Nigeria Urges AU to Embrace Innovative Financing for Peace, Reduce External Dependence
Oru Leonard
LUANDA, Angola — Nigeria has called on the African Union (AU) to adopt innovative and sustainable financing mechanisms to strengthen the continent’s capacity to prevent and resolve conflicts while reducing its dependence on external funding.
Minister of Foreign Affairs, Ambassador Bianca Odumegwu-Ojukwu, made the call on Saturday at the 26th Extraordinary Session of the Executive Council of the African Union in Luanda, Angola, held under the theme, “Strengthening Mechanisms for Conflict Prevention and Resolution in Africa.”
The minister commended progress in strengthening the AU Peace Fund, disclosing that member states had collectively contributed about $350.2 million, representing 87.5 per cent of the original $400 million capitalisation target.
She added that the balance of the Peace Fund had exceeded $405 million, while about $39 million had been disbursed for mediation, preventive diplomacy, peace support operations and other interventions.
Odumegwu-Ojukwu urged AU member states to fulfil their assessed contributions and make additional voluntary contributions where possible, describing such funding not simply as obligations but as investments in Africa’s collective security and sovereignty.
She stressed that African-led peace operations required predictable and reliable financing to cover personnel, logistics, equipment and other operational requirements.
According to her, uncertain funding could undermine the effectiveness of peace and security interventions across the continent.
The minister called for a gradual shift from dependence on external assistance towards greater African self-reliance, while acknowledging the continuing importance of international partners in supporting peace and security initiatives.
She maintained that external assistance should complement, rather than replace, African ownership of the continent’s peace and security agenda.
Odumegwu-Ojukwu also advocated the progressive capitalisation of the AU Peace Fund towards its $1 billion target, alongside stronger resource mobilisation from African financial institutions, the private sector and strategic partners.
She further called for the full implementation of the 0.2 per cent levy under the Kigali Financing Decision, urging the African Union Commission to explore additional innovative financing mechanisms capable of generating predictable, long-term revenue.
As part of the proposals, the minister suggested that member states could voluntarily provide strategically located land for development by capable private-sector entities and African multilateral financial institutions.
She explained that mutually agreed arrangements could generate annual royalties for the AU while simultaneously encouraging investment, infrastructure development and stronger partnerships among African institutions and businesses.
The minister, however, stressed that innovative financing mechanisms must be underpinned by transparency, accountability, sound financial management and effective oversight.
She said Africa possesses the institutions, financial capacity and political vision required to assume greater responsibility for its own peace and security, adding that the missing ingredient was the collective political will to translate those capabilities into concrete action.
Odumegwu-Ojukwu reaffirmed Nigeria’s commitment to supporting collective African efforts, stressing that a peaceful and secure continent remained essential to achieving the objectives of Agenda 2063 and building an integrated, prosperous and peaceful Africa.
She urged member states to transform the AU Peace Fund from an institution merely endorsed by governments into one genuinely owned, financed and sustained by Africans.
“Let us demonstrate through our contributions that African peace is an African responsibility,” she said.
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(MFA Press)
