{"id":254692,"date":"2026-10-08T18:00:00","date_gmt":"2026-10-08T18:00:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/foreignaffairs.gov.ng\/news\/?p=254692"},"modified":"2026-10-08T21:59:32","modified_gmt":"2026-10-08T21:59:32","slug":"ambassador-bianca-odumegwu-ojukwu-delivers-opening-remark-at-the-consultative-forum-on-strengthening-the-au-peace-and-security-architecture","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/foreignaffairs.gov.ng\/news\/ambassador-bianca-odumegwu-ojukwu-delivers-opening-remark-at-the-consultative-forum-on-strengthening-the-au-peace-and-security-architecture\/","title":{"rendered":"AMB. BIANCA ODUMEGWU-OJUKWU DELIVERS OPENING REMARK AT THE CONSULTATIVE FORUM ON STRENGTHENING THE A…"},"content":{"rendered":"

The Honourable Minister of Foreign Affairs, Ambassador Bianca Odumegwu-Ojukwu participated at a two-day Consultative Forum on Strengthening the Functional Performance of the African Union Peace and Security Architecture, held at Muhammadu Buhari Conference Center, Abuja, where she delivered the opening remark. The Minister\u2019s address set a sobering tone, outlining critical challenges to African peace and security while proposing concrete, action-oriented solutions.<\/span><\/p>\n

Her Excellency situated the Forum within the framework of the African Union\u2019s Decision 967 of February 2026, which mandates the AU Commission Chairperson to provide recommendations for strengthening the peace and security architecture by January 2027. She noted that the Forum built on previous efforts, such as the High-Level Panel of Eminent Africans in Nairobi, September 2025. She highlighted four key objectives of the Forum: mediation and preventive diplomacy, early warning and response, counter-terrorism, and peace support operations.<\/span><\/p>\n

The Minister presented a stark assessment of the current security landscape, highlighting several critical issues, including:<\/span><\/p>\n