Engagement in security and peace efforts

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African countries have gained a stronger geopolitical role. A number of different countries are continuing or stepping up their engagement on the continent in various ways. These include the US, Brazil, India, China, Russia, Türkiye, multiple European countries and the Gulf states. The increasing rivalry between major powers factors into this development. China is continuing to maintain its long-term, strategic political and economic presence. China employs a wide range of actors and instruments to advance its interests – interests that are not aligned with Norway’s in all areas. Russia is seeking to consolidate and increase its influence in parts of Africa largely through expanded military cooperation. This can often have a destabilising effect. Such activities have an impact on power relations, governance and efforts to maintain stability. African countries have long sought wider influence and now have greater scope to promote their interests. Norway, with its focus on international law, multilateralism, democracy and good governance, has a security policy interest in seeking cooperation with African countries. Understanding, dialogue and cooperation on global and regional security issues – and the significance of these for our respective countries and regions – will be of increasing importance.

The number of conflicts on the continent has been rising. Security challenges in African countries affect Norwegian interests. Several conflict-affected countries are in Europe’s neighbourhood. The threats to peace and security will be compounded by broader trends related to demographics, weak states, the climate crisis and violent extremism. The spread of disinformation and discriminatory and hateful speech is destabilising, and poses a growing threat. It is in our common interest to combat this.

Attacks on commercial shipping continue to occur and often affect global, African and Norwegian interests. Ensuring free and safe passage at sea is crucial to the transport of critical global goods such as fuel and food. Increased focus on maritime security is an area of importance to all parties. Norway has established cooperation with several African countries to address the issue, often in conjunction with allies and other partners. Together with Ghana, Norway successfully negotiated the adoption of UN Security Council Resolution 2634 on maritime security in the Gulf of Guinea, and will continue working to promote positive developments.

Extensive organised crime generates illicit gains that are then used to fund criminal and extremist, violent groups. Large-scale corruption, tax evasion, money laundering, human trafficking, narcotics trading, environmental crime and cybercrime all transcend national boundaries and require collective responses.

Poverty, inequality, poor governance and lack of inclusion are among the causes of crime, conflict and extremism. Climate change is further exacerbating the situation. Norway’s longstanding tradition of long-term, predictable development cooperation with a focus on inclusion, adaptation to context, locally-led efforts and cooperation with civil society organisations provides a solid basis on which to engage with African countries if invited to do so by local partners.

Promoting peace and security is at the core of the AU’s Agenda 2063. To address the challenges involved, Norway seeks to strengthen its existing cooperation and dialogue with African countries, the AU and sub-regional organisations. Norway will support AU cooperation with the United Nations, as well as with NATO where desirable by African countries. Norway will continue to participate in UN peacekeeping operations and cooperate with African and Western partners to strengthen the continent’s ability to safeguard its own security. Nevertheless, it is the case that African countries are assuming greater responsibility for peacekeeping and conflict management on the continent, and that the number of UN operations has declined. UN peace operations have lacked a mandate to address violent extremism and the spread of misinformation, disinformation and hate speech against peacekeeping operations, and are not considered to have responded adequately to the challenges in African countries. Norwegian security efforts will focus on the underlying causes of conflict and employ an integrated, cohesive approach.

The participation of women in decision-making processes is of vital importance. Norway will continue to cooperate with African partner countries, the AU and sub-regional organisations to promote women’s participation and influence.

Both Norway and the AU have the common goal of preventing and resolving conflicts. The priorities for Norwegian engagement in peace and reconciliation efforts are established through focused efforts based on requests from parties in the region. While Norwegian engagement and facilitation in various peace processes and initiatives to promote dialogue are intended to reduce violence and support peaceful solutions, they also seek to alleviate humanitarian situations, counter extremism and decrease irregular migration.

Some of the world’s most severe, protracted humanitarian crises are unfolding on the African continent. These are further exacerbated by rising conflict levels. The impacts of climate change are most clearly manifested on the continent in the form of natural disasters, extreme weather events and drought. Africa has a young population and young people and children are especially vulnerable in such crises. Humanitarian needs are expected to grow. The AU is aiming to play a clearer role in humanitarian responses and to expand its response capacity. Norway will continue its humanitarian efforts on the basis of the humanitarian principles. Preventing, alleviating and resolving humanitarian crises requires good coordination between development, prevention, stabilisation, peace engagement, humanitarian response and reconstruction efforts, with the early involvement of long-term development actors.

Armed conflict and climate-related crises are among the main causes of internal displacement. Poverty and unemployment, especially among young people, are other factors that may affect the decision to migrate. In many African countries, internal displacement and migration pose serious challenges. Most displaced Africans remain in their own countries or other African countries, while migrants often seek out destinations farther away, including Europe. Safe, orderly and regular migration may offer major economic benefits to both the country of origin and the recipient country.

Objective: Strengthened political dialogue and cooperation in peace and security efforts, worldwide and on the African continent

Priorities for strengthening dialogue and cooperation in this area:

Consultations: Norway will continue to propose and implement visits by political leaders and senior government officials for dialogue on peace and security, and will incorporate peace and security issues in bilateral and multilateral consultations with African countries when considered appropriate by the parties involved.

African-led initiatives and operations: Norway will support African-led security and peace initiatives and processes. These include peace operations, peacebuilding initiatives and other activities when so requested by African partners and, where relevant, in cooperation with allies and other partners.

Cooperation with the United Nations: Norway will support further development of UN cooperation with the AU, including the use of mandatory contributions from UN member countries to fund AU-led peace support operations, on a case-by-case basis. Norway will support and participate in operations led by the UN and potentially by other actors if deemed appropriate following an overall political assessment.

Women, peace and security: Norway will continue to work with African countries to incorporate the gender perspective as part of the basis for making decisions in peace processes, particularly in priority countries for Norwegian engagement in the women, peace and security agenda. Importance will be attached to building and exchanging knowledge about the links between women, peace and security and climate, peace and security.

Integrated approach: When Norway supports security sector reform and disarmament and demobilisation, particular priority will be given to initiatives under multilateral mechanisms in areas where it will enhance prevention, encourage peacebuilding and promote coherent efforts when dealing with armed conflicts and humanitarian crises. Norway will emphasise a systematic, integrated approach to UN operations and activities that strengthen the ability of countries to safeguard their own security. Norway will also contribute to elevating the role of civil society and to further incorporate local civil society organisations in security and peace processes and stabilisation and humanitarian efforts. Efforts to ensure safe, rapid and unimpeded humanitarian access to people in need, to strengthen protection of civilians and to promote the safety of humanitarian workers in humanitarian crises will be continued. Importance will be attached to prevention, climate change adaptation and integrated approaches to long-term crises. Importance will also be attached, to supporting the AU’s role and capacity to deal with humanitarian crises.

Migration: Norway will seek to strengthen cooperation with the AU and selected African countries on access to existing regular migration channels for people from Africa, and conversely, on limiting irregular migration. Norway will work to improve conditions for refugees and displaced people and for local host communities.