Egypt hosted a high-level ministerial event on African leadership, national prevention, and peacebuilding in New York on Friday, September 25, 2026. The event was organized in partnership with Kenya, the African Union, and the United Nations Office for Building and Sustaining Peace. Egyptian Foreign Minister Dr. Badr Abdelatty participated in the event, which took place on the sidelines of the United Nations General Assembly. The event aimed to promote African leadership and national ownership in peacebuilding efforts.
During the event, Dr. Abdelatty emphasized the importance of national ownership and leadership in achieving sustainable peace. He noted that the 2025 review of the peacebuilding architecture reaffirmed that sustainable peace must be based on national ownership and leadership, and that it must be grounded in capable, inclusive, and resilient national institutions. The minister stressed the need to translate international and continental commitments into concrete national strategies and capacities.
Dr. Abdelatty also highlighted the role of the Aswan Forum for Sustainable Peace and Development, which was launched during Egypt's chairmanship of the African Union in 2019. The forum aims to promote an African approach that shifts from crisis management to prevention and institution-building. The minister reviewed Egypt's role in this field, particularly in leading the file of post-conflict reconstruction and development within the African Union.
The minister emphasized the importance of integrating the African Union's updated policy on post-conflict reconstruction and development with the outcomes of the 2025 review of the peacebuilding architecture. He also stressed the need to enhance cooperation between the United Nations and the African Union, and to leverage the role of the African Union's Center for Post-Conflict Reconstruction and Development in Cairo.
Dr. Abdelatty called for directing international partnerships and financing towards priorities determined by countries, and for investing more in prevention, as it is less costly than dealing with conflicts after they erupt. He also announced that the sixth edition of the Aswan Forum, scheduled to take place in November, will continue to promote the agenda of prevention, national ownership, and institution-building.
The event was attended by senior officials and representatives from various countries and international organizations. The participants discussed ways to promote African leadership and national ownership in peacebuilding efforts, and to enhance cooperation between the African Union and the United Nations. The discussions also focused on the importance of prevention and institution-building in achieving sustainable peace.
The Egyptian Foreign Ministry's spokesperson, Nader Zaki, stated that the event demonstrated Egypt's commitment to promoting peace and stability in Africa. He noted that the event provided a platform for participants to share experiences and best practices in peacebuilding, and to discuss ways to address the challenges facing the continent.
Key points
- Egypt hosts high-level ministerial event in New York on African leadership, national prevention, and peacebuilding.
- Dr. Badr Abdelatty emphasizes importance of national ownership and leadership in achieving sustainable peace.
- Event aims to promote African approach that shifts from crisis management to prevention and institution-building.
