The AU Commission and the German Federal Foreign Office held a Strategic Dialogue on Foreign and Security Policy in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, last week.
The meeting reviewed the longstanding partnership between the AU and Germany and identified priority areas for deeper cooperation in governance, peace and security.
AU Commissioner for Political Affairs, Peace and Security Bankole Adeoye led discussions with German Federal Foreign Office State Secretary Géza Andreas von Geyr.
The two sides reaffirmed a shared commitment to multilateralism, African-led peace and security solutions, and efforts to promote sustainable peace, stability and prosperity.
Adeoye expressed appreciation for Germany’s continued political and technical support to the AU across several areas, including border governance, mediation, preventive diplomacy, cybersecurity, artificial intelligence (AI) and institutional capacity-building.
Von Geyr reiterated Germany’s support for stronger African representation in international platforms, including the United Nations Security Council.
The discussions also covered the changing global geopolitical environment, including the consequences of the war involving Iran and the wider region, as well as the need for a diplomatic solution. The two sides also exchanged views on Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.
On Africa’s peace and security landscape, the dialogue focused on Sudan, the Horn of Africa, the Great Lakes region and the Sahel.
The AU and Germany stressed the importance of African ownership and coordinated international support for African-led peace efforts. The two sides also reaffirmed support for the AU Support and Stabilization Mission in Somalia.
They further underlined the need to address the growing threat of terrorism and other transnational security challenges affecting the continent.
The meeting also explored new areas for cooperation, including responsible AI governance, cybersecurity, mediation, peacebuilding, multilateral election observation and preventive diplomacy.
Both sides agreed to maintain close consultations on regional and global issues of shared concern. They also committed to strengthening practical cooperation in conflict prevention, mediation, peacebuilding and democratic governance.
The dialogue concluded with an agreement to institutionalise the AU-Germany Strategic Dialogue on Foreign and Security Policy as an annual platform.
Germany invited the AU Commission to Berlin in 2027 for the next session of the dialogue, which is expected to continue efforts to advance bilateral cooperation, strengthen multilateral action and support peace, security and prosperity across Africa.
–AU/ChannelAfrica–
