Sierra Leone Pushes for $1 Billion Peace Fund at AU Executive Council

Sierra Leone has urged the African Union to overhaul its financial architecture by transitioning to a unified programme-based budget and establishing a $1 billion endowment for the AU Peace Fund. This call was made during the 27th Extraordinary Session of the AU Executive Council, where the Sierra Leonean delegation outlined a series of fiscal and institutional reforms. The reforms aim to secure predictable funding and strengthen accountability across the continental body.

To improve the effectiveness of AU programmes, Sierra Leone recommended anchoring the Union's unified programme-based budget within a medium-term expenditure framework. The delegation also urged the Executive Council to enforce stricter compliance and transparency measures among Member States. This includes establishing a firm timeline for all Member States to implement the 0.2 percent import levy and mandating annual public reporting by Member States regarding their contributions.

The Sierra Leonean delegation proposed scaling the AU Peace Fund into a $1 billion endowment backed by a dedicated replenishment mechanism. This move is designed to reduce the Union's reliance on interest earnings alone. The delegation emphasized that smaller and post-conflict economies must be actively included as partners in the capital mobilisation process.

Sierra Leone's delegation was led by Alan C.E. Logan, Director General of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation. He was accompanied by Mohamed Hassan Kaisamba, Sierra Leone's High Commissioner to Ghana, Numeh Sesay, Deputy Director for Africa Affairs at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation, and Samuel Lanford, First Secretary at the Sierra Leone High Commission in Accra.

The extraordinary session of the AU Executive Council was convened under the theme "Towards a Financially Sustainable and Self-Reliant African Union: Advancing African Ownership, Accountability and Institutional Effectiveness." The session brought together foreign affairs and finance ministers from across the continent, alongside the leadership of the African Union Commission and representatives of AU organs.

Deliberations centered on achieving long-term financial independence for AU programmes and peace operations. Sierra Leone's delegation reaffirmed its commitment to the reform process and upholding the same standards of transparency, accountability, and fiscal responsibility it expects from fellow Member States.

The AU Executive Council's discussion on financial reforms and the proposed $1 billion Peace Fund is a significant step towards achieving financial sustainability for the African Union. The outcome of the session will likely have far-reaching implications for the funding of AU programmes and peace operations.

Key points

• The proposed $1 billion endowment for the AU Peace Fund aims to reduce the Union's reliance on interest earnings alone.
• Sierra Leone recommends anchoring the AU's unified programme-based budget within a medium-term expenditure framework.
• The AU Executive Council's session was convened under the theme "Towards a Financially Sustainable and Self-Reliant African Union: Advancing African Ownership, Accountability and Institutional Effectiveness."