Zambia Calls for Stronger Conflict Prevention in Africa

President Hakainde Hichilema has called for stronger mechanisms to prevent and resolve conflicts across Africa, stressing that greater attention must be given to stopping conflicts before they erupt.

The President made the call in a statement delivered on his behalf by Zambia's Ambassador to Angola, Elias Munshya, at the 26th Extraordinary Session of the Executive Council of the African Union in Luanda.

President Hichilema said conflict prevention should sit at the very centre of Africa's peace and security agenda, arguing that preventing instability before it begins is more effective, more humane and far less costly than rebuilding communities and countries in its aftermath.

He welcomed the growing role of the African Union Peace Fund, which has disbursed about 31 million United States dollars towards peace and security interventions across the continent, and urged continued investment in early warning and response, preventive diplomacy, mediation, peace-building and peace support operations.

The President also praised the implementation of the African Union Peace Fund Mobilisation Strategy for 2025 to 2026, saying it was strengthening African ownership of the continent's peace and security priorities. He noted that international and regional partnerships remained valuable, but should complement rather than replace Africa's own responsibility for its security.

President Hichilema reaffirmed Zambia's commitment to multilateralism, preventive diplomacy, the peaceful resolution of disputes and collective security under the African Union and the United Nations Charter, according to a statement issued to ZNBC News by the Zambian Embassy in Angola.