AFRICA DIALOGUE SERIES 2020
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AFRICA DIALOGUE SERIES 2020
A global platform focusing on current and emerging African issues
and promoting high-level advocacy for Africa’s peace, security and
development
Concept Note
The United Nations Office of the Special Adviser on Africa
(OSAA) and Partners
20 – 22 May 2020
THEME:
COVID-19 AND SILENCING THE GUNS IN AFRICA: CHALLENGES AND
OPPORTUNITIESI CONTEXT
In recent decades, Africa has registered important progress on many fronts. Some of the
fastest-growing economies in the world have been in Africa. Collectively, African
countries have made major strides in advancing economic integration across the continent,
seeking African solutions to Africa’s problems and upholding their common interests at
the global level. However, significant challenges remain. A majority of African countries
is not on track to achieve the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) by 2030. Pervasive
poverty, inequality, lack of good governance, corruption, and human rights violations
remain major factors inhibiting progress, as are the numerous armed conflicts and the lack
of political stability in a number of countries and regions.
A significant proportion of conflicts in Africa are driven by internal political struggles for
power and influence that often assume or are given an ethnic dimension. Periods of political
succession, national elections, and similar moments of vulnerability carry with them some
of the greatest dangers. Furthermore, a number of African countries are still grappling with
issues of national and transnational identities. The failure to respond effectively to the
challenges of national cohesion, and to create economic opportunities for a growing youth
population has led to protests in multiple countries across the continent. Terrorism, violent
extremism, human trafficking and transnational organized crimes, which often exploit
marginalized and disaffected individuals and groups, are increasingly destabilizing the
continent. A number of unresolved inter-state and territorial and maritime disputes remain
a source of tension and potential conflict. Conflicts can also arise as a result of the struggle
for control and access to natural resources, which often also invites deleterious external
interference.
In addition, many African countries continue to face natural disasters, caused by climate
change, locust infestation and similar phenomena that not only destabilize communities
but also lead to the diversion of scarce resources away from development priorities. The
situation has become significantly more challenging with the advent of COVID-19, which
was declared a pandemic by the World Health Organization on 11 March 2020.
The complexity of these overlapping challenges makes it evident that silencing the guns in
Africa requires a multi-pronged, multi-sectoral effort that aims to address in a holistic
manner the closely interlinked issues of peace, security, development, governance, human
rights and humanitarian response. A holistic approach is also central to the realization of
one African market through the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA), the
flagship development initiative on the continent. In this spirit, African leaders have taken
concrete steps towards addressing the scourge of conflicts on the continent and, in the more
immediate sense, the serious threat posed by the COVID-19 crisis and its ramifications.
While the relatively late arrival of the virus in Africa has arguably given the continent the
time to better understand the nature of the pandemic and to prepare for it, African countries’
2weak health care institutions and resource limitations place them at a very high
disadvantage in the fight against the virus. COVID-19 could have a massive impact on
peace and security, development, human rights but, above all on the lives and livelihoods
of ordinary people, particularly the poor and the most vulnerable. Many lives will be lost
before the pandemic is brought under control. All this will inevitably erode the
development gains Africa made over the years, and could also put at risk some of the hard-
won progress in addressing conflicts and maintaining peace and security on the continent.
It is in the light of these highly consequential and rapidly changing realities, both in Africa
and globally, that the African Union’s declared theme of the year- “Silencing the Guns:
Creating a conducive environment for development”, and the implementation of the AU
Lusaka Roadmap on Practical Steps to Silence the Guns in Africa, need to be looked at and
given priority.
II ONGOING EFFORTS BY THE AFRICAN UNION TO SILENCE THE GUNS IN
AFRICA BY 2020 AND THE FIGHT AGAINST COVID-19
African countries have given recognition to the serious negative impact of conflict on their
socio-economic development and have acted to resolve and prevent conflicts around the
continent, pledging in 2013 to “silence the guns” in Africa by 2020. 1
In January 2017, the AU Assembly endorsed the “AU Master Roadmap of Practical Steps
to Silence the Guns in Africa by year 2020”. Finally, in February 2020, the 33rd AU Summit
adopted "Silencing the Guns: Creating Conducive Conditions for Africa's Development"
as the AU theme for the year.
African countries have shown leadership individually and collectively in their response to
the COVID-19 crisis. The AU has established an Africa Taskforce for Coronavirus
(AFTCOR) to develop a unified continent-wide strategy; sectoral strategies to combat the
virus and its impact are being developed. Individually, African Member States are taking
1
On the occasion of the OAU/AU 50th Anniversary in May 2013, the Heads of State and Government expressed their
“…determination to achieve the goal of a conflict-free Africa, to make peace a reality for all our people and to rid
the continent of wars, civil conflicts, human rights violations, humanitarian disasters and violent conflicts, and to
prevent genocide.” They pledged “not to bequeath the burden of conflicts to the next generation of Africans and
undertake to end all wars in Africa by 2020”.
In 2016, the AU Peace and Security Council (PSC) developed an AU Master Roadmap of Practical Steps to Silence
the Guns in Africa by Year 2020 (AUMR), which was endorsed by the AU Assembly in January 2017. The AUMR
is composed of five aspects, namely Political Aspect; Economic Aspect; Social Aspect; Environmental Aspect; and
Legal Aspect. Under each Aspect, the practical steps to be taken are elaborated.
3a number of robust measures to contain the spread of the virus and mitigate the pandemic’s
socio-economic impact.
The impact of the COVID-19 pandemic will no doubt be far-reaching. While it may be
seen as a further obstacle not only to the achievement of Africa’s efforts to silence the guns
but also to the implementation of the joint AU-UN Frameworks on peace and security and
on development, it should also be examined for the opportunities it creates for advancing
the cause of peace and stability in Africa. The pandemic is a menace to humanity as a
whole. It does not distinguish and discriminate on any of the grounds that divide humanity
and fuel its conflicts. It is a common enemy against which the entire human family must
unite. In order to put all the necessary resources and energy toward fighting COVID-19, it
will be imperative to adhere to the call made by the UN Secretary-General on 23 March
for a complete and total ceasefire of all conflicts around the world, including in Africa,
which was echoed by the Chairperson of the AU Commission on 27 March calling on all
belligerents to stop fighting. This would alleviate the tremendous pressure on Africa’s
vulnerable healthcare systems by releasing scarce resources from pressing security needs
for reallocation to the fight against the pandemic, strengthening the healthcare
infrastructure and investments in socio-economic recovery efforts. This call for a ceasefire
will also concretize the AU’s theme for the year to silence the guns in Africa.
The United Nations stands on Africa’s side in its fight against the COVID-19 crisis and to
advance the twin objectives of silencing the guns on the continent and building resilience
through up-to-date health care systems to secure the lives of all Africans.
It is against this background that the United Nations Office of the Special Adviser on Africa
(OSAA), in close collaboration with the African Union, the United Nations Economic
Commission for Africa, United Nations Department of Political and Peacebuilding Affairs,
United Nations Department of Peace Operations, the United Nations Department of Global
Communications, and UN-Women will be organizing the 2020 Africa Dialogue Series.
The overall goal is to enhance global advocacy in support of the AU Master Roadmap and
the UN Security Council Resolution 2457 (2019) on Silencing the Guns in Africa, and the
Secretary-General’s Appeal for a Global Ceasefire, particularly in light of the COVID-19
health crisis.
III OBJECTIVES
The African Dialogue Series 2020 will seek to:
a) amplify the AU’s call to Silence the Guns in Africa and the call by the UN Secretary-
General for a Global Ceasefire within the context of the fight against the COVID-19
pandemic;
b) raise greater political awareness about the AU Master Roadmap of Practical Steps to
Silence the Guns in Africa (AUMR); and mobilize non-state actors, especially, women,
4youth, faith-based organizations, academia and the African Diaspora around the
implementation of the AUMR;
c) advocate for political and diplomatic support from the international community to
African efforts to silence the guns, in line with the UN Security Council resolution
2457(2019) of 27 February 2019;
d) reinforce the call for the structural transformation and diversification of African
economies including through the AfCFTA to create a more robust, resilient, prosperous
and peaceful Africa.
e) identify aspects in which COVID-19 could negatively impact the Silencing the Guns
agenda and mobilize international support to help mitigate the negative effects;
f) join calls by the African Union for debt relief, deferred interest payments, and a
stimulus package for Africa, in light of the COVID-19 pandemic; and advocate for
ensuring such support effectively targets the most vulnerable;
g) support and advocate for the OECD’s call for a global Marshall plan by the G20, as
well as the development of a Heavily Indebted Poor Countries Initiative (HIPIC) “on
steroids” for developing and low-income countries by the IMF and the WB.
IV EXPECTED OUTCOMES
The expected outcomes of the Africa Dialogue Series 2020 are:
a) A declaration of support for the call by the UN Secretary-General for a Global Ceasefire,
in particular in Africa, in line with the AU theme to silence the guns in Africa by the
end of this year;
b) An appeal for a coordinated global support for African countries, through a
comprehensive stimulus package for Africa, in light of the COVID-19 pandemic;
c) Solidifying international cooperation to help accelerate progress towards the realization
of silencing the guns initiative in Africa by 2020;
d) Advocacy for stronger support for the African Center for Disease Control and
Prevention;
e) Increased awareness of the AU Master Roadmap of Practical Steps to Silence the Guns
in Africa (AUMR) by year 2020, and progress in its implementation;
f) Strengthen UN mechanisms of support for the implementation of APSA, through the
UN’s Task Force on Silencing the Guns, the Interdepartmental Task Force on African
Affairs (IDTFAA), the RCM-Africa, and through the implementation of the UN
Programme of Action to Prevent, Combat and Eradicate the Illicit Trade in Small Arms
and Light Weapons in All Its Aspects.
g) Concrete and action-oriented recommendations of UN coherent support on the key
issues emanating from the discussions, particularly on UN support to the African Union
in the implementation of the 2020 vision to silence the guns in Africa, particularly in
the context of the COVID-19 pandemic.
V FORMAT
The 2020 African Dialogue Series will be conducted virtually in plenary sessions, panel
discussions and roundtables over three days. The ADS will facilitate a rich and incisive discussion
5around some of the key aspects of the AU Master Roadmap endorsed by AU Member States in
January 2017, inter alia:
1. Political:
Enhance structural conflict prevention, [including by]: the development of effective
response capacities to early warning; and building capacity and infrastructures for peace
of Member States.
Strengthen preventive diplomacy, [including through:] training of mediators (including
women) for immediate deployment and; expediting the establishment of the Mediation
Support Unit in the AUC.
[Address] illicit flow of arms/weapon into Africa, [including through:] identifying and
cutting links with suppliers and recipients of illicit arms, including imposing bans, in line
with the Arms Trade Treaty.
Strengthen institutional capacity to undertake post-conflict stabilization, peacebuilding
and reconstruction; and for the prevention and combating of terrorism and violent
extremism.
Holding of regular dialogue between the AU Peace and Security Council and the UN
Security Council on conflict prevention, management and resolution at all levels, and on
other strategic issues of prime importance and interest to Africa.
Implement Assembly decisions for revitalizing the AU Peace Fund; and consider options
for UN Support to AU Peace Support Operations authorized by the UN Security Council.
2. Economic:
Economic diversification through value addition to natural resources and labour intensive
industrialization and enhance private sector research and development.
Create a platform for youth engagement to harness youth ideas on Agenda 2063 and
Silencing the Guns in Africa by 2020.
Create conducive environment and provide incentives for investment to ensure creation
of decent jobs for the youth and women.
3. Social:
Dismantle the nexus between corruption/illicit financing/ purchase of weapons/ drugs, etc
and eradicate safe havens for recruiting and harbouring irregular migrants, clandestine
goods and trafficked persons.
Establish a funding mechanism for the Africa Centres for Disease Control (Africa CDC)
to ensure their continued operation, including through: raising public awareness in terms
of preventive measures.
Promote restorative justice for sexual and domestic violence offences.
4. Environmental:
Reduce vulnerabilities of livelihoods to climate change through building resilience
systems.
Support implementation of the AU Kigali Action Plan on water and sanitation in Africa.
65. Legal:
Elaborate legal regimes to combat illicit financial flows including providing for an
information sharing system between and among national financial intelligence units.
VI PARTICIPATION
As a broad forum for a wide range of stakeholders, including policy and decision makers,
researchers and advocacy groups, the ADS will bring together member states, UN
entities, international and regional organizations, civil society and academic institutions.
VII DATE AND VENUE
20-22 May 2020, Virtually from United Nations Headquarters, New York.
There will not be any interpretation services.
VIII CONTACT PERSONS
Ben Idrissa Ouedraogo
Economic Affairs Officer
Office of the Special Adviser on Africa (OSAA)
Tel: +1 (917) 367 3068
Email: ouedraogob@un.org
Albert Padros
Political Affairs Officer
Departments of Political and Peacebuilding Affairs and Peace Operations (DPPA-DPO)
Tel: +1 (212) 963 5086
Email: padros@un.org
Kingsley Ighobor
Department of Global Communications (DGC)
Tel: +1 (917) 367 4802
Email: ighobor@un.org
Isatou Gaye
Chief of NEPAD Support Section (UNECA)
Email: gaye.uneca@un.org
Ayoup Zaid Elrashdi
African Union Permanent Observer Mission to the UN
Email: ElrashdiAZ@africa-union.org
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