Windhoek Declaration at the 6th Annual Retreat of Special Envoys and Mediators on the Promotion of Peace and Security in Africa

Held within the context of the on-going implementation of Agenda 2063, as adopted by the AU policy organs, the Retreat constituted an additional step to give practical expression to the 50th Anniversary Solemn Declaration, adopted by the Assembly of the Union, in Addis Ababa, on 25 May 2013, in which the Heads of State and Government pledged not to bequeath the burden of conflicts to the next generation of Africans, committing themselves to end all wars in Africa by 2020. Against this backdrop, and building on the Retreat held in Arusha, Tanzania, from 21 to 23 October 2014, the Windhoek Retreat aimed at taking forward the vision and plans for “Silencing the Guns in Africa by 2020”. Participants acknowledged that the AU High-Level Retreats are central to promoting dialogue, sharing experiences and exchanging best practices that can contribute to African-specific narratives.