Nigeria’s government has firmly rejected a proposal to create a separate department from the African Union’s (AU) existing Department of Political Affairs, Peace, and Security. The government argues that such a move would destabilize the AU’s political and peacekeeping efforts, and that issues not previously presented to member states should not be included in the reform process.
In his statement at the 38th Ordinary Session of the Assembly of Heads of State and Government in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, President Bola Tinubu emphasized that creating another department would lead to unnecessary financial burden. “We do not support the proposal to reconfigure the Department of Political Affairs, Peace, and Security. The reconfiguration as currently suggested will only result in more expenditures without justification,” President Tinubu said.
The proposal comes shortly after Nigerian diplomat Bankole Adeoye’s re-election to head the Department of Political Affairs, Peace, and Security for another term during the same session.
Foreign Minister Yusuf Tuggar delivered the statement on the president’s behalf, as revealed by Tinubu’s Special Adviser on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga, in a Sunday statement titled ‘Nigeria Opposes Move to Split AU’s Department of Political Affairs, Peace and Security.’
While Nigeria opposed the proposal, President Tinubu commended the reform efforts of Rwanda’s President Paul Kagame and Kenya’s President William Ruto. He expressed support for the establishment of a Heads of State and Government oversight committee for AU reforms under President Ruto’s leadership.
President Tinubu also endorsed the proposal to limit the AU Summit agenda to no more than three strategic items and backed reforms aimed at making the AU more dynamic and responsive to the changing global political and economic landscape.
However, he rejected the creation of a new department within the Department of Political Affairs, Peace, and Security, which is currently led by Adeoye. “We already have a SOD under the Directorate of PAPS. We cannot create a Peace Support Operations Directorate independent of the Directorate of Political Affairs, Peace, and Security,” President Tinubu remarked. He stressed that splitting the department would disrupt the AU’s efforts in political affairs and peacekeeping.
In addition, President Tinubu emphasized the importance of inclusiveness and transparency in the AU’s reform process, urging the organization to focus on the implementation of policies and programs already agreed upon. “Instead of seeking consensus on every aspect of the reform, we should concentrate on areas where there is already agreement. Reform can be implemented in phases, and it would be a mistake to continue consultations indefinitely,” he stated.
He concluded by reaffirming Nigeria’s support for the reform process, as long as it remains inclusive, transparent, and does not unnecessarily destabilize the existing system.
