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.
