“A research report based on the AU High-level Retreat held in Cairo, Egypt, from 4–5 September 2011, organised by the African Union Peace and Security Department in cooperation with the Government of Egypt, the African Centre for the Constructive Resolution of Disputes, the Centre for Humanitarian Dialogue and the Cairo Regional Centre for Training on Conflict Resolution and Peacekeeping in Africa. The AU High-level Retreat was convened with the
broad objective of understanding the role of governance in the context of threats to peace
and security on the continent. When considering the broader political environment in many regions of Africa, failures and weaknesses in governance structures often coincide with or
result in violent conflict. Functioning democratic governance structures are vital, not only to assist in realising stability and security but also to ensure a meaningful and sustainable peace. The retreat therefore sought to strengthen African peacemaking efforts, with a particular focus on the role of governance through sharing experiences and challenges and identifying
possible solutions.”