From 24-26 October, the Special Representative of the United Nations Secretary-General to the African Union and Head of UNOAU, Mr. Parfait Onanga-Anyanga, participated in the 11th Edition of the Tana Forum on Security in Africa, held under the theme “Africa in an Evolving Global Order.” The Forum served as a platform for dialogue on Africa’s position and agency in an increasingly complex international landscape.

In his remarks during the panel discussion “Situating Africa in an Emerging Multipolar Global (Dis)Order,” SRSG Onanga-Anyanga cautioned that structural imbalances in the global system are being met with short-term responses to long-term challenges. He stressed the need for sustained investment in human capital, science, and knowledge, and for transforming Africa’s natural resources to create greater value and shared prosperity. He further emphasized the importance of bridging the gap between policy and practice to strengthen Africa’s influence in the emerging multipolar order.

Opening the Forum, H.E. Gedion Timothewos, Minister of Foreign Affairs of Ethiopia, and H.E. Lassina Zerbo, former Prime Minister of Burkina Faso, highlighted the Tana Forum’s vital role in addressing Africa’s regional and global challenges. They underscored the opportunity to build a new Pax Africana grounded in inclusivity, innovation, and African frameworks such as the African Peace and Security Architecture (APSA), the African Governance Architecture (AGA), and the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA).

In his keynote address, H.E. Mahmoud Ali Youssouf, Chairperson of the African Union Commission, called for Africa to move from discourse to action, emphasizing that “words alone are no longer sufficient.” He urged the development of concrete initiatives to respond to the continent’s evolving peace and security landscape.

A High-Level Panel on African Ownership and Agency in Global Uncertainties also featured former Presidents Joyce Banda and Joaquim Chissano, and Minister Gedion Timothewos, who emphasized adaptive and inclusive leadership. They highlighted the role of women and youth in shaping Africa’s future, calling for stronger mechanisms such as FemWise-Africa and greater investment in science, technology, and innovation.

The discussions reaffirmed Africa’s determination to play a proactive role in shaping global governance and to leverage collective leadership for peace, prosperity, and sustainable development.