Comrade Timi Frank
Comrade Timi Frank, former Deputy National Publicity Secretary of the All Progressives Congress (APC), has urged African leaders to fundamentally rethink how peace is pursued on the continent, arguing that stability can be built through pragmatic cooperation even when political disagreements remain unresolved.
In a statement accompanying his policy brief, “The Abraham Accords and Africa: Strategic Lessons for Peace, Integration, and Global Relevance,” Frank said Africa’s persistent conflicts demand new thinking beyond traditional, all-or-nothing peace frameworks.
He pointed to the Abraham Accords, brokered in 2020, as an example of how diplomatic engagement and economic cooperation can move forward without waiting for the complete resolution of historical disputes. The accords normalised relations between Israel and several Arab states, reshaping Middle Eastern diplomacy by privileging practical interests over entrenched hostility.
Frank said Africa, facing prolonged instability in the Sahel, the Great Lakes region and the Horn of Africa, can draw valuable insights from this approach.
“For too long, peace in Africa has been treated as a final destination rather than a gradual process,” he said. “When dialogue is held hostage to perfect political conditions, conflict tends to harden instead of soften.”
According to him, early engagement—through shared infrastructure, regional trade and coordinated security efforts—can reduce mistrust and create incentives for stability. He stressed that cooperation itself can become a tool for de-escalation.
Frank, who serves as ULMWP Ambassador to East Africa and the Middle East and Senior Advisor to the Global Friendship City Association (GFCA), USA, noted that the Abraham Accords showed that engagement does not legitimise conflict but can instead contain it.
“Peace does not begin after every issue is settled; it often begins while issues are still being negotiated,” he said.
On the economic front, Frank highlighted how trade and investment surged among the accord’s signatories, describing economic interdependence as one of the strongest deterrents to renewed conflict. He said Africa already has a framework capable of delivering similar outcomes through the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA).
“If fully implemented, AfCFTA can function as a peace mechanism, not just a trade agreement,” he said. “Shared prosperity lowers the cost of conflict.”
Frank also linked regional instability to broader security threats facing Africa, including terrorism, arms trafficking and forced migration. He argued that reduced tensions in one region can have stabilising effects far beyond its borders and called for stronger Africa-led security collaboration anchored in the African Union Peace and Security Architecture.
On foreign policy, Frank said the Abraham Accords underscored a global shift toward interest-based diplomacy. He urged African states to adopt non-aligned but strategic partnerships that prioritise technology transfer, food security, water sustainability and renewable energy.
“Africa’s relevance in a multipolar world will depend on how clearly it defines and defends its interests,” he said.
While acknowledging the progress enabled by pragmatic cooperation, Frank cautioned against ignoring unresolved grievances. He stressed that economic engagement must complement—not replace—inclusive political dialogue and respect for justice and international law.
He outlined three strategic priorities for African leaders: initiating dialogue without rigid preconditions, using economic integration as a stabilising force, and pursuing interest-driven diplomacy anchored in fairness and inclusion.
Frank concluded that the Abraham Accords should not be viewed as a template for Africa, but as a strategic signal.
“With political will and practical cooperation, Africa can break cycles of conflict, strengthen regional unity and assert itself as a credible global actor,” he said, adding that peace can begin even under imperfect conditions when leaders choose engagement over stalemate.