On 12 July the AU convened the 4th Policy Session of the African Union’s Inter-Regional Knowledge Exchange (I-RECKE) on Early Warning and Conflict Prevention in Malabo, held on the margins of the 7th Mid-Year Coordination Meeting between the AU, Regional Economic Communities and Regional Mechanisms (RECs/RMs). I-RECKE, launched in 2022, aims to foster collaboration between the AUC (African Union Commission), RECs, and RMs in enhancing early warning systems and preventive diplomacy.

The session was co-chaired by the Executive Secretary of the Intergovernmental Authority on Development, Dr. Workneh Gebeyehu, and the Commissioner for the African Union Department of Political Affairs, Peace and Security, Ambassador Bankole Adeoye, with participation from key regional organizations.

Opening remarks, including by Ambassador Rebecca Amuge Otengo, Permanent Representative of Uganda to the African Union, in her capacity as Chairperson of the Peace and Security Council for July 2025, emphasized the complex global context shaped by political instability, environmental degradation and social challenges. Commissioner Bankole Adeoye outlined four strategic priorities, namely: (i) addressing structural governance challenges; (ii) enhancing institutional and technological capacity; (iii) ensuring sustainable and predictable financing; and (iv) integrating climate change considerations into governance and policy responses.

In his contribution, SRSG Parfait Onanga-Anyanga emphasized the importance of strengthening governance and the rule of law, calling for greater transparency, accountability, and institutional capacity to address grievances fairly. He also advocated for integrating climate indicators into early warning systems, commending IGAD’s climate-informed tools in border areas and urging their expansion across the continent.