Leaders from across Africa and beyond are gathering in the Egyptian city of Aswan for the fifth edition of the Aswan Forum for Sustainable Peace and Development, with a focus on navigating the continent's progress amid a challenging global landscape. The two-day forum, held from 19-20 October under the theme "A World in Flux, A Continent in Motion," was opened on Sunday with a recorded address by Egyptian President Abdel Fattah Al-Sisi. He welcomed participants to the platform, which was launched during Egypt's chairmanship of the African Union in 2019 and has since become a key venue for discussing the continent's security and development nexus. President Al-Sisi noted that this year's forum convenes at a critical time, marked by the international community's "failure to confront major humanitarian crises," growing global polarisation, and a failure to meet commitments on debt relief and climate finance—issues that disproportionately affect Africa. "Our African continent stands at the forefront of those affected by these international conditions, which contribute to fuelling conflicts and violence," Al-Sisi said, also pointing to challenges like terrorism, illegal migration, and food and water insecurity. Despite these headwinds, he stressed that Africa, with its vast human and natural resources, is poised to play a leading role in restoring the "cohesion and credibility of the global system." He highlighted the activation of the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) as a cornerstone of regional integration and praised efforts in post-conflict reconstruction and development, a portfolio led by Egypt within the AU. U.N. Secretary-General António Guterres, also in a recorded message, thanked Egypt for hosting the event and emphasised the importance of "African solutions to African problems," particularly in areas like economic transformation, security, and the green transition. He also called for stronger African representation in international financial institutions and for reforms to the U.N. Security Council to ensure fair and permanent representation for the continent. Somali Prime Minister Hamza Abdi Barre, speaking at the opening session, stressed that peace and stability are fundamental pillars for sustainable development. He called for intensified efforts to support state-building, counter-terrorism, and address the root causes of conflict through investment in education and infrastructure. Angolan Foreign Minister Téte António, representing the current chair of the African Union, said the forum's themes clearly reflect the priorities of the Angolan presidency, particularly in advancing peace, resolving conflicts, and enhancing economic integration. In his address, Egyptian Foreign Minister Badr Abdelatty described the forum as a leading African platform for exchanging visions and finding "purely African solutions." He underscored Egypt's conviction that "peace and development are two sides of the same coin" but warned that the rules-based international order is facing a "serious decline due to double standards and power politics." This year's agenda will cover topics including sustainable peace and development, investment in infrastructure and strategic corridors, the role of the private sector, and the women, peace, and security agenda. The discussions will culminate in the "Aswan Conclusions," a set of recommendations to be implemented over the coming year. A key session on Sunday focused on efforts to achieve peace and development in Sudan. Abdelatty, speaking alongside his Sudanese counterpart Muhyiddin Salim and several international envoys, reiterated Egypt's core principles for resolving the crisis: no military solution, preservation of the Sudanese state, and a comprehensive political process owned and led by the Sudanese people.
