Foreign Minister Ablakwa calls for new approach to address root causes of conflict and youth migration

Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa, Africa's Foreign Minister, has called for a significant shift in the continent's approach to peace, security, and development. According to him, monetary investments and institutional structures alone are insufficient to resolve Africa's recurring conflicts. During a meeting of the African Union's Executive Council in Luanda, Angola, on August 29, 2026, Ablakwa stressed the need for African leaders to engage in introspection and embrace a new leadership model that tackles the underlying issues of conflict, poverty, unemployment, and the rising desperation among Africa's youth.

He cautioned that Africa could no longer tolerate conflicts, terrorism, violent extremism, and humanitarian crises as commonplace occurrences. "We must embark on an earnest introspection and not continue on this path where conflicts, terrorism, violent extremism, and humanitarian crises have become normalized," Mr Ablakwa emphasized. While acknowledging the efforts of the African Union to bolster peace mechanisms and replenish the AU Peace Fund, Ablakwa underscored the importance of a change in mindset and leadership.

He urged African leaders to exhibit greater tolerance, compassion, and vision when addressing the root causes of instability across the continent. Ablakwa expressed worry over the increasing desperation among African youth, who continue to risk their lives in dangerous migration attempts and are plagued by a lack of access to basic amenities, such as electricity.

With thousands of young Africans risking their lives for better opportunities abroad while millions remain impoverished, he argued that African governments must prioritize job creation, industrialization, decentralization, and the equitable distribution of the continent's abundant natural resources.

He questioned how to share Africa's wealth of diamonds, gold, bauxite, oil, and gas for the betterment of the continent's youth. "How can we harness these resources for the benefit of African young people? This is the new paradigm we need for our continent," he stressed. The meeting gathered African Union member states to deliberate on ways to strengthen continental mechanisms for conflict prevention and resolution as the region faces escalating security and humanitarian challenges.