Babatunde “Tunde” Afolabi, Regional Director for Anglophone and Lusophone Africa at the Centre for Humanitarian Dialogue (HD), has spoken about ongoing efforts to resolve conflicts across the continent through quiet mediation and diplomacy.

With years of experience in peacebuilding, Afolabi has worked on several high-level mediation processes in West Africa and beyond. Before joining HD, he served at the ECOWAS Commission, where he helped develop conflict prevention frameworks and supported the work of the ECOWAS Council of the Wise.

In a recent reflection on Africa’s security challenges, Afolabi highlighted the importance of both official and behind-the-scenes mediation in tackling conflicts. He stressed that many African disputes are best resolved through dialogue involving local actors, traditional leaders, and neutral facilitators rather than only military or forceful approaches.

Afolabi has contributed to peace efforts in countries facing political tensions, resource-based conflicts, and community violence. His work often focuses on bringing together parties in discreet talks to prevent escalation and find lasting solutions. He has also written extensively on the role of non-state actors in peacemaking, including in his book on the Liberian civil war.

He noted that while Africa continues to face security challenges such as insurgency, banditry, and political instability, there are quiet successes happening through patient mediation. These efforts, he said, help create space for dialogue even when public attention is limited.

Afolabi called for stronger support for local mediation capacities and better collaboration between governments, regional bodies like ECOWAS and the African Union, and independent organisations. He believes home-grown solutions that respect African contexts often produce more sustainable peace.

His comments come as several African countries continue to struggle with different forms of conflict, even as others record progress through negotiated settlements.

Tunde Afolabi’s work reflects the growing role of experienced African mediators in addressing the continent’s complex security issues through dialogue and trust-building.