Press Release: African Union Supports the Formation and Integration of a Network of Civil Society Organisations in Southern Africa into PANPAPS to Improve Early Warning and Foster Collaboration in Peace and Security

The Political Affairs, Peace and Security (PAPS) Department of the African Union (AU) Commission held a meeting from 5 to 7 November 2025 in Cape Town, South Africa, to establish a network of civil society organisations (CSOs) for peace, security, and development in the Southern African Region and to integrate it into the Pan-African Civil Society Network on Political Affairs, Peace, and Security (PANPAPS). This aligns with the AU Peace and Security Council (PSC) Protocol, especially Articles 12 and 20 on the Continental Early Warning System (CEWS) and the role of civil society organisations (CSOS) in promoting peace, security, and stability, as well as the PSC's 1163rd Ministerial Meeting, which emphasised the importance of inclusive, community-based responses to multidimensional threats such as transnational organised crime, climate change, security risks, and socio-economic inequalities. It also aligns with the Maseru Conclusions, Livingstone Formula and the Lomé Declaration.