The agreement was reached during the first Strategic Dialogue on Foreign and Security Policy between the African Union Commission and the German Federal Foreign Office, held in Addis Ababa on July 15.

The talks brought together H.E. Ambassador Bankole Adeoye, AU Commissioner for Political Affairs, Peace and Security, and H.E. Dr. Géza Andreas von Geyr, State Secretary of the German Federal Foreign Office.

According to the AU statement issued on July 24, the two sides reaffirmed their commitment to multilateralism, African-led solutions to peace and security challenges, and efforts to promote sustainable peace, stability and prosperity.

Discussions focused on the changing geopolitical landscape, including the consequences of the war in Iran and the region, the need for a diplomatic solution, and the continuing impact of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.

They also reviewed major security crises across Africa, with particular attention to Sudan, the Horn of Africa, the Great Lakes region and the Sahel.

The AU and Germany stressed the importance of African ownership of peace efforts and coordinated international support for solutions led by African institutions.

They also reaffirmed support for the African Union Support and Stabilization Mission in Somalia, known as AUSSOM, while warning of the growing threat posed by terrorism and other transnational security challenges.

Commissioner Adeoye welcomed Germany’s continued political and technical support for AU initiatives, including border governance, mediation, preventive diplomacy, cybersecurity, artificial intelligence and institutional capacity-building.

State Secretary von Geyr, meanwhile, recalled Germany’s support for stronger representation of African voices in international institutions, including the United Nations Security Council, the statement stated.

The dialogue also explored cooperation in emerging areas such as responsible governance of artificial intelligence, cybersecurity, mediation and peacebuilding expertise, multilateral election observation and preventive diplomacy.

The statement showed that both sides agreed to maintain close consultations on regional and global issues of mutual interest and to expand practical cooperation in conflict prevention, mediation, peacebuilding and democratic governance.

The meeting ended with an agreement to make the AU-Germany Strategic Dialogue on Foreign and Security Policy an annual platform for advancing bilateral cooperation, reinforcing effective multilateral action, and promoting peace, security and prosperity across Africa. 

Germany invited the African Union Commission to Berlin in 2027 for the next session of the dialogue.