Dr Naledi Pandor emphasised that the wars unfolding across the African continent are not driven by a single cause, but by a complex multiplicity of factors. These include governance failures, internal political contestation, economic exclusion, competition over resources, unresolved historical grievances, and the manipulation of domestic tensions by external interests.

Understanding this complexity is essential, because without addressing these interconnected drivers simultaneously, efforts at mediation and peacebuilding will continue to fall short.

One of the most striking insights was the tension between sovereignty and unity. Africa has built impressive continental institutions on paper, but when crises erupt, states retreat behind sovereignty, leaving the African Union with limited ability to act decisively.

Dr Pandor challenged Africans to reflect honestly:

• At what point does sovereignty stop protecting citizens and begin failing them?

• Why does Africa negotiate peace externally, while struggling to resolve conflicts internally?

JOIN THE NEXT WOMEN IN GEOPOLITICS DISCUSSION: Coups, Militarisation and Democratic Breakdown: What Has the AU Failed to Prevent?

???? Friday, 6 February 2026
? 11:00 AM SAST | 12:00 PM EAT | 10:00 AM WAT

???? Virtual (Zoom)

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CALL FOR SPEAKERS

Leading Women of Africa (LWA) invites male and female experts from across Africa and the diaspora to contribute to the Women in Geopolitics Debate Series – Season 1.

We welcome expressions of interest from:

• Diplomats and former diplomats

• Policymakers and parliamentarians

• Academics and researchers

• Peace and security practitioners

• Governance and gender experts

• Civil society leaders

• Independent analysts and strategists

• Why are Africa’s vast resources still treated as national assets rather than continental strength?

???? Watch the full conversation with Dr Naledi Pandor on Beyond Boundaries