President Abdel Fattah El-Sisi on Sunday announced the launch of the 6th edition of the African Union’s Post-Conflict Reconstruction and Development Month.
Sisi, the African Union (AU) Champion for Post-Conflict Reconstruction and Development, announced the sixth annual commemoration under the theme “Twenty Years of Building and Sustaining Peace: From Policy to Implementation,” according to a presidential statement.
For the first time, the commemoration will run for an entire month, November 1-30, marking a milestone in joint African action.
Sisi stressed that post-conflict reconstruction and development are not merely humanitarian or economic activities, but an integral part of Africa’s peace and security framework.
The are closely linked to efforts to achieve peace, security and development, which constitute essential and complementary pillars in addressing the root causes of vulnerability in societies emerging from conflict or experiencing instability, he said.
The commemoration of the 20th anniversary of the adoption of the African Union’s Post-Conflict Reconstruction and Development Policy coincides with preparations for the 25th anniversary of the African Union’s establishment, which will be celebrated in 2027, Sisi added.
The Egyptian leader described the occasion as an opportunity to reaffirm the importance of joint African action and boost solidarity on the continent’s issues, particularly efforts to promote peace, security and stability, as well as post-conflict reconstruction and development.
Sisi called for using the anniversary to review achievements, identify shortcomings and renew commitments to translating these efforts into tangible programmes and projects on the ground.
The president commended the efforts by the African Union Commission and the AU’s Cairo-based Post-Conflict Reconstruction and Development Centre in supporting national institutions and building capacities across the continent.
He stressed the need to step up these efforts and increase funding for relevant programmes and projects, while prioritising initiatives that deliver rapid and direct benefits to citizens.
Sisi reaffirmed Egypt’s commitment to continuing its efforts in this regard, including hosting the sixth edition of the Aswan Forum for Sustainable Peace and Development in Aswan at the end of November.
The forum will serve as an integrated platform to enhance the links between peace, security and development.
This reflects Egypt’s vision for advancing reconstruction and development efforts and developing the tools needed to implement the reconstruction policy effectively and in a way that better responds to the actual and immediate needs of African communities.
The president emphasised that reconstruction efforts should be based on national priorities and the actual needs of communities, with a view to addressing the root causes of conflicts.
He also highlighted the importance of effective co-ordination among various partners and stakeholders, particularly young people and women, as well as the private sector, which he described as a key partner in economic and development recovery.
The private sector is also a driver of growth through its capacity to attract investment, stimulate production, create jobs and develop infrastructure, he noted.
Concluding the statement, Sisi vowed to carry on working tirelessly alongside African leaders, the AU Commission, regional stakeholders, and international partners to turn current security challenges into opportunities for stability, peace, and sustainable development, and to achieve the goals of Africa’s Agenda 2063.
