AYV News, July 5, 2024

The Executive Secretary of the Independent Commission for Peace   and National Cohesion, Hawa Sally Samai has given a talk at the 4th Edition of the Aswan Forum for Sustainable Peace and Development “Africa in a Changing World: Re-envisioning Global Governance for Peace and Development “thematic session on “Rebuilding Hope: Advancing Post-Conflict Reconstruction and Development in Africa, held in Cairo Egypt.

Madam Samai’s  talk focused on lessons from the  work of the Peace Commission, how it  can help inform the implementation  of the  Africa Union Post- Conflict Reconstruction and Development (PCRD) policy as well as  how lessons  from Sierra Leone’s post-conflict experience can be applied to support other African  states navigate  their own  post-conflict trajectories towards lasting peace  and  stability.

The session which was moderated by the Executive Secretary for African Union Centre for Post -conflict Reconstruction and Development, Libakiso Matlho, also had as panellists, Dagmawit Moges Bekele of the Peace Fund Secretariat of the African Union, Jean Van Wetter, CEO Enable; the Belgian Development Agency, Yero Baldeh of the African Development bank, Habib Ur Rehman Mayar, Deputy secretary general, G7+, Yuko Dohi of JICA, and Solomon A Dersso, Founding Director Amani Africa.

Her participation in the Aswan Forum was based on the recognition of Sierra Leone being   an example of a successful post-conflict transition, exceeding the predictions of the international community; a success attributed to several factors, with one of the major contributors being the political will and commitment of parties to the peace process.

Moreover, the establishment of the ICPNC with the mandate to prevent, manage and resolve conflicts and maintain sustainable peace.

The Commission’s work especially its pre and post elections activities, which led to the dialogue between the government and the main opposition and the subsequent signing of the Agreement for National unity has been widely acclaimed.

The Peace Commission Executive  Secretary  also participated  in a  breakfast round-table held by the ASWAN Forum, the African Peer Review Mechanism APRM and the African Union aimed   taking  stock of efforts   by the African Union  and RECs  towards implementing the  Country Structural Vulnerability Assessment (CSVRAs) and Country Structural  Vulnerability Mitigation Strategies(CSVMS) in African Countries, bringing forward lessons learnt and persistent  challenges.

It also highlighted the role of different stakeholders including youths and women in conflict preventing as well as strengthening national resilience

Her presentation focused on strategies   that are most effective in preventing conflicts before they escalate, and how the inclusion of women and local actors can enhance the effectiveness of these conflict prevention methods. She also shared insights on how the Peace Commission and similar organizations can better leverage early warning systems to maintain peace and cohesion.

Others participants in the  Breakfast roundtable include; CEO  of the African Peer Review  Mechanism  Continental Secretariat, H.E Marie-Antoinette Rose Quatre, UN Assistant Secretary General for Peace building  Support, Department of Political and Peacebuilding Affairs (DAAP)  H.E  Elizabeth  Spehar, Ambassador William Azumah Awinador-Kanyirige, Senior  Governance and Peacebuilding Advisor of the Commission  for Political Affairs,  Peace  and Security, African Union and Dr Paul-Simon Handy  Regional Director  for East Africa  and Representative  to the AU Institute for Security Studies.

The Executive Secretary also took part in the “Through Her Eyes – Women’s Experiences across the Conflict Cycle “Panel Discussion organized in partnership with UN Women at the ongoing Aswan Forum.

Her presentation featured mechanisms and  processes put in place by ICPNC to leverage  the positive  role of women throughout its domains of  work,  the key contributions  of women in the efforts  of commission  aimed  at promoting  and maintaining  sustainable peace  and the lessons that can be drawn  from the  Sierra Leonean experience  that bare resonance to  other countries experiencing  ongoing conflicts or  emerging   from them.

She was joined by  the Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Democratic Republic of Congo Therese Kayiwamba,  Chair of FEMWISE  Africa  and Chair of Africa Panel of the Wise Effie Owuor, Regional Director of the Arab States ad interim, UN Women , Miez Doraid  and  Founder and President  of Women   In International Security, Horn of Africa  Fauziya Abdi.