Luanda - The former presidents of Nigeria, Mozambique and Malawi, Olusengu Obasanjo, Joaquim Chissano and Joyce Banda, are among the guest speakers at the 3rd edition of the Pan-African Forum for the Culture of Peace and Non-Violence - Luanda Biennial, to be held on the 22nd, 23rd and 24th of this month.
The list of speakers, headed by President João Lourenço, also includes the presidents of the African Union, Azali Assoumani, of the African Union Commission, Moussa Mahamat, and the African Union Counsellor, Kgalema Motlanthe.
Confirmed are the presidents of Cabo Verde, José Maria Neves, São Tomé and Príncipe, Carlos Vila Nova, and Ethiopia, Sahle-WorkZewed, as well as the vice-president of Namibia, Nangolo Mbumba, and the prime minister of Equatorial Guinea, Manuela RokaBotey.
The event will be attended by more than 850 participants from 62 countries and 50 partners.
The Pan-African Forum for the Culture of Peace and Nonviolence will also be attended by the President of the African Union Commission, Mousa Faki Mahamat, and the Deputy Director-General of UNESCO, Xing Qu.
The meeting will feature six dialogue panels in a round table format, of which the first panel, called the High-Level Intergenerational Dialogue, will feature heads of state as speakers.
To ensure broad participation, the forum will adopt a hybrid session format, with face-to-face and virtual participation on the first and second day.
Parallel activities are also planned, such as a musical concert by ResiliArt Angola, with Cape Verdean, Cameroonian and Angolan singers, an art exhibition and a performance by the national dance group Sassa Tchokwé, as well as moments by gospel music artists.
Among the expected results of this 3rd edition of the Luanda Biennale, the highlight is the deepening of the sharing of visions on the culture of peace, security, African citizenship and democracy on the continent, with the building of more peaceful societies, transforming attitudes and approaches in the fields of politics, economics and culture, to strengthen the pillars of integral progress on the continent.
It is also hoped to liaise with the African Union to prepare and carry out the continent's activities inherent to Peace and Reconciliation in Africa, due to the designation of the President of the Republic, João Lourenço, as the African Union's Champion of Peace and Reconciliation.
The aim is also to strengthen reflection on the advantages of implementing quality education, African citizenship, continental integration, climate action, the use of renewable energy and information and communication technologies, the empowerment of women and girls, as well as the consolidation of democratic governance and the rule of law in Africa.
The Luanda Biennale serves as a platform for implementing the "Action Plan for a Culture of Peace in Africa/Let's act for peace", adopted in March 2013 in Luanda at the Pan-African Forum "Sources and Resources for a Culture of Peace". VM/DAN/DOJ
