Accra (Ghana), June 19, 2026 (SPS) – The inaugural continental dialogue with traditional, religious and judicial leaders in support of the implementation of the African Union initiative “Silencing the Guns” was concluded in the Ghanaian capital, Accra, which was held on June 17-18, 2026 with the participation of the Sahrawi Republic, along with a number of representatives of member states, African leaders, components of civil society and actors in the field of peace and security.
The meeting formed a continental platform for exchanging visions on enhancing conflict prevention, and the role of traditional, religious and judicial actors in consolidating a culture of peace, in addition to discussing coordination mechanisms between various African institutions in order to achieve the goals of the African Union agenda aimed at ending conflicts on the continent.
During the eighth session devoted to the dialogue on coordination and enhancing the implementation of the “Silencing the Guns” initiative, the representative of the Sahrawi Arab Democratic Republic, Mr. Hama El Mahdi, made an intervention in which he stressed that achieving sustainable peace in Africa requires addressing the deep causes of conflicts, most notably the issues of colonialism, the absence of justice, and respect for the right of peoples to self-determination.
The representative of the Sahrawi Republic explained that the desired Africa is an Africa of peace, unity and solidarity, stressing that the decolonization of Western Sahara, as the last decolonization issue on the continent, constitutes an essential step to consolidate African peace and security.
The intervention stressed that the “Silencing the Guns” agenda cannot fully achieve its goals as long as there are African people still waiting to exercise their legitimate rights, stressing the need to support peaceful political solutions in accordance with the principles of the African Union and the Charter of the United Nations.
The Sahrawi delegation also highlighted the importance of strengthening the role of the African Union as a comprehensive framework for dialogue and peace, developing mechanisms for mediation and preventive diplomacy, and strengthening coordination between various continental actors, in addition to supporting the role of traditional, religious and judicial institutions in reconciliation and building confidence within African societies.
The Sahrawi Republic stressed that the involvement of women and youth in peacemaking processes represents an essential factor for the success of continental initiatives, as they are active partners in preventing conflicts and rebuilding societies.
The dialogue culminated in the adoption of a final document that included a set of recommendations aimed at enhancing cooperation among stakeholders and supporting the implementation of the African Union’s roadmap for the “Silencing the Guns” initiative, before the works officially concluded in the presence of representatives of the African Union, the government of Ghana, and the participating leaders.
The participation of the Sahrawi Arab Democratic Republic in this dialogue falls within its contribution to African efforts aimed at promoting peace, security and stability on the continent, and defending the principles of the African Union based on respect for the sovereignty of states and the right of peoples to self-determination.
A Sahrawi delegation included the Chargé d’Affaires of the Sahrawi Embassy in Ghana, Mr. Daha Al-Loud, in addition to a member of the African Union Steering Committee for the Dialogue, Mr. Hama Al-Mahdi. (SPS) Participated in the African Union continental dialogue on the Silencing the Guns initiative.
