The forum, themed “Africa in a Changing World: Re-envisioning Global Governance for Peace and Development,” is part of Egypt’s commitment to supporting African cooperation, the Egyptian Ministry of Foreign Affairs said in a statement on Monday.
The forum is being held at a critical time when the continent and the world are witnessing escalating armed conflicts, increasing disruptions, and growing terrorism threats, said Director-General of the Cairo International Centre for Conflict Resolution, Peacekeeping, and Peacebuilding (CCCPA) Ambassador Ahmed Abdel-Latif.
It is also running in parallel to severe humanitarian crises that undermine peace and stability, he added.
These challenges highlight the urgent need to rethink the multilateral work system, taking into consideration African concerns and perspectives, particularly within the framework of the UN Summit of the Future to be held in September, Abdel-Latif noted.
The Summit of the Future will unite leaders from across the globe to foster cooperation on critical challenges, tackle gaps in global governance, and move towards a reinvigorated multilateral system that positively impacts people’s lives.
The Aswan forum aims to contribute to shaping specific African visions through constructive dialogue and the exchange of experiences and lessons learned, Abdel-Latif stated.
He added that this will help develop comprehensive responses to address the interconnected and complex challenges facing the continent, in line with Africa’s Agenda 2063 and the UN 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development.
The discussions will address African priorities, including achieving peace and security in a changing world, and embracing integrated solutions to support the relationship between peace, security, and development.
Furthermore, the forum will address advancing peacebuilding efforts and preventing the outbreak of conflicts by tackling their root causes, highlighting states' role in building resilient institutions to achieve sustainable peace in the Sahel and Horn of Africa regions.
It will also emphasize the importance of education for peacebuilding, with education being the year 2024 theme of the African Union.
The Aswan forum will underline the pivotal role of youth and women in peace and security efforts, discuss enhancing post-conflict reconstruction and development, and explore future partnerships with the continent.
Additionally, the African perspective on the climate, peace, and security agenda will be discussed.
Egypt launched the Aswan forum during its chairmanship of the African Union in 2019 to provide a platform for addressing challenges and risks to peace, security, and development in Africa.
The forum brings together active stakeholders from governments, international and regional organizations, the private sector, and civil society, proposing comprehensive and innovative approaches to address African challenges in collaboration with international partners.
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