The Kofi Annan International Peacekeeping Training Centre (KAIPTC) on Saturday, December 6, hosted a commemorative symposium in honour of the African Union High Representative for Silencing the Guns, Dr Mohammed Ibn Chambas, marking his 75th birthday.
The event celebrated his longstanding contributions to diplomacy, peacebuilding and governance across the African continent.
Bringing together former heads of state, diplomats, senior government officials, academics and civil society leaders, the event centred on the theme: “Inclusive Peacebuilding, Local Agency, and Multilevel Governance: Strengthening Community Resilience and Regional Partnerships for Sustainable Peace in West Africa and the Sahel.”
Acting Commandant of the KAIPTC, Air Commodore David Anettey Akrong, in his welcome address, described Dr Chambas as “an extraordinary statesman, lawyer, diplomat and peace advocate,” whose influence on Africa’s political and security architecture remains unmatched.
“Today, we gather not only to celebrate a milestone in his life, but also to acknowledge his immense contributions to peace, security and governance across Africa and beyond,” he said.
Akrong highlighted Dr Chambas’ long-standing engagement with the Centre as Goodwill Ambassador and Chair of the Kofi Annan Peace and Security (CAPS) Forum, emphasising that his leadership had “strengthened the KAIPTC’s mission and inspired countless practitioners and scholars in the field of peace and security.”
He reiterated that the symposium was more than a birthday celebration, it was designed to reflect on Dr Chambas’ legacy and apply the lessons of his mediation and diplomatic work to contemporary challenges.
Violent extremism, governance crises and local vulnerabilities in West Africa and the Sahel, Mr Akrong noted, made the themes of inclusive peacebuilding and local agency more urgent than ever.
“The presence of former heads of state, eminent government officials, members of the diplomatic corps and distinguished academics underscores the significance of Dr Mohammed Ibn Chambas’ legacy,” he added, praising his “blend of wisdom and warmth.”
Mr Akrong added, “May today’s deliberations be enriching and impactful. Congratulations, Dr Ibn Chambas the KAIPTC fraternity wishes you a happy 75th birthday.”
Former Director of the Institute of African Studies at the University of Ghana, Emerita Professor Takyiwaa Manu, in her remarks, positioned Dr Chambas’ career as central to Africa’s modern peace and security landscape.
As Chairperson of the Planning Committee, she explained that the day’s activities, a symposium, commemorative dinner, tribute publication, and documentary screening, were organised to “produce a fitting testament to his life’s work and interests.”
Prof Manu placed the celebration against the backdrop of Africa’s numerous contemporary security challenges, from terrorism in the Sahel and Lake Chad Basin to resource conflicts, maritime insecurity and democratic backsliding.
“At a time when multilateralism is under severe strain,” she said, “few African leaders have played as central and sustained a role in shaping these responses as Dr Mohammed Ibn Chambas.”
She charted his career through several major African and global institutions:
- As Executive Secretary of ECOWAS, he led responses to conflicts in Liberia, Sierra Leone and Côte d’Ivoire and strengthened mechanisms for conflict prevention, peacekeeping and security cooperation.
- As Secretary General of the ACP Group, he enhanced South–South cooperation and global development partnerships.
- As Joint AU-UN Special Representative for Darfur, he guided mediation and peacekeeping efforts in one of Africa’s most challenging conflict zones.
- As UN Special Representative for West Africa and the Sahel, he championed preventive diplomacy and peaceful elections.
- As AU High Representative for Silencing the Guns, he mobilised political will across the continent to curb armed conflict.
“This legacy of service has left an indelible mark on Africa’s peace and security landscape,” she said, adding that the event also aimed to mentor a new generation of peacebuilders and preserve Dr Chambas’ legacy in written and visual form.
Prof Manuh expressed gratitude to planning committee members, supporters and the KAIPTC for hosting the event.
She noted that the programme had been funded not by traditional donors but by “proud and grateful Africans and friends of Dr Chambas.”
The celebrant, Dr Ibn Chambas, urged Africans to defend their dignity, identity and historical memory in the face of ongoing global injustices.
“We are becoming too timid even to defend our dignity as African people. It’s not acceptable,” he said, recalling a long history of enslavement, colonialism, neo-colonialism and racism.
“It’s about time that we started standing up to defend our dignity as an African people.”
He praised cultural institutions such as the Pan-African Heritage Museum for their work in preserving African heritage and projecting African identity, asserting that Africans must protect their history from distortion and denigration.
“We must begin to defend our history, our heritage, and not allow others to demean us as a people,” he stressed.
Outlining his broader vision for the continent’s progress, Dr Chambas said Africa’s aspirations are simple yet profound: peace, dignity, stability, respect for human rights, and the harnessing of Africa’s youthful dynamism and natural wealth.
“We’re not asking much,” he said. “We just want to live in our countries peacefully, in dignity… and to prosper our continent.”
He expressed strong optimism that, with unity and determination, Africans can build a better continent for future generations.
“If we are all united in this, we can, together, make Africa a better continent for our generations and generations yet to come,” he concluded.
Dr Chambas thanked attendees, calling their presence “an affirmation of our collective will to fight for a dignified and prosperous Africa.”
About Dr Mohamed Ibn Chambas
Dr Mohamed Ibn Chambas is one of Africa’s most distinguished statesmen.
He is a diplomat, lawyer, mediator, and global peace advocate whose work has shaped conflict resolution, governance reforms, and regional integration across West Africa and the world.
Born in Bimbilla in northern Ghana and raised in a family deeply rooted in leadership, service, and spirituality, he grew into a man whose life would reflect the virtues of humility, fairness, and courage instilled during his youth.
Dr Mohamed Ion Chambas began his formal education at Mfantsipim School in Cape Coast and later attended what is now Tamale Secondary School in Tamale for his A-levels.
He earned a Bachelor of Arts in Political Science from the University of Ghana, Legon, in 1973 before advancing his studies in the United States at Cornell University, Ithaca, New York, where he obtained a Master’s degree in 1977 and a PhD in 1980.
In addition to his political-science credentials, he pursued legal training at Case Western Reserve University in Cleveland, Ohio, earning a Juris Doctor degree (J.D.) and qualifying to practice law in both Ghana and the U.S. state of Ohio. These academic pursuits sharpened his intellect and deepened his commitment to justice.
Throughout his illustrious career, Dr Chambas helped define modern peace processes in Liberia, Sierra Leone, Côte d’Ivoire, Guinea, Mali, The Gambia, Sudan, and the Sahel and at the same time strengthened institutions at ECOWAS, ACP, the AU, and UNOWAS.
Beyond titles and offices, he is known for his warmth, patience, humour, and unwavering belief in the African people and in the continent of Africa.