pursue its shared vision of permanent peace.
For his part, the Chairperson of the AU Peace and Security Council, Angolan President João Lourenço, urged member states to intensify efforts to prevent and resolve conflicts across the continent in order to enhance peace and development.
“If decisive action is not taken now, these conflicts will continue to undermine peace and stability, while frustrating the implementation of AU decisions and frameworks under Agenda 2063 and the UN Sustainable Development Goals,” he cautioned.
Mr Lourenço emphasised the importance of scaling up financial contributions to the revitalised AU Peace Fund and collaborating with the United Nations in implementing Security Council Resolution 2719 to secure sustainable resources for peace efforts in Africa.
Agenda 2063, launched in 2013 to coincide with the AU’s golden jubilee, sets out a long-term vision for inclusive growth, peace, unity, and prosperity in Africa by 2063.
Established in 2004, the AU Peace and Security Council is tasked with preventing conflicts, responding to emerging crises, and pursuing lasting solutions to ensure peace, stability, and sustainable development across Africa.
The New York meeting, held on the sidelines of the 80th UN General Assembly, was attended by PSC member states, the AU Commission, and the United Nations under the theme: “Revitalising Efforts to Prevent and Resolve Conflicts in Africa.”
