From October 20th to 22nd, 2023, the vibrant city of Lomé, Togo, served as the backdrop for the inaugural Lome Peace and Security Forum (LPSF), a groundbreaking assembly that transcended borders, disciplines, and backgrounds. This Historic Event Convened a diverse ensemble of political leaders, researchers, policymakers, practitioners, and youth, representing a myriad of perspectives and experiences from Africa, America, Asia and Europe. The geographical diversity of the panelists has been a source of richness for the discussions, making the LPSF not only genuinely international but, above all, inclusive.

At the heart of this unprecedented gathering was the central

theme, “ How to strengthen political transitions towards democratic governance in Africa.” Against the serene backdrop of Lomé, a city known for its tradition of peace, mediation, dialogue, and tolerance, the forum unfolded over two days at the prestigious Hôtel 2 Février.

Following the principles of the African Palaver Tree, a traditional space dedicated to inclusive social dialogue where every community member has the right to speak, the LPSF gave the floor to representatives of both regional and international organizations, to researchers and representatives of civil society organizations, and the Ministers of countries undergoing political transitions, such as Burkina Faso, Chad, Mali and Niger.

The LPSF transcended the conventional boundaries of discourse by fostering cross-sectoral responses to the overarching global question: how can political transitions towards democratic governance be fortified in Africa? Participants boldly asserted their positions, engaging in a dialogue that not only identified weaknesses and gaps in current approaches but, more  importantly, focused on innovative solutions and areas for improvement.

This document serves as an overview of the first edition of the LPSF, aiming to distill the multitude of shared information and exchanges that took place. By acknowledging the

multifaceted challenges and opportunities explored during the LPSF, this report seeks to echo the key discussions during the Forum on the challenges of democratic governance and sustainable peace in Africa, thereby providing an informative foundation to stimulate in-depth reflection. The subsequent sections look closely at the thematic explorations of the forum, providing a comprehensive synthesis of the key ideas and recommendations that emerged from this groundbreaking assembly.