Gathered on the occasion of the Africa Forward Summit segment dedicated to peace and security issues on 12 May 2026 in Nairobi;
Considering that global instability, challenges to multilateral ism and international law and intensifying competition between powers threaten peace, security and sustainable development in Africa;
The French and Kenyan Co-Presidents as well as the participating Heads of State and Government reaffirm the following principles:
- They recall their conviction that an effective and inclusive multilateralism, based on international law and the Charter of the United Nations, and expressed by the African Union and African sub-regional organizations at the continental level, are constitutive of a lasting state of peace.
- They defend a renewed global governance, capable of responding to the challenges of the 21st century. They recognize the urgent need for a comprehensive reform of the UN Security Council to make it more effective and representative, in line with the objectives of the Common African Position, including the Ezulwini Consensus and the Sirte Declaration, and reaffirm their determination to work together to this end.
- They affirm that the responsible use of the veto helps to strengthen the credibility and moral authority of the UN Security Council, and call upon the permanent members of the Security Council to refrain from using the veto in case of mass atrocities, when crimes of genocide, crimes against humanity and war crimes on a large scale are committed.
- They support African peace operations and call for the implementation of UN Security Council Resolution 2719, without prejudice to the primacy of the Security Council, to ensure its operationalization and adequate, predictable and sustainable funding.
- They support the capacity building of African armies while respecting the principle of sovereignty, and the African peace and security architecture on which the stability of the continent is based.
- They reject external interferences which undermine the quest to realize the aspirations of the AU Agenda 2063, and the privatization of security, in line with the relevant OAU/AU statutes on the elimination of mercenarism in Africa.
- They reaffirm that Africans must remain the main stakeholders in mediations on the crises that affect them and recall the centrality of the African Union, Regional
Economic Communities and Regional Mechanisms (RMs) to offer an inclusive mediation platform and build a lasting peace.
- They reaffirm the primacy of negotiated political solutions based on respect for international law, sovereignty and territorial integrity of States, for the settlement of crises. They reaffirm their commitment to respect international humanitarian law in armed conflicts affecting the region and call on all states to join the global initiative to revitalize political commitment to international humanitarian law.
- They express their deep concern about the continuing threat of terrorism and violent extremism on the continent and our solidarity with the people who are victims of it. They underline the importance of a comprehensive approach, combining security measures and political, social and economic responses to sustainably address these phenomena.
- They recall that in the face of crises, humanitarian aid remains essential to respond to emergencies and protect the most vulnerable populations, inclusive mediations make it possible to restore dialogue, prevent the escalation of tensions and promote durable solutions and financing for development is a key lever to sustainably address the root causes and strengthen resilience.
- They call for the strengthening of institutional capacities and collective security mechanisms to address ongoing conflicts in Sudan, South Sudan, the Great Lakes region, Somalia and the Sahel region through the cessation of hostilities, inclusive dialogue, counter-terrorism, capacity building and regional stabilization.
- They underline the link between security and inclusive economic growth, youth empowerment, education, climate resilience and diaspora engagement.
