Mombasa, Kenya, 11–12 July 2026 – The Second African Union Policy Conference on the Nexus between Peace, Security and Development, known as the “Tangier Process,” convened in Mombasa, Kenya, from 11–12 July 2026, bringing together policymakers, practitioners and experts from across the continent to advance Africa’s peace, security and development agenda.

Building on the Tangier Declaration, adopted during the inaugural conference in 2022, delegates assessed progress made in implementing the continent’s integrated approach to peacebuilding while identifying priorities for accelerating action at national, regional and continental levels.

The conference explored a range of strategic policy issues, including operationalising the peace, security and development nexus through artificial intelligence-driven and youth-led innovations, rethinking military expenditure and development trade-offs, de-risking investments in conflict-affected countries, supporting complex political transitions through the African Facility to Support Inclusive Transitions, and advancing cross-cutting policy priorities under the African Union’s Agenda 2063.

Participants reaffirmed the importance of African ownership, subsidiarity, complementarity and comparative advantage in implementing the nexus. They also underscored prevention and anticipatory action, institutional coherence, sustainable financing, evidence-based policymaking, conflict sensitivity and regional integration as critical foundations for translating policy commitments into meaningful action.

The Institute for Justice and Reconciliation was represented by Professor Tim Murithi, who contributed to two panel discussions focusing on the implementation of the Tangier Declaration and the role of inclusive political transitions in sustaining peace across Africa.

The first panel reviewed progress achieved since the adoption of the Tangier Declaration, recognising advances in policy development, partnership building, post-conflict reconstruction, digital transformation and efforts to integrate peacebuilding into development planning. However, participants acknowledged that implementation remains uneven due to institutional silos, limited financing, inadequate monitoring, varying national capacities and insufficient coordination. Discussions focused on identifying strategic recommendations to strengthen implementation of the Peace, Security and Development Nexus across the continent.

The second panel examined lessons from the African Facility to Support Inclusive Transitions (AFSIT), highlighting the importance of nationally owned and inclusive approaches to political transitions. Discussions emphasised that successful transitions extend beyond electoral processes and require accountable governance, institutional resilience, reconciliation, economic recovery and renewed trust between states and citizens.

Panellists also explored ways to improve the sequencing and coordination of political, security, institutional and development interventions while ensuring the meaningful participation of women, young people, civil society, local authorities and traditional leaders in shaping transition processes.

The conference concluded with a renewed commitment to strengthening African-led approaches to peacebuilding and development, documenting lessons from transition processes, enhancing coordination among the African Union, Regional Economic Communities and Member States, and reinforcing AFSIT’s capacity as a key mechanism for supporting complex political transitions across the continent.

Professor Murithi’s participation reinforced the Institute for Justice and Reconciliation’s ongoing commitment to advancing evidence-based policy dialogue and supporting African-led solutions that promote sustainable peace, inclusive governance and long-term development.