Presidential Statement by President El-Sisi on the Occasion of the 4th Edition of PCRD Week

alhadath – cairo

It gives me great pleasure, as the African Union Champion for the Post-Conflict Reconstruction and Development dossier, to announce the launch of the 4th edition of the African Union Week for Awareness of Post-Conflict Reconstruction and Development. This year’s edition will take place from November 18-24, 2024. It will be held under the theme “Joint Strategies and Pathways for the Effective Implementation of the African Union Policy on Post-Conflict Reconstruction and Development”.

The multiple and simultaneous security and development challenges facing our African continent make it incumbent upon us to address the root-causes of conflicts; build the capacities of national, regional, and continental institutions that foster the ability of our countries to withstand and confront the complex internal and external challenges; and strive to reach sustainable peaceful solutions to the existing crises. This shall contribute to building and sustaining peace and prevent societies from sliding back into cycles of violence and conflict, while strengthening and activating the connection between peace, security, and development. These are the topics we discussed thoroughly, among others, during the fourth edition of the ‘Aswan Forum for Sustainable Peace and Development,’ which was held in Cairo last July. The forum also saw the launch of several initiatives that reinforce Africa’s ownership of efforts in peace, security, and development. The most prominent of these initiatives were the establishment of the ‘African Network for the Prevention of Violent Extremism Conducive to Terrorism,’ and the announcement of the ‘Aswan Forum Prize for Reconstruction and Development’, which aims to celebrate and encourage successful models and projects in peacebuilding across the African continent.

The success of our efforts to build and sustain peace has necessitated the development of a comprehensive and coherent strategic African approach to conflict prevention, peacebuilding, and sustaining peace. This approach integrates national, regional, and continental efforts. This was achieved through the updating and development of the African Union’s Policy on Post-Conflict Reconstruction and Development, which was endorsed by the African leaders at the last African Union Summit, in February 2024.

Our focus now shifts to the activation and implementation of the new policy. We will begin by promoting and raising awareness through the activities of this year’s Reconstruction Week. We will also develop guidelines for the implementation of the revised policy. Furthermore, the African Union’s Center for Post-Conflict Reconstruction and Development will start operations from its Cairo headquarters to develop initiatives and projects that seek to provide support to post-conflict and transitional states, serving as the African Union’s executive arm in peacebuilding. Finally, we will coordinate and work closely with partners and mobilize the necessary financing and resources to implement these projects.

I would like to commend the efforts of the African Union Commission in supporting the implementation of reconstruction and peacebuilding activities across the continent. As the champion of this dossier, I reaffirm my personal commitment to continue working tirelessly in coordination with my fellow African leaders, the African Union Commission, regional stakeholders, and international partners to respond to the legitimate aspirations of the peoples of our continent and achieve the goals of Africa’s “Agenda 2063”.