Comrade Timi Frank, former Deputy National Publicity Secretary of the All Progressives Congress (APC), has called on African leaders to move beyond rigid peace frameworks and embrace practical cooperation as a pathway to stability, economic growth and global relevance.
In a statement accompanying his policy brief titled “The Abraham Accords and Africa: Strategic Lessons for Peace, Integration, and Global Relevance,” Frank argued that Africa’s persistent conflicts are sustained not only by political disagreements but also by delayed engagement and missed opportunities for cooperation.
He referenced the Abraham Accords, brokered in 2020, as a diplomatic shift that demonstrated how cooperation can begin even when core political disputes remain unresolved. The accords normalised relations between Israel and several Arab states, redefining peacebuilding as a gradual and interest-driven process rather than an end-state achieved only through comprehensive settlements.
According to Frank, Africa’s conflict zones—including the Sahel, the Great Lakes region and the Horn of Africa—require a similar rethinking of peace.
“Too often, peace initiatives in Africa collapse under the weight of unrealistic preconditions,” he said. “Engagement is postponed indefinitely, while insecurity deepens and civilian suffering grows.”
Frank maintained that early collaboration in non-political areas such as trade, infrastructure development and regional security can lower tensions and create trust among rival actors. He described peace as something that must be built, not declared.
Serving as ULMWP Ambassador to East Africa and the Middle East and Senior Advisor to the Global Friendship City Association (GFCA), USA, Frank said the Abraham Accords illustrated that diplomatic engagement can stabilise regions without erasing legitimate political grievances.
“Peace can start with cooperation, even when history remains contested,” he said.
On economic integration, Frank identified shared prosperity as one of the strongest incentives for peace. He pointed to the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) as Africa’s most viable tool for translating economic interdependence into political stability.
“Africa already has the architecture to turn trade into a peace dividend,” he said. “What is needed now is political will and accelerated implementation.”
Frank also underscored the security dimension, noting that instability in one region of the world often fuels terrorism, arms proliferation and displacement elsewhere. He called for stronger Africa-led security coordination, including intelligence sharing, joint operations and preventive diplomacy under the African Union Peace and Security Architecture.
He further urged African states to recalibrate their foreign policies in response to a changing global order. According to him, interest-driven diplomacy—focused on technology, food systems, water security and renewable energy—offers Africa greater leverage than ideological alignment.
“Africa must negotiate from a position of clarity about its interests,” he said. “Global relevance comes from strategic engagement, not dependency.”
While recognising the economic and diplomatic gains of the Abraham Accords, Frank cautioned against neglecting unresolved political and social grievances. He stressed that pragmatism must be balanced with Africa’s long-standing commitment to justice, inclusion and international law.
He outlined three guiding principles for African leaders: engaging early rather than waiting for ideal conditions, using economic integration as a stabilising force, and pursuing balanced diplomacy that serves African interests while protecting vulnerable populations.
Frank concluded by stating that the Abraham Accords should not be copied wholesale, but studied carefully.
“They remind us that peace is not the reward for perfection,” he said. “It is often the result of courage, compromise and consistent engagement.”
He added that Africa’s future stability depends on leaders choosing cooperation over prolonged stalemates and action over hesitation.
Timi Frank Calls for Practical Peace Strategy as Africa Faces Prolonged Conflicts
