Adopted by the Peace and Security Council (PSC) of the African Union (AU), at its 1369th meeting held at the Ministerial level on 23 September 2026, on the theme: “Good Neighbourliness and Regional Responses to Security and Terrorism Challenges in Africa”;
The Peace and Security Council,
Reaffirming its unwavering commitment to the foundational objectives and principles of the AU, as enshrined in Articles 3 and 4 of the Constitutive Act, particularly the respect for the sovereignty, territorial integrity; non-interference in the internal affairs of Member States; peaceful co-existence of Member States and their right to live in peace and security, the peaceful settlement of conflicts; the prohibition of the use or threat of force; and the inviolability of borders existing on achievement of national independence, as pledged in the historic 1964 Cairo Declaration [AHG/Res. 16(I)] adopted at the first ordinary session of the Organization of African [OB1] Unity (OAU) Assembly in Cairo, Egypt;
Recalling Assembly Decision [Ext/Assembly/AU/Dec.(XVI)] adopted at the 16th Extraordinary Session of the AU Assembly of Heads of State and Government on Terrorism and Unconstitutional Changes of Government in Africa, held in Malabo, Equatorial Guinea, on 28 May 2022; as well the Protocol Relating to the Establishment of the Peace and Security Council of the African Union, the African Peace and Security Architecture (APSA), AU Agenda 2063, the AU Non-Aggression and Common Defence Pact, and the AU Convention on Cross-Border Cooperation (Niamey Convention);
Referring to its previous decisions encompassing Good Neighbourliness and Regional Responses to Security and Terrorism Challenges in Africa, in particular, Communiqué [PSC/PR/COMM.1354 (2026)] adopted at its 1354th meeting held at the Ministerial level on 21 July 2026;
Further recalling the Tunis declaration on the Code of Conduct on Inter-Africa Relations [AHG/Decl.2(XXX)] which provides for the decision to take necessary operational measures to ensure that Member States’ territories do not serve as training camps or indoctrination centres for terrorist movements and armed rebels, or as sanctuaries for the planning and organization of terrorist and destabilization activities directed against the territorial integrity and security of Member States;
Underscoring the primary responsibility of States to their national peace and security and to combat terrorism and violent extremism;
Noting the opening remarks by H.E. Corinne Amori Brunet, Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Benin and Chairperson of the PSC for the month of September 2026, and the introductory statement by H.E. Mahmoud Ali Youssouf, Chairperson of the AU Commission; also noting the briefing by H.E. Ambassador Bankole Adeoye, Commissioner for Political Affairs, Peace and Security, and the statement by the Representative of the United Nations; and
