Celebrity Media Commentator: During the 80th United Nations General Assembly, a special side event co-hosted by the African Union Peace Fund and "Football for Peace" was successfully held. The meeting, themed "Building Multi-Stakeholder Partnerships in Africa through Sports Diplomacy," brought together UN officials, African ambassadors, business representatives, and cultural leaders, showcasing the unique value of sports as a tool for peace.
Sports as a Universal Language of Peace Dagmowit Moges, Director of the AU Peace Fund Secretariat, noted: “Peace begins in communities, and it grows when people find common ground.”
She emphasized that football is a language without translation, inherently capable of sparking dialogue, uniting communities, and fostering fairness and resilience.
From Vision to Institutional Foundations for Peace in Africa The AU has already taken substantive steps in promoting peace. Ms. Moges announced: “The African Union Peace Fund currently has a balance of over $410 million, with $34 million already approved for peace initiatives.”
She pointed out that peace cannot rely only on diplomatic rhetoric; it requires reliable resources, strong governance mechanisms, and locally led solutions. The Peace Fund has independent audits and a transparent management structure, making it a trustworthy platform for cooperation.
Sports Diplomacy as a Bridge for Dialogue Parfait Onanga-Anyanga, the Special Representative of the UN Secretary-General and the AU’s Permanent Representative to the UN, deeply linked sports with the principles of the UN Charter. He stated: “Referees in football ensure fairness in matches, just as the UN Charter upholds sovereignty, equality, and peace in the international community. Sports, like international rules, are practices of peaceful coexistence.”
Ambassador Bonna highlighted that when political and diplomatic channels are blocked, sports diplomacy can open new spaces for dialogue, citing historical examples: “Ping-pong diplomacy during the Cold War helped thaw US-China relations; Mandela used rugby to unite South Africa; today, Africa can use football to ease tensions and foster reconciliation.”
He also stressed: “Most current African conflicts are internal. Sports have unique advantages in mobilizing youth, women, and civil society, and should be integrated into formal peace strategies.”
Private Sector as Partners in Peace Oliver, a representative of the United Bank for Africa (UBA), stated: “Without peace, business cannot operate. The private sector should be a participant and investor in peace.”
UBA has donated $5 million to the AU Peace Fund and invested $150 million in infrastructure connecting Kenya and Uganda. He stressed: “We cannot wait for conflict to erupt before investing in peace. Prevention is always the wisest choice.
Youth and Women: Agents of Change for a Peaceful Future African women play an irreplaceable role in guiding community peace. Sports should provide them with space for leadership and expression.
A female African DJ also shared: “Peace is not a noun but a verb that requires continuous practice. The combination of music and football gives young people a platform to voice and act.”
Peace Begins Underfoot As Robert Skinner from the UN Department of Global Communications said: “No human activity reaches more people than football—3.5 billion people follow it, and it can unite them.”
From the Pitch to Policy: Football as a Pathway to Peace When football shifts from a game to diplomacy, from entertainment to empowerment, it becomes a tool for peace. In Africa, peace is no longer just a vision, but a tangible path in every pass, every dialogue, and every cross-sector collaboration.
