President John Dramani Mahama has said convening the Extraordinary Session of the African Union (AU) is both timely and necessary as the continent continues to face persistent and evolving conflicts.
He says despite the comprehensive mechanisms established under the continental peace and security architecture, conflicts continue to fester across the continent.
Speaking at the 21st Extraordinary Session of Heads of State of the African Union in Luanda, Angola, on Sunday, August 30, 2026, he said: “Convening this summit is both timely and necessary. Africa continues to face persistent and evolving conflict despite the comprehensive mechanisms established under our continental peace and security architecture.”
He said the continent’s task is to ensure that existing mechanisms are effectively implemented, better coordinated and adequately resourced. “Our task thus far is to ensure that these mechanisms are effectively implemented, better coordinated, and adequately resourced,” he added.
According to him, his country, Ghana, believes conflict prevention must be embedded within the broader development agenda, stressing that the continent cannot separate peace from development, as underdevelopment, inequality and exclusion remain root drivers of instability.
“Ghana believes that conflict prevention must be embedded within our broader development agenda. Early warning systems should not only identify imminent threats, but also enable us to detect and address underlying grievances,” he noted.
He said early warning must translate into early action, and that such action is only possible when political will is matched with resources and coordination.
Luanda Action Plan
President Mahama said Ghana welcomes and endorses the Luanda Action Plan, its implementation matrix and accompanying Decision, as well as the African Union Trigger Model.
He described the Action Plan and Trigger Model as critical tools to move the AU from reactive responses to proactive prevention.
The primary focus of the summit is to consider and adopt a comprehensive Decision, Action Plan and Implementation Matrix on Conflict Prevention and Resolution.
The Action Plan seeks to improve coordination, responsiveness and financing of both the African Peace and Security Architecture (APSA) and the African Governance Architecture (AGA).
The gathering of Heads of State takes place against a backdrop of complex and mounting security challenges across the continent, including in Sudan, Eastern DRC, the Sahel Region, the Horn of Africa, and Mozambique.
President Mahama and fellow Heads of State are expected to forge actionable strategies during the Session to bolster regional stability and reinforce the continent’s collective capacity for peacebuilding.
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