Lomé, 25 November 2025 – (©AfreePress) – On 24 November in Luanda, Angola, the President of the Council, Faure Essozimna Gnassingbé, forcefully reaffirmed his deep conviction in favour of lasting peace, shared security and collective prosperity, grounded in a renewed and more effective multilateralism.
Speaking at the 7th Summit of European Union and African Union leaders, held at a pivotal moment as the world searches for new strategies to confront major security and economic challenges, the Head of State delivered a message of strategic importance.
Actively participating in the discussions, the Togolese President underscored the imperative of a stronger partnership between Africa and Europe, insisting that the two continents cannot envision their future in isolation. According to him, only a collective dynamic will enable both regions to overcome contemporary threats, reinforce stability, and build enduring peace.
“In a world marked by distrust and fragmentation, peace has become a global challenge. It is no longer a given but a daily struggle that Africa and Europe must wage together. African security and European security are inseparable,” Faure Gnassingbé declared.
The President of the Council structured his statement around three major pillars designed to guide a renewed EU–AU cooperation framework:
Peace and security,
Reinvention of multilateralism,
A joint EU–AU peace architecture.
Emphasising that global stability is intrinsically linked to Africa’s stability, Faure Gnassingbé reiterated that Africa remains the primary guarantor of its own security.
“Peace and security are global public goods, and Africa must take the lead in ensuring them. Africa’s stability determines the world’s stability,” he stressed.
He advocated for effective and sustainable cooperation, built on stronger regional institutions, enhanced capacities, logistical consolidation and reliable long-term funding for African peacekeeping mechanisms.
He also noted that crisis prevention in Africa directly helps reduce security and economic costs for Europe.
The President made a firm case for a renewed multilateralism, arguing that it should neither be abandoned nor remain static. While the world is becoming increasingly fragmented, he said, this is precisely the time to defend a more equitable and representative system of global governance.
“We do not defend multilateralism out of nostalgia but out of necessity. If international institutions fail to reflect today’s realities, they will be bypassed,” he warned, stressing that Europe’s strategic interest lies in maintaining a rules-based order through a responsible and strategic partnership with Africa.
Faure Gnassingbé further called for the co-construction of a comprehensive and common peace architecture between Africa and the EU, in response to hybrid threats such as terrorism, cybercrime, disinformation and radicalisation.
He emphasised the need for systemic and joint responses rooted in community resilience, particularly that of young people.
“African youth must be at the centre of this peace architecture. Lasting peace cannot be decreed. It is learned, built, and transmitted,” he noted.
Training, listening to and involving young people in conflict prevention and resolution mechanisms is, according to the President of the Council, a strategic investment essential to Africa’s long-term stability.
A Strategic Vision for a Smart Africa–Europe Partnership
In conclusion, Faure Gnassingbé urged African and European leaders to embrace a shared ambition—one based on trust, solidarity and co-responsibility.
“A sovereign and stable Africa reduces Europe’s vulnerabilities; a clear-sighted and committed Europe reinforces Africa’s security and sovereignty,” he stated.
The vision laid out in Luanda also highlights Togo’s strategic role as a connector country, a diplomatic and security hub, and a key actor in promoting an intelligent partnership between Africa and Europe, grounded in peace, mutual trust and converging interests.
Olivier A.
