The Kofi Annan International Peacekeeping Training Centre (KAIPTC) is hosting the third edition of the Kofi Annan Peace and Security Forum (KAPS Forum), a high-level event focused on migration, conflict, and societal resilience in Africa. Scheduled for February 28-29, 2024, the forum will bring together leading experts in migration, security, and conflict resolution to address critical issues and explore solutions.
The forum on the theme, “Migration and Societal Resilience in a Multipolar World Order: Addressing Conflicts and Building Peace in Africa”, reflects the complex interplay between migration, conflict, and the changing global landscape.
It aims to analyze the root causes of migration, including, poverty, inequality, and conflict as well as examine the impact of migration on security and societal resilience in Africa.
The forum is also expected to explore innovative approaches to address migration challenges, promote peaceful coexistence, and build sustainable solutions.
Key participants will include former African heads of state, government officials, high-level diplomats, and representatives from international organizations like the United Nations, African Union, and ECOWAS.
The forum will feature panel discussions, interactive sessions, and presentations from leading experts.
Media Launch
Speaking at a media launch on Thursday, February 15, the Commandant of KAIPTC, Major General Richard Addo-Gyane was of the view that armed conflict in many parts of Africa has created instability in countries like Ethiopia, Mali, South Sudan, and the Democratic Republic of Congo, forcing people to flee their homes.
Climate change, Major General Gyane also pointed, is increasingly causing droughts, floods, and extreme weather conditions which are increasingly displacing communities, particularly in the Sahel region and East Africa.
“Weak governance and economic hardship continue to heavily increase poverty levels across board, while unemployment, lack of access to basic necessities, corruption, human right abuses and political repression continue to influence young people especially, to seek opportunities elsewhere,” he lamented.
Highlighting the critical link between migration and security, General Gyane emphasized the importance of assembling a diverse team of experts. This task force will delve deep into understanding migration’s impact on security, fostering collaboration and crafting effective solutions to prevent instability.
While commending the Governments of Ghana, Norway, and Germany, as well as the GIZ, for their unwavering financial and technical support to the KAIPTC and the KAPS Forum, Major General Gyane expressed optimism that the diverse policy perspectives to be shared at the forum will inspire participating countries to implement effective solutions that address the challenges.
Germany
The Deputy Head of Delegation at the German Embassy in Ghana, Sivine Jansen, in her remarks highlighted the growing challenges of regional instability and emphasized Germany’s continued support for peacekeeping efforts.
Acknowledging the challenges of the recent military coups in neighboring countries and the strain on regional organizations like ECOWAS, Ms. Jansen stressed the need for new ways of collaboration in this “urban conflict situation,” particularly through capacity building.
KAIPTC, she emphasised is a beacon of peacekeeping through expertise and collaborative approach, making the Centre one of the most developed peacekeeping training centers on the continent.
Highlighting Germany’s decade-long support exceeding €2 million, Ms Jansen emphasized the Federal Foreign Office and Ministry of Development Cooperation’s partnership with KAIPTC, including funding and expertise.
Citing World Bank data of 2023 on displaced populations of 184 million people, 37 million of these numbers she said were actually refuges living their homes involuntarily.
“On top of this, UNHRC counted 62.2 million internally displaced persons and these are refuges involuntarily leaving their homes in their countries of origin which puts a double strain particularly on low- and middle-income countries which first of all has to deal with crises that forces refugees to live their homes and also have to host and create new homes for them,” she said.
Ms. Jansen emphasized the need for resilience, solidarity, and peacebuilding to address the root causes of displacement, such as poverty and conflict. While acknowledging the risks of exploitation and abuse, she also highlighted the potential benefits of migration, including addressing labor shortages and enriching cultures. She called for the KAPS forum to explore these positive aspects and improve the well-being of migrants.
Kofi Annan Foundation
The Executive Director of the Kofi Annan Foundation, Ms. Corinne Momal-Vanian in her remarks emphasized the growing interconnection between insecurity, migration, and complex global challenges.
Highlighting the late Kofi Annan’s legacy of international cooperation, she stressed the need for joint efforts among origin, transit, and destination countries to address migration. Ms Momal-Vanian acknowledged the intricate web of factors driving migration, including economic shocks, conflict, youth unemployment, demographic trends, and the state of peace, security, and democracy.
“The media’s role is seen as crucial in shaping perceptions, debunking misinformation, and sharing accurate information,” she said, urging practitioners to take interest in the subject so they could better sensitize citizenry on the challenges and security implications.
Reaffirming the Foundation’s strong support for the forum, the Ms Momal-Vanian commended the KAIPTC for the theme and program design for comprehensively addressing the complexities of migration.