The Nigerian government has firmly opposed the proposal to restructure the African Union’s (AU) Department of Political Affairs, Peace and Security (PAPS), warning that such a move could undermine the AU’s political and security framework while leading to unnecessary expenditures.
President Bola Tinubu, in a statement delivered by Minister of Foreign Affairs Ambassador Yusuf Tuggar during deliberations on AU reforms, emphasised Nigeria’s commitment to a more effective and streamlined AU but rejected the plan to create a new department from the existing PAPS structure.
“We do not support the proposal to reconfigure the Department of Political Affairs, Peace and Security (PAPS), as the reconfiguration in the way currently suggested will only lead to needless expenditure,” Tinubu stated.
Nigeria’s opposition to the proposed restructuring is particularly significant given that a Nigerian diplomat, Ambassador Bankole Adeoye, currently heads the PAPS department and was recently re-elected for another term.
Tinubu argued that the AU already has a Special Operations Division (SOD) within PAPS and that establishing a separate Peace Support Operations Directorate outside the existing framework would be counterproductive.
“We cannot have a Peace Support Operations Directorate independent of the Directorate of Political Affairs, Peace and Security. Any attempt to create another department from the existing one will destabilize the AU’s political affairs and peace and security processes,” the president added.
The Nigerian leader also expressed concern that the restructuring proposal had not been adequately discussed with AU member states, warning that reforms should be transparent, inclusive, and focused on improving existing structures rather than creating new bureaucracies.
Beyond the PAPS issue, Nigeria expressed support for broader AU reforms, including the establishment of a Heads of State and Government Oversight Committee under Kenyan President William Ruto’s leadership and the proposal to streamline AU Summit agendas to focus on three strategic issues.
However, Tinubu urged a phased approach to AU reforms, prioritizing areas where consensus already exists rather than attempting to overhaul the system all at once.
“It would be an error to continue seeking consultation on all fronts in perpetuity. Instead, we should concentrate on areas where we have already reached consensus,” he stressed.
Nigeria reaffirmed its support for a reformed AU but maintained that any changes must be cost-effective, consensus-driven, and aligned with the broader goals of the continental body.
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