COUNTRY: GHANA.

The Peace Support Operations Division (PSOD) of the African Union Commission, supported by the African Centre for the Constructive Resolution of Disputes (ACCORD), convened a strategic five-day engagement in Accra, Ghana, to strengthen operational frameworks for African Peace Support Operations (PSOs). According to official coverage by ACCORD, the high-level meeting brought together technical experts, representatives from Regional Economic Communities and Regional Mechanisms (RECs/RMs), and institutional partners to validate key policy directives aimed at modernizing continental conflict intervention mechanisms.

A primary focus of the summit was the formal review and validation of the draft AU Policy on Mental Health and Psychosocial Support (MHPSS) in Peace Support Operations. Institutional reporting on African peace operations highlights that institutionalizing mental health protocols addresses long-standing gaps in supporting deployed civilian, military, and police personnel facing complex operational stress. By establishing standardized psychosocial care across mission lifecycles, the AU aims to safeguard the well-being of peacekeepers while enhancing the overall operational efficacy of deployed missions across Africa’s conflict zones.

In parallel, technical sessions advanced practical roadmaps for operationalizing the African Standby Force (ASF) under the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) adopted during the 39th Ordinary Session of the AU Assembly. As detailed in official continental security documentation from the African Union Peace and Security Department, discussions structured an actionable Operational Framework to enhance rapid deployment capabilities and coordination between the AU Commission and sub-regional standby forces. By refining MHPSS protocols alongside ASF deployment frameworks, the joint initiative reflects a broader push to build robust, African-led peace and security structures equipped to respond to evolving continental crises.

PHOTO SOURCE: ACCORD
Author: Randy Lawson.