On October 20, the highly anticipated Peace and Security Forum 2023 opened in Lomé. For three days, foreign ministers from several African countries met to discuss the theme “How to manage political transitions” in Africa. A subject of capital importance as many countries on the continent face political upheaval and often chaotic transitions.
The question that arises is why do the military take power despite the fact that national constitutions consider coups to be an imprescriptible crime? This issue sparked lively debates among the experts present at the forum. The need to make a clear diagnosis to understand the motivations of the putschists was highlighted. Indeed, beyond the convictions, it is essential to understand the root causes which push the military to seize power.
Once the political transition has taken place, the question of sanctions arises. Putschists often face drastic sanctions, imposed by sub-regional organizations. However, the effectiveness of these sanctions is questioned. Is the stick and/or carrot method best suited to dealing with these situations? This is one of the topics that was discussed during the panels organized during the forum.
In total, six panels were on the program, covering different aspects related to political transitions in Africa. One of the highlights was the participation of renowned Togolese economist, Kako Nubupko, who spoke during the panel entitled “African solutions to political crises”. Alongside the Minister of Foreign Affairs of Burkina Faso, they brought their visions and expertise on the issue.
This Peace and Security Forum 2023 was therefore an opportunity for foreign ministers from several African countries to share their thoughts and experiences on the management of political transitions. By bringing together different actors and experts, this event made it possible to open the debate and find possible solutions to guarantee political stability on the continent.
In conclusion, the Peace and Security Forum 2023 in Lomé was a major event to discuss the crucial theme of managing political transitions in Africa. The exchanges between the Ministers of Foreign Affairs and the experts made it possible to take a fresh look at this issue and to propose concrete solutions to ensure peace and stability on the continent.