Dr Vasu Gounden receives 2025 contribution to African Diplomacy Award
ACCORD’s executive director, Vasu Gounden
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DR VASU GOUNDEN, an expert in global governance and conflict - resolution was honoured with the 2025 Contribution to African Diplomacy Award.
The award was on behalf of the Common Market for Eastern and Southern Africa (COMESA), International Relations Society of Kenya and the Konrad Adenauer Stiftung.
The recognition pays tribute to Gounden's visionary leadership as the founder and executive director of the African Centre for the Constructive Resolution of Disputes (ACCORD), where he dedicated over three decades to shaping dialogue, advancing mediation, and strengthening conflict resolution mechanisms across Africa and beyond.
Gounden, who is a lawyer, mediator, and an experienced conflict management practitioner and trainer, said he was deeply honoured and humbled.
"This recognition from COMESA, the International Relations Society of Kenya, and the Konrad Adenauer Stiftung means a great deal to me because it comes from three highly respected institutions that have worked tirelessly to strengthen peace, democracy, and regional integration in Africa.
"I see this award not as a personal accolade, but as a tribute to the thousands of people I’ve had the privilege of working with over the past three decades — colleagues, partners, and communities who share the belief that Africa can and must solve its own challenges," said Gounden.
He said the award reinforces what he has always believed, that peace, development, and prosperity were inseparable.
"Through ACCORD, our focus has been on linking peacebuilding to social and economic transformation. Sustainable peace cannot exist where poverty, unemployment, and inequality persist.
"This award is a reminder that our work is most impactful when we bridge these divides and help build societies that are both peaceful and prosperous. This is also the main challenge we face in South Africa," he said.
Gounden said the award was a reflection of both ACCORD’s long-standing peacebuilding efforts and their current collaborations with COMESA to strengthen community-level conflict resolution along trade corridors and border regions.
"We’re helping women and youth entrepreneurs resolve disputes peacefully and turn trade into a vehicle for cooperation, not conflict.
"At the same time, it also acknowledges the broader vision we are pursuing through Africa Green Gold, a new initiative that brings together sustainable agriculture, renewable energy, and technology to create jobs and ensure food and energy security across Africa. In many ways, it’s an extension of the same philosophy that has guided ACCORD for 33 years, that lasting peace grows from opportunity, inclusion, and shared prosperity," said Gounden.
Supra Mahumapelo, chairperson of the Portfolio Committee on International Relations, said Gounden was a model of how diplomacy and mediation could still be conducted with a touch of ubuntu while remaining relevant to the people and the regions.
"This award is easily deserved of this proud African ambassador and it is about time he was recognised for his ambassadorial work in Eastern and Southern African markets.
“There are so many things young and aspiring ambassadors could learn from this giant. Nothing moves him other than the interests of the continent and his people,” said Mahumapelo.