By Comrade Timi Frank
As an African writer, I watched the Abraham Accords with interest, even though they came from a region far from our continent. On the surface, they are about the Middle East. But beneath that, they carry lessons that matter to Africa and to the wider world.
The Abraham Accords took shape under the leadership of former and current U.S. President Donald Trump and his administration, which chose to push a different approach to a longstanding conflict. Instead of waiting for every disagreement to be resolved, the process focused on practical cooperation encouraging dialogue, trade, security collaboration, and engagement between former adversaries. While many actors were involved, the political will shown at that moment helped turn an unlikely idea into reality.
Africa understands this reality very well. Our continent has lived through conflicts that lasted decades. We know that waiting for “perfect conditions” before talking often means waiting forever. In many African countries, peace began when former enemies decided to engage, even when wounds were still fresh and trust was limited.
One of the strongest ideas behind the Abraham Accords is that peace can grow from shared interests. When countries trade together, invest together, and solve problems together, the cost of conflict becomes higher than the benefits. Economic cooperation does not solve everything, but it creates space for dialogue and stability.
This lesson is especially important for Africa. Poverty, unemployment, and isolation continue to fuel conflict across the continent. Where people see opportunity, hope grows. Where borders open for trade and ideas, tensions often reduce. That is why regional integration and economic cooperation remain critical for Africa’s future.
At the same time, Africans cannot ignore questions of fairness and justice. Our history of colonialism has made us deeply sensitive to voices that are left out. Any peace effort that ignores legitimate grievances risks being fragile. True peace must eventually listen to everyone involved.
Still, the Abraham Accords remind us of an important truth: long-standing conflicts are not impossible to change. They show that courage, dialogue, and practical cooperation can break cycles of hostility that once seemed permanent.
For Africa, the lesson is not to copy the Abraham Accords, but to learn from their spirit. Peace does not always begin with perfect solutions. Sometimes, it begins with a decision to talk, to trade, and to coexist.
In a world facing growing division, Africa should embrace peace models that are realistic, fair, and people centered. We have our own stories of resilience and reconciliation. The challenge now is to build on them and show that peace, even when imperfect, is always better than endless conflict.
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…Frank is a former Deputy National Publicity Secretary of the All Progressives Congress. He currently serves as ULMWP Ambassador (East Africa and Middle East) and Senior Advisor, Global Friendship City Association (GFCA), USA
