Africa is proving that peace is not imported—it is built from within. Political leaders, development financiers, and aid agencies gathered Monday at the Africa Resilience Forum in Abidjan to highlight a clear message: African communities are the architects of their own stability. Over 250 million Africans live in conflict-affected countries, yet local resilience shows that adversity can become opportunity. Community-driven innovation is emerging as a key driver of transformation across the continent.
“Preventing conflict is not just ethical—it’s smart economics: every dollar invested in prevention can generate more than $100 in long-term benefits,” said Nnenna Nwabufo, Vice President for Regional Development at the African Development Bank. Strategic investment in African-led solutions is central to sustainable growth. Abubakar Umar Alhassan, of Ghana’s National Peace Council, emphasized that women and youth are the true guardians of peace. “Giving them a voice and space is a giant step toward stability,” he noted, highlighting the pivotal role of local leadership in sustaining peace.
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From Mauritania, Mohamed Abderahmane Deddi stressed that Africa does not need only external aid—it requires strategic support that empowers local solutions, strengthening national peace and social cohesion from within. Olivier Ray of the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) shared experiences from Sudan, showing how sustaining livelihoods and essential services in conflict zones demonstrates that African resilience delivers tangible results.
Even global institutions like the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD) recognize that international expertise can support African initiatives, but cannot replace local creativity and leadership. Asari Efiong, EBRD Director in Côte d’Ivoire, said: “Real change always starts with the community.”
Africa does not wait for peace—it creates it from its communities, women, and youth. Resilience is not just survival; it is innovation, leadership, and turning adversity into sustainable progress. The continent proves that its future is being built with ingenuity and homegrown solutions.