On 25 August 2025, the Founder and Executive Director of ACCORD, Dr Vasu Gounden, was invited to serve as a virtual resource person at the 20th Committee of Intelligence and Security Services in Africa (CISSA) Conference, held in Benghazi, Libya, from 20 to 27 August 2025. CISSA brings together delegations from 53 African countries, along with representatives from Mauritania, several Arab and Gulf States, European partners, and the United States. The theme of this year’s summit is ‘preventing conflicts and violent wars in Africa’. Dr Gounden’s presentation focused on ‘Preventing Conflicts and Violent Wars in Africa: Challenges, Opportunities and Way Forward.’ The conference gathers security chiefs and experts to discuss practical strategies for managing armed conflict, strengthening mechanisms for conflict prevention, and addressing cross-border threats including terrorism, human trafficking, and organised crime. The papers and recommendations from the conference will be presented to the heads of intelligence agencies for review and decision-making.
CISSA was established in 2004 under the African Union framework to improve intelligence sharing and cooperation among African states. Over the years, it has become a vital platform for shaping continental strategies to combat terrorism, extremism, and organised crime, while supporting Africa’s long-term Security agenda.
The conference is expected to contribute to broader African Union security policies and reinforce a continental commitment to preventing wars before they start.
