S/PV.10012 Security Council

In accordance with rule 39 of the Council’s provisional rules of procedure, I invite the following briefers to participate in this meeting: Mr. Parfait Onanga-Anyanga, Special Representative of the Secretary- General to the African Union and Head of the United Nations Office to the African Union; His Excellency Mr. Mohamed Fathi Ahmed Edrees, Permanent Observer of the African Union to the United Nations; and Ms. Martha Ama Akyaa Pobee, Assistant Secretary-General for Africa in the Departments of Political and Peacebuilding Affairs and Peace Operations. The Security Council will now begin its consideration of the item on its agenda. I wish to draw the attention of Council members to document S/2025/532, which contains the report of the Secretary-General on strengthening the partnership between the United Nations and the African Union on issues of peace and security in Africa, including the work of the United Nations Office to the African Union. I now give the floor to Mr. Onanga-Anyanga. Mr. Onanga-Anyanga: It is a great honour for me and my colleagues to join members today in the Security Council. Few regions need members’ invaluable leadership and support as much as Africa. I am therefore grateful to you, Mr. President, as the President of the Security Council for October, and to all members of the Security Council, for convening this important meeting on the agenda item “Cooperation between the United Nations and regional and subregional organizations in maintaining international peace and security”, including the African Union (AU), on which the Secretary-General has submitted to the Council his report entitled “Strengthening the partnership between the United Nations and the African Union on issues of peace and security in Africa, including the work of the United Nations Office to the African Union” (S/2025/532). The tenth informal joint seminar and nineteenth annual joint consultative meeting between members of the Security Council and the AU Peace and Security Council, to be held next week in Addis Ababa, underscore the strategic and deepening nature of the United Nations-AU partnership, both reaffirming and amplifying the Council’s primary responsibility for global peace and security. The report provides a comprehensive overview of the key achievements, milestones and challenges in the partnership between the United Nations and the African Union in the area of peace and security in Africa during the reporting period. As the Secretary-General has accurately stated, the United Nations and the African Union have developed a unique partnership, rooted in the principles of complementarity, respect and African ownership  — a partnership that has become a cornerstone of multilateralism. The report outlines the opportunities for a deepening of the strategic partnership with the African Union within the context Africa is a continent of incredible promise and opportunities. Its population is youthful, energetic, innovative and brimming with hope and immense untapped potential. As stated in the report of the Secretary-General, in the past year, free, fair and credible elections have been conducted in several countries, in particular with the peaceful transition of power from one political party to another in Botswana, Ghana, Mauritius and Senegal, and more recently in Malawi, where the new President was inaugurated last weekend. Also worth noting is the peaceful political transition in Gabon. African Union election observation missions have noted positive developments, including a visible increase in the participation of women and the youth as voters, election officials and party agents, and we are witnessing greater efficiency in many national electoral management bodies. On the economic front, Africa continues to demonstrate commendable resilience, driven by a youthful population, abundant natural resources, expanding consumer markets and the transformative opportunities to accelerate trade-led integration and drive inclusive sustainable development through the African Continental Free Trade Area. Yet, despite these overall positive and recognized trends, concerns remain in some parts of the continent about the number and complexity of conflicts, often worsened by, inter alia, weak or ineffective State authority, violent extremism conducive to terrorist activities, the inequitable management of natural resources, organized crime, the impact of climate change, acute food insecurity and in some cases the denial of fundamental human rights. In the Horn of Africa, we continue to witness multifaceted and interlocking conflict drivers, including stalled and faltering political transitions, territorial disputes, climate-induced insecurity and ever-worsening humanitarian crises. The ongoing conflict in the Sudan stands out as the largest humanitarian and forced displacement crisis worldwide. We therefore welcome the renewed impetus in diplomatic efforts in recent weeks to end the deadly and destabilizing conflict in the Sudan. The spillover effects of this conflict are significantly impacting peace and security in the region. In this regard, the precarious situation in South Sudan calls for urgent action at the highest levels to ensure that the end of the transition, as envisaged in the Revitalized Agreement on the Resolution of the Conflict in the Republic of South Sudan, remains on track. In the Great Lakes region, prospects for peace and stability remain elusive, notwithstanding the mediation efforts by the African Union, building upon the East African Community and the Southern African Development Community peace initiatives, among others. Recent confrontations between the forces of the Government of the Democratic Republic of the Congo and the Alliance Fleuve Congo/Mouvement du 23 mars (AFC/ M23) are testing the commitment of the parties to the Peace Agreement Between the Democratic Republic of the Congo and the Republic of Rwanda, signed on 27 June, as well as the ongoing follow-through of the Doha declaration of principles, signed in July between the Democratic Republic of the Congo and the AFC/M23 under the facilitation of the State of Qatar. In the Sahel region, the situation demands our continued and focused attention. First, we must address the serious threats of terrorism and mitigate climate-exacerbated conflicts, which have increased displacement and deepened humanitarian crises. Secondly, there is a need for effective collective support for the transition processes in the region. In that regard, we commend the various initiatives of the African Ultimately, as the Secretary-General and other leaders have stressed, no military solution whatsoever can resolve the underlying causes of the conflict in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, in the Sudan or elsewhere in Africa. I call upon the Council to continue to leverage its influence towards the peaceful settlement of outstanding issues between the parties. More broadly, in his New Agenda for Peace, the Secretary-General advocates that prevention should start at home, including by establishing dedicated conflict prevention mechanisms and peacebuilding processes that promote national cohesion and the search for durable political solutions through inclusive dialogue. This is particularly relevant in contexts where institution-building and the rule of law are still in the making and where deeply entrenched identities can be easily weaponized. I commend the African Union for prioritizing prevention efforts through its robust tools, which can be more effective with the right political will. (spoke in French) While fully acknowledging that climate change is not a direct cause of conflict, the African Leaders’ Addis Ababa Declaration on Climate Change and Call to Action, adopted at the second Africa Climate Summit last month, explicitly identified climate change as a conflict risk multiplier with destabilizing effects across the continent. In this context, African leaders are finalizing consultations to adopt a common African position on climate, peace and security. It is equally important to highlight the very promising partnership between the United Nations and the African Union in advancing the implementation of resolution 1325 (2000), on women and peace and security, as we mark its twenty- fifth anniversary. The United Nations has supported the African Union in deploying high- level advocacy missions to Namibia, Malawi and Tanzania to observe women’s participation in electoral processes and to strengthen their role in peace efforts in the eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo and the Great Lakes region. During the reporting period, I continued to stress the urgent need to address the situation of women and girls in conflict-affected regions, particularly in the eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo and the Sudan, where gender-based and conflict- related sexual violence remain endemic. The peace and security challenges we face in Africa call for proactive conflict prevention. In this regard, security sector and governance reform remain key components of the United Nations-African Union partnership, particularly to address the root causes of conflict and consolidate peace. The efforts of the African Union Peace and Security Council to promote security sector reform and governance as essential tools for conflict prevention deserve our full support. Likewise, disarmament, demobilization and reintegration programmes will remain indispensable, as we are seeing now in the Central African Republic. As for the United Nations-African Union partnership in peace operations, the United Nations continues to work closely with the African Union, regional economic communities and regional mechanisms to support peace support and peacekeeping operations, including the African Standby Force. This entails sound planning and effective management of African Union peace support operations, in full compliance with international human rights law and international humanitarian law, and in line with applicable standards on conduct and discipline and the respective mandates of our institutions. As the Secretary-General said at the African Union Summit in February, the partnership between the African Union and the United Nations has never been stronger. This collaboration is founded on the shared values and aspirations of our two organizations. It is built on the recognition that effectively addressing the challenges Africa faces requires concerted and coordinated efforts by both organizations. Such efforts can be seen notably through the annual conference and other regular meetings throughout the year between the Secretary-General and the Chairperson of the African Union Commission; through high-level strategic dialogues co-chaired by the Deputy Chairperson of the Commission and the Deputy Secretary-General; and through meetings of the United Nations-African Union Joint Task Force on Peace and Security at the level of commissioners and assistant secretaries-general, the twenty-fifth and most recent of which was held last month here in New York. Cooperation between the Security Council and the African Union Peace and Security Council is an essential pillar of this partnership. I take this opportunity to commend both Councils for the steady progress made in strengthening their collaboration. I am confident that your next visit to Addis Ababa, Mr. President, will provide a fresh opportunity to agree on the priority areas of your partnership. I especially wish to commend the crucial coordinating role of the three African members of the Security Council, which maintain a vital link between the two Councils. In conclusion, I wish to reaffirm what the Secretary-General has consistently emphasized throughout his tenure: that the strong and enduring partnership between the United Nations and the African Union, together with other regional organizations, forms the foundation of effective, networked multilateralism, which is essential to address the complex, evolving and interconnected threats facing peace, security, development and human rights today, particularly in Africa. Finally, I wish to take this opportunity to pay tribute to the leadership of the African Union Commission, particularly Chairperson Mahmoud Ali Youssouf and Commissioner Bankole Adeoye, for their strong and unwavering commitment to the United Nations-African Union partnership in peace and security.

I thank Mr. Onanga-Anyanga for his briefing. I now give the floor to Mr. Edrees. Mr. Edrees: At the outset, allow me to warmly congratulate the Russian Federation for assuming the presidency of the Council for the month of October and to appreciate and commend the briefing by my dear brother, Special Representative of the Secretary-General Parfait Onanga-Anyanga. Let me also commend the valuable and comprehensive report of the Secretary- General (S/2025/532), on the partnership between the African Union (AU) and the United Nations. This partnership is grounded in the principle of complementarity, acknowledging that effective security solutions require the concerted efforts of both institutions, working together to address present and future security challenges. The collaboration between the Security Council and the African Union Peace and Security Council ensures political and strategic convergence on peace and security issues on the continent. To facilitate effective collaboration, the role of the AU Office here in New York is critical in enhancing and consolidating this partnership and cooperation. In the This meeting is taking place at a time at which Africa is confronting an unprecedented web of security threats. We must work together to address these challenges, from Libya to the Sahel, to cut any connection with threats to the Lake Chad basin region and West Africa. The same determination is required to achieve peace in the Sudan, prevent any escalation of conflicts in the east and the Horn of Africa and facilitate all efforts towards stability in the Democratic Republic of the Congo and the Great Lakes region. We must also continue to support the Government and the people of Mozambique and their efforts to continue to keep its northern region safe and free from terrorist threats. We commend the efforts of the African Members of the Security Council plus one (A3+), namely Algeria, Guyana, Sierra Leone and Somalia, for serving as a strong voice in advancing African interests and priorities in the Security Council. The close coordination with the Caribbean region and the plus members, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, previously, and now Guyana, contributes to strengthening Africa’s collective advocacy and solidarity. Let me also emphasize the significance of General Assembly resolution 79/329. Before the adoption of this resolution on 5 September this year, the African Union was, for 12 years, the only regional organization without a comparable framework. Its adoption, therefore, constitutes a vital step in strengthening cooperation between the two organizations. Guided by the principles enshrined in the Charter of the United Nations and the Constitutive Act of the African Union, this resolution serves to enable alignment of AU-United Nations efforts towards achieving shared objectives. As we continue enhancing our partnership, further progress requires networked multilateral efforts and flexibility to guarantee the achievement of peace and security across the continent. In this regard, allow me to highlight three areas that require critical consideration. First, penholdership and co-penholdership of the A3+ should be encouraged, supported and enhanced, to ensure Africa’s leadership and ownership of files that affect its Member States and the continent. This is to guarantee that African priorities are considered and integrated in the outcomes of Council decisions on Africa and on issues of interest to the continent. Secondly, in instances in which United Nations peacekeeping may not be suitable, it is crucial to recognize that AU-led peace support operations, including enforcement actions, contribute to both regional and global peace and security efforts. In this context, the effective implementation and utilization of resolution 2719 (2023) is a top priority. Attempts to use it to support African Union Support and Stabilization Mission in Somalia operations revealed that a lack of political will, not technical capacity, remains the most significant stumbling block. Thirdly, multilateral efforts and support from the international community for conflict prevention and mediation efforts should be directed to enhance Africa’s ownership and leadership. The support of the United Nations and the broader international community for the efforts that led to the signing and the implementation of the cessation of hostilities agreement, reached in Pretoria, is a case in point and should be replicated in other instances in a context-specific manner. Steadfast in our shared commitment to foster strengthened collaboration and partnership, the Chairperson of the African Union Commission looks forward to his visit to New York for the ninth AU-United Nations annual conference, towards the In addition, we look forward to the nineteenth annual joint consultative meeting between the African Union Peace and Security Council and the United Nations Security Council, to be co-chaired by the Russian Federation and the Republic of Botswana in Addis Ababa on 17 October 2025. This meeting will provide a valuable opportunity to further enhance coordination and cooperation between the two Councils in advancing peace, security and stability across the African continent. The cooperation between the African Union and the United Nations in the field of peacebuilding is equally noteworthy. The African Union enjoys a standing invitation to participate in all meetings of the Peacebuilding Commission, thereby ensuring that the voice of the African Union is heard on matters related to peacebuilding. The valuable support of the Peacebuilding Fund for many African countries is impactful and catalytic. We commend the continuous consultations between the Peacebuilding Commission and the African Union Peace and Security Council, and we are about to hold the eighth annual consultative meeting in Addis Ababa on 17 and 18 November. To conclude, any hesitation or failure to take decisive urgent action will affect the effectiveness of our two Councils and institutions to adequately prevent and address ongoing threats and conflicts that will have far-reaching consequences for global peace and security. Let us capitalize on the strengths and resilience of our Councils and institutions to achieve peace and stability, as well as an enabling environment for development and economic growth across Africa and the world.

I thank Mr. Edrees for his briefing. I now give the floor to Ms. Pobee. Ms. Pobee: I thank you, Mr. President, for the opportunity to brief the Security Council on the cooperation between the African Union (AU) and the United Nations. Special Representative Parfait Onanga-Anyanga provided Council members with an update on the main developments related to the strategic partnership. The African Union Permanent Observer, Mohamed Edrees, also gave a briefing on the African Union’s perspective on the matter. I will provide the Council with a brief progress update on the implementation of resolution 2719 (2023). This year marks the eightieth anniversary of the founding of the United Nations. African membership has grown from just four Member States in 1945 to some 54 today, constituting more than a quarter of the membership. The significance of this is also reflected in the partnership between the United Nations and the African Union (AU), which has never been stronger. We welcome, in this regard, the adoption of General Assembly resolution 79/329 on cooperation between the two organizations. As the Council is aware, armed conflicts have been resurgent globally, including in Africa. Conflicts have also grown in complexity. Resolution 2719 (2023) was, therefore, conceived as a means to address a long-standing gap in the African Peace and Security Architecture to better respond to armed conflicts on the African continent, with the support of the broader international community and the Council in particular. In this regard, we are encouraged that since the adoption of the resolution in 2023, the Council has repeatedly reiterated its support for the implementation thereof on a case-by-case basis, including in the letter from the President of the Security Council to the Secretary-General dated 23 May (S/2025/322). First, with regard to joint planning, reporting and decision-making, we have developed joint planning modalities for establishing new African Union-led peace support operations under the framework of resolution 2719 (2023). These planning modalities were approved at the twenty-fifth consultative meeting of the United Nations-African Union Joint Task Force on Peace and Security on 27 September. The modalities provide for a predictable, coherent and shared planning and decision-making architecture, serving as a common reference for possible future cases. Secondly, with regard to mission support, effective operational support will equally be critical for translating political mandates by the Security Council and the African Union Peace and Security Council into operational reality and for sustaining efficiency in the field. Accordingly, we have developed joint support planning modalities too. They foster synergies and complementarity in the delivery of operational support to African Union-led operations. This guidance document, also approved by the Joint Task Force on Peace and Security on 27 September, will be validated through a joint exercise. Thirdly, with regard to financing and budgeting, in May the Secretary-General submitted a report detailing how the Financial Regulations and Rules of the United Nations would apply should the Security Council decide to authorize an African Union-led peace support operation under the framework of resolution 2719 (2023), using the support office model (A/80/88). The report sets out standards for oversight, accountability and budgetary processes and provides a framework for the preparation and implementation of financial arrangements. Its application will be tailored to the specific African Union-led peace support operation authorized by the Council. The Secretary-General’s report is currently under review by the relevant United Nations legislative bodies. Fourthly, with regard to compliance and the protection of civilians, a robust human rights due diligence policy mechanism and a strengthened African Union Compliance and Accountability Framework are essential for the full implementation of resolution 2719 (2023). The implementation of the AU Compliance and Accountability Framework is advancing through the development of processes, policies and structures for African Union-led operations. For instance, the adoption of a draft African Union policy on gender integration in peace support operations is pending, alongside the development of a gender-responsive monitoring and evaluation curriculum, among others. The modalities developed across the four workstreams represent a concrete step in the operationalization of resolution 2719 (2023). They seek to ensure that our collaboration is grounded both in strategic vision and in operational practicality. A report on the overall implementation of resolution 2719 (2023) will be submitted at the end of the year, providing a detailed account of the work done. As we reflect on the future of peace operations and seek efficiencies, it becomes even more evident that resolution 2719 (2023) meets the moment. The resolution contributes to making peace operations relevant to contemporary challenges. It seeks to ensure that we leverage our respective advantages in keeping with the Pact In conclusion, I would like to reiterate the Secretary-General’s unwavering commitment to work towards the implementation of resolution 2719 (2023), to ensure that the African Union, with support from the United Nations, is in the best position to rise to the peace and security challenges of our times.

I thank Ms. Pobee for her briefing. I shall now give the floor to those members of the Council who wish to make statements.

I have the honour to deliver this statement on behalf of the three African members of the Security Council plus (A3+), namely, Guyana, Sierra Leone, Somalia and my own country, Algeria. We wish at the outset to thank Special Representative of the Secretary-General Parfait Onanga-Anyanga, Ambassador Mohamed Edrees, Permanent Observer of the African Union (AU), and Assistant Secretary-General Martha Pobee for their briefings. We appreciate the efforts of the Secretary-General in strengthening cooperation with the African Union, and we reaffirm our full commitment to advancing efforts aimed at deepening this existing partnership. In this regard, we wish to highlight the following points. First, today’s complex international context requires a deeper and more effective partnership between the African Union and the United Nations. The African Union has been and remains a strategic and reliable partner of the United Nations. In this regard, the United Nations reform process under the UN80 Initiative, coupled with the significant financial challenges facing the Organization, requires enhanced collaboration with regional organizations, including urgent institutional reform with respect to the AU’s long-standing call for equity within the United Nations, in particular the Security Council. We believe that it is time to implement the letter and the spirit of Chapter VIII of the Charter of the United Nations, which grants the AU a bigger role, along with the necessary and predictable resources to undertake peace initiatives on behalf of the international community. Such an approach would help to rationalize the resources and deliver better results in line with the current challenges. We welcome in this regard the continuing engagements between the Secretariat and the AU Commission, particularly through the United Nations-African Union annual conference and the United Nations-African Union Joint Task Force on Peace and Security. This institutional cooperation must be further enhanced to move beyond narratives and address urgent challenges by prioritizing resource mobilization for AU-led peace support operations. We are confident that the new leadership of the AU Commission will show the expected commitment to advancing this strategic partnership in line with the existing joint frameworks. The A3+ mechanism, with the support of the Permanent Observer Mission of the African Union to the United Nations, is seeking to deepen existing cooperation between the AU and the United Nations, including through the Oran Process, which serves as a coordination platform between the A3+ and the PSC, with the support of different bilateral and multilateral partners, particularly the United Nations. We therefore look forward to the upcoming joint consultative meetings, to be held in Addis Ababa, and express the readiness of the A3+ to contribute constructively to this important engagement. Moreover, we believe that the annual engagements between the AUPSC and the Security Council must transcend the mere adoption of joint communiqués. These outcomes should serve as a reference for future negotiations in both New York and Addis Ababa. Active follow-up on the implementation of previous joint communiqués is a necessity, and we welcome efforts undertaken in this regard by Somalia, as Chair of the Ad Hoc Working Group of the Security Council on Conflict Prevention and Resolution in Africa. Thirdly, it is important to confer concrete meaning on “African ownership” in the spirit of “African solutions for African problems”. Considering the nature of the challenges and the security threats that Africa is facing, including terrorism, governance deficits and unconstitutional changes of government, particularly in the Sahel region, it is essential to strengthen the AU’s mechanisms and frameworks under the African Peace and Security Architecture and the African governance architecture. As the first responder in crises, the African Union should be equipped with the required resources and the needed mutual trust to properly undertake operations on behalf of the Security Council and the international community. Resolution 2719 (2023) represents a clear framework for financing AU-led peace support operations from United Nations assessed contributions and a significant step forward towards securing predictable, adequate and sustainable resources in this regard. Yet, fixing a ceiling for financial contributions by the United Nations is not a viable solution. We must pursue innovative ways, building on the Council’s recent willingness to depart from the beaten track. Furthermore, the Council’s working methods must adapt to the growing need to support African ownership. Penholdership on African files must also evolve in response to Africa’s aspiration to own the solutions to its challenges. In conclusion, the partnership between the AU and the United Nations must be elevated to the next level. We believe in the power of partnerships and in the ability of both organizations to demonstrate stronger commitments in the spirit of complementarity, as enshrined in Chapter VIII of the United Nations Charter.

I would like to thank the Secretary-General for his annual report (S/2025/532) and for his continued personal leadership in strengthening one of the most consequential partnerships for the maintenance of international peace and security that cooperation between the United Nations and the African Union embodies. Let me also thank my good friends Special Representative of the Secretary-General Parfait Onanga-Anyanga, the new Permanent Observer of the African Union (AU) to the United Nations, Ambassador Mohamed Fathi Ahmed Edrees, and Assistant Secretary-General Martha Pobee for their detailed and invaluable briefings. This cooperation has been vital in responding to African crises in particular. The two Councils have worked in tandem on the Sudan, South Sudan, the Central African Republic and the Democratic Republic of the Congo, aligning political and peacekeeping efforts with regional initiatives. The Somalia transition from the African Union Transition Mission in Somalia to the African Union Support and Stabilization Mission in Somalia and collective responses to the Sahel and Lake Chad basin illustrate how joint planning and predictable support can determine the success of African-led operations. The Secretary-General’s report also offers a sobering reminder: while institutional coordination between the United Nations and AU has matured, more needs to be done to improve political coherence. Responses to African crises are too often filtered through the extraregional lenses of geopolitical competition, commercial interest, financial constraints, selective humanitarianism and at times the old mindset that shapes particular agendas and serves influence and interest more than stability in the region. The Council must move away from externally imposed models of stabilization and towards context-specific political strategies designed and endorsed by African actors. It must be understood that sustainable peace cannot be imposed; it must be locally owned and regionally reinforced. A shift in penholdership on African issues to African members of the Security Council can be instrumental in this regard. Africa’s common positions and strong voice on other key objectives of the Organization — particularly development — reinforces the fundamental interlinkage between durable peace and security and development, and that makes Africa and African Union indispensable partners of the United Nations in our peacebuilding endeavours and for advancing conflict prevention and the peaceful settlement of disputes. Many of the priorities mentioned by the briefers, including security sector reform; disarmament, demobilization and reintegration processes; counter- terrorism; and other issues such as the illegal exploitation of natural resources, can be effectively addressed by AU-United Nations cooperation. Apart from the African Union, which is the overarching regional organization, Africa has effective and dynamic subregional organizations, from the Economic Community of West African States and the Southern African Development Community to the Economic Community of Central African States and the Intergovernmental Authority on Development, and that further enriches the AU-United Nations partnership. The African members of the Security Council and the African members of the Security Council plus one (A3+) have emerged as a cohesive and credible bloc, bridging Addis Ababa and New York and ensuring that Africa’s collective voice is reflected in the Council’s work. Guided by our consistent commitment to the principle of African solutions to African problems, Pakistan coordinates closely with A3+ and consults countries concerned on mandate renewals, sanctions and country-specific resolutions. Pakistan also continues its long-standing contribution to peacekeeping and peacebuilding in Africa. The unanimous adoption of resolution 2719 (2023) was a watershed moment, establishing a framework for the predictable financing of AU-led peace operations. Technical readiness for the implementation of resolution To sustain progress, AU-United Nations cooperation must be anchored in the principles of complementarity and collective responsibility. We must institutionalize joint planning and financing mechanisms and ensure that African perspectives drive Council deliberations on African issues. This partnership must not only respond to crises but actually build resilient peace owned by Africa, supported by the United Nations and sustained by our collective resolve. Pakistan remains committed to advancing these goals in solidarity with our African partners. We look forward to further discussions on these issues in Addis Ababa next week.

Let me thank Special Representative Onanga-Anyanga, Ambassador Edrees and Assistant Secretary-General Pobee for their informative briefings, one and all. The United States appreciates their leadership and their cooperation. Coordination and strong partnerships between the United Nations and the African Union (AU) can help to achieve peace, security and prosperity in Africa. With United Nations, AU and regional peace operations active in some of the most fragile parts of Africa, we have a shared interest in aligning our doctrine, policies and directives to make these efforts as effective as possible. We share the Secretary- General’s recommendation to intensify efforts in order to ensure that the partnership is mutually reinforcing, more responsive and more effective for the people it serves. The crisis in the Sudan, the continued conflict in Somalia and fragile situations in the Sahel and eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo underline this point. On the Sudan, we continue to call for an immediate end to the senseless violence. We welcome Personal Envoy Lamamra’s efforts to continue to coordinate the United Nations response with the AU and the Intergovernmental Authority on Development. On the Democratic Republic of the Congo, it is important that both the AU and the United Nations continue to accompany the United States and Qatar-led peace processes to resolve the persistent conflict and bring prosperity to all. The United States remains committed to the fight against terrorism in Somalia, but it is ultimately time for other partners with vested interests in Somalia’s security, stability and future to increase their financial contributions. Regarding peace and security in Africa more broadly, the United States views the promise of resolution 2719 (2023) as a tool to promote more effective and sustainable African-led solutions to conflict. It is an important innovation for strengthening the AU-United Nations partnership and leveraging the AU’s comparative advantages to address conflict in Africa. However, I must reiterate that we will not support any proposed implementations of resolution 2719 (2023) that risk undermining the longevity of the tool or that contradict the spirit and word of the framework. Furthermore, the United States welcomes the AU Peace and Security Council’s formal adoption of the terms of reference for its counter-terrorism subcommittee, which will assist the AU to provide practical support to conflict-affected member States, strengthen resilience, enhance regional cooperation and implement AU counter-terrorism instruments. In conclusion, the United States will continue to support close cooperation among the United Nations, regional organizations, such as the AU, and subregional organizations to advance peace and security in Africa.

I thank Special Representative Onanga-Anyanga, Ambassador Edrees and Assistant Secretary-General Pobee for their briefings. Nevertheless, as a result of historical injustice and external intervention, Africa remains deeply affected by regional conflicts and terrorism. Its development potential has yet to be fully realized. The international community should help Africa to eradicate the damaging legacy of the past, remain free of geopolitical manipulation and make up for lost ground in development capacity, so that it can bring itself up to date and contribute more to world peace and development. Strengthening United Nations-AU cooperation serves the common interest of both Africa and the international community. I would like to share four points. First, it is imperative to resolve regional hotspot issues and maintain peace and stability in Africa. At present, the African continent is far from tranquil, with ongoing conflicts in the Sudan and the Democratic Republic of the Congo, counter-terrorism problems in Somalia, a grim situation in the Sahel region and an unstable political and security situation in many countries. The United Nations and the Council should assist the AU and subregional organizations in their active mediation efforts, with a view to finding African solutions to African problems. At the same time, the United Nations and the Council should play their part through providing prompt assistance and ensuring synergy. The international community should respect the sovereignty and ownership of African countries and refrain from bringing external interference, pressure or indiscriminate unilateral sanctions to bear, in order to create a sound external environment for conflict resolution. Secondly, it is necessary to support AU-led efforts and strengthen Africa’s capacity-building. Peace must be locally rooted and regionally owned. China advocates adequate, predictable and sustainable funding for AU peace support operations and the early operationalization of resolution 2719 (2023). Traditional donors should increase their input. The international community should scale up assistance in technology and information, among other forms of support, to help Africa with capacity-building and self-reliance. China believes that the United Nations Office to the African Union and United Nations missions in Africa should enhance communication and cooperation with host countries and, in conjunction with the UN80 Initiative, focus on core mandates and be responsive to changes on the ground, to ensure improved quality and efficiency. Thirdly, it is important to support Africa in achieving sustainable development and addressing the root causes of conflicts. Without development, peace would be like a river without a source or a tree without roots. The 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Fourthly, it is imperative to improve the global governance system and address the historical injustice suffered by Africa. With Africa experiencing a new awakening, the global governance system should keep abreast of the times. President Xi Jinping has proposed the Global Governance Initiative, stressing such core concepts as sovereign equality, the international rule of law, multilateralism, a people-centred approach and real actions, with a view to bridging the global governance gap and making the global governance system fairer and more equitable. The reform of the international financial architecture must be accelerated to reflect more accurately the changes in the world economy. It is important to ensure that artificial intelligence, big data and other emerging technologies ensure benefits for all and that they help to inject a strong impetus into Africa’s economic growth. China firmly supports Africa’s larger role in the international arena, Africa’s greater representation and louder voice in the multilateral governance system and the request of the African members of the Security Council plus one for penholdership or joint penholdership on African issues. In September last year, the Forum on China-Africa Cooperation held the Beijing Summit, ushering in a new chapter in the building of an All-Weather China-Africa Community with a Shared Future for the New Era. Both parties are now focusing on implementing the consensus of the Summit and actively delivering on its 10 partnership actions. China will continue to take concrete actions to bolster United Nations-AU cooperation and further contribute to peace and development in Africa and a community with a shared future for humankind. Next week, the Council and the AU Peace and Security Council will hold their annual joint consultative meeting. China looks forward and stays committed to enhancing coordination and cooperation between the two bodies to jointly safeguard peace and security in Africa and better respond to global challenges.

I would also like to thank Special Representative Onanga-Anyanga, Ambassador Edrees and Assistant Secretary-General Pobee for their comprehensive and insightful briefings. With multilateralism facing challenges, collaboration between the United Nations and regional organizations is gaining a new level of importance. For us, the partnership with the African Union (AU) stands out as one of the most structured and dynamic, spanning from peace and security and development to human rights and new threats. In this context, I would like to highlight the following points. First, Slovenia acknowledges the African Union’s significant role in the prevention and resolution of conflicts. We are a strong advocate for regional solutions to conflicts in Africa. My country believes in regional approaches to solving conflicts on the African continent. We have developed close cooperation with the African members of the Council, and we place great value on our partnership. Thirdly, Slovenia welcomes the efforts by the African Union and its member States towards the agreement on the common African position on climate change, peace and security and the adoption of the Africa Water Vision 2063. We share the AU’s view that climate change and water insecurity remain among the key drivers of instability and conflict, acting as a threat multiplier and directly contributing to instability. Their impact transcends borders and can only be addressed through effective multilateral cooperation. Slovenia looks forward to deepening our cooperation in this area. Next week, the Council travels to Addis Ababa for the annual joint consultative meeting with the AU Peace and Security Council. We are grateful to the African Union for hosting this important engagement and we look forward to open, constructive and forward-looking discussions on the critical challenges facing the continent and the United Nations. We therefore look forward to exploring ways to further strengthen cooperation between the United Nations and AU Peace and Security Council in advancing our common vision for a peaceful, secure and prosperous Africa.

At the outset, I thank the Special Representative of the Secretary-General, Mr. Parfait Onanga-Anyanga, the Assistant Secretary-General for Africa, Ms. Martha Pobee, and the Permanent Observer of the African Union, Mr. Mohammed Fathi Ahmed Edrees, for their briefings, which illustrated how close the cooperation is between the Council and the African Union. France commends the deepening of the working relationship between the United Nations and the African Union over the past year. Cooperation between the two organizations has strengthened around several key areas that the briefers recalled. Allow me to mention three in particular, namely women, children and climate change, as each relates to peace and security. However, we regret one Council member’s opposition to the implementation of resolution 2719 (2023) in Somalia. Applying this cooperation framework to the African Union Support and Stabilization Mission in Somalia (AUSSOM) would have provided the Mission with adequate, predictable and sustainable funding. In the absence of this cooperation framework being applied, it is incumbent upon all partners of Somalia and the African Union to play their part in meeting the financial needs of AUSSOM. More generally speaking, we would wish for the Council to remain actively engaged in implementing the framework opened by resolution 2719 (2023), according to the pathways that were identified during this meeting. My next point is that cooperation between the United Nations and the African Union in matters of peace and security must result in concrete actions, in accordance with Chapter VIII of the Charter of the United Nations. France commends the role Turning to the Great Lakes region, France welcomes the engagement of the African Union, subregional organizations, Qatar and the United States in seeking a political solution and guaranteeing respect for the territorial integrity of the Democratic Republic of the Congo. France fully supports this momentum and is organizing, together with Togo as mediator for the African Union, a conference in support of peace and security in the region, which is to be held in Paris on 30 and 31 October. Strengthening cooperation between the United Nations and the African Union should contribute genuinely to the effort to secure better representation of the African continent within the Council. France’s position on the matter is clear. A comprehensive reform of the Security Council must address Africa’s legitimate expectations. We support the allocation of permanent seats to two African States and think that it is legitimate that they should have the same prerogatives as the current permanent members, including the veto power. France is in favour of starting concrete negotiations based on a draft resolution without delay. Finally, France looks forward to continuing discussions on the partnership between the United Nations and the African Union within the framework of consultations between the Security Council and the Peace and Security Council, which will be held in Addis Ababa on 16 and 17 October.

We would like to thank the Russian Federation for organizing this meeting. We greet and extend our gratitude to the Special Representative of the Secretary-General to the African Union and Head of the United Nations Office to the African Union, Mr. Parfait Onanga-Anyanga, and his entire team for their work in the field. We would also like to thank Mr. Mohammed Fathi Ahmed Edrees of the African Union and the Assistant Secretary-General for Africa, Ms. Martha Pobee, for their contributions. We believe that cooperation between the United Nations and the African Union must continue to be strengthened. Furthermore, we believe that this partnership must remain firm throughout all stages of peace processes. Prevention, monitoring and continuity are three elements that are key to avoiding relapses. In this regard, there is a need for cooperation on sustained peacebuilding, cooperation on peacekeeping and cooperation on follow-up in order to guarantee the consolidation and sustainability of peace. These actions have the potential to benefit all parties, provided that the processes are nationally owned and that sovereignty and integrity are guaranteed, hand in hand with inclusiveness, transparency and accountability. These are crucial elements to restore trust, maintain effectiveness and attract investment once again towards humanitarian and development aid projects. In many countries, socioeconomic tensions have already been exacerbated by funding cuts to the United Nations. This becomes even more serious when we recall that, for many of those represented here, the United Nations has served as a last beacon of hope in the midst of humanitarian crises that have been overlooked. We can indeed reverse this narrative and its priorities. How do we do this? We can do so by investing more in disarmament, demobilization and reintegration programmes while reducing military expenditures. It is important to In this regard, we support joint efforts with the African Union to prevent extremism and terrorism, scourges that affect stability in Africa. Let us launch more inclusive dialogues that make it possible to restore trust, achieve reconciliation and ensure the reintegration of former combatants and former terrorists. We commend efforts to promote initiatives on women and peace and security and climate, peace and security, led by the African Union, essential pillars that must be present in every joint effort. We urgently call for our discussions to also include the impact of climate change on security and development, as the phenomenon continues to multiply losses across Africa and exacerbate global socioeconomic instability. As the Secretary-General has stated, the alliance between the United Nations and the African Union is crucial for the multilateral system. Let us take advantage of the lessons learned from previous peace operations. There is a significant potential for complementarity within this partnership. Therefore, we echo the Secretary- General’s call to implement the established road map and make progress on the implementation of resolution 2719 (2023). This is another step towards continuing to strengthen an evolving multilateral system. Let us set aside political differences and individual economic interests. Let us put in place practical solutions that resolve the ongoing crises.

I thank the Special Representative of the Secretary-General, the Permanent Observer of the African Union to the United Nations and the Assistant Secretary-General very much for their valuable briefings today. We are also grateful to the Secretary-General for his report (S/2025/532). As we have heard today, for more than two decades, the United Nations and the African Union (AU) have played important and mutually complementary roles, tackling challenges across Africa. This has included working on conflict resolution, peacebuilding, sustainable development and humanitarian need. To build on this, we see three areas for enhanced complementary cooperation that take us from the big picture to the mission-specific, namely, broad multilateral cooperation, peace and security, and Somalia. First, on broad multilateral cooperation, the United Kingdom welcomes the continued collaboration between the United Nations and the African Union in promoting multilateralism and advancing peace, good governance and prosperity across Africa. As we proceed with the Secretary-General’s UN80 reform agenda, we continue to encourage greater coordination between the AU and the United Nations so that they deliver their vital work in ways that reflect their comparative advantages. Secondly, as regards peace and security, we welcome the progress made in recent years towards strengthening the peace and security partnership between the AU and the United Nations. We look forward to the consultations between the Security Council and the AU Peace and Security Council next week. Continued coordination between the AU and the United Nations on peace and security is critical to bringing Thirdly, focusing in on the specific context in Somalia and the region, we express our gratitude to the AU and African troop-contributing countries, which, with United Nations support, have worked tirelessly to advance security and stability in Somalia and the wider region through the African Union Support and Stabilization Mission in Somalia (AUSSOM), with backing from the United Nations Support Office in Somalia. The United Kingdom was proud to co-host with the United Nations, the AU Commission and the Federal Government of Somalia, the AUSSOM funding conference during the General Assembly high-level week at which we announced our $22 million financial commitment. We urge other Member States to step up in providing financial support to ensure that the Mission is financially stable. In conclusion, the United Kingdom welcomes the sustained cooperation between the AU and the United Nations in tackling the continent’s most complex conflicts and challenges and in building a more peaceful and secure future for Africa.

Let me also thank Special Representative of the Secretary- General Onanga-Anyanga, His Excellency Permanent Observer Edrees and Assistant Secretary-General Pobee for their comprehensive briefings. Collectively, they have demonstrated the depth of the important partnership between the United Nations and the African Union (AU), and Denmark commends their leadership. Threats to international peace and security, from terrorism to climate change and from conflict to food insecurity, are disproportionately affecting the African continent. Enhanced cooperation between the United Nations and the AU is an essential tool in responding to these crises. Denmark welcomes the continued implementation of the joint road map and the Joint United Nations-African Union Framework for Enhanced Partnership in Peace and Security. These offer important frameworks for cooperation and, importantly, for action. In this context, allow me to focus on three key points. First, Denmark is a firm supporter of the African Union’s leadership in identifying lasting solutions to the conflicts in Africa. This deserves our collective support, and we encourage the AU to be proactive and ambitious in undertaking this great responsibility. This is particularly pertinent in Somalia, where the AU, for decades, has worked tirelessly to improve security, most recently through the African Union Support and Stabilization Mission in Somalia. While we regret that resolution 2719 (2023) could not be implemented in that situation, let me reaffirm Denmark’s commitment to supporting resolution 2719 (2023) and its broader application. Across the continent, it is clear that challenges remain and more can be done. From insecurity in the Sahel to the devastating war in the Sudan, to the continued violence in the eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo, it is imperative that the AU and the United Nations work together, hand in hand, in support of sustainable and lasting peace. Concretely, we see several avenues that we could explore. Denmark would welcome more frequent briefings from the AU on peace and security. We also believe that our two Councils can enhance information-sharing to improve early warning and preventive action. Joint field visits could similarly be explored. Secondly, it has been said before but bears repeating today: no two conflicts are the same. Across the African continent, conflict has varied drivers, varied actors and Thirdly, today’s complex challenges require a comprehensive response that is coordinated across the pillars of the United Nations. The Peacebuilding Commission is uniquely placed to guide these efforts. We can enhance dialogue with regional organizations through its convening role and thereby foster greater national ownership and the inclusion of local actors and more diverse voices before conflicts erupt. In conclusion, we look forward to upcoming opportunities to further strengthen this partnership, including next week’s visit to Addis Ababa, which we see as a further opportunity to strengthen the partnership, and the impending European Union-AU Summit in Luanda. Denmark looks forward to continuing to work across the United Nations to support the vital efforts of the African Union towards the maintenance of peace and security in Africa.

I wish to thank the Special Representative of the Secretary- General, Mr. Parfait Onanga-Anyanga; the Permanent Observer of the African Union to the United Nations, Mr. Mohamed Fathi Ahmed Edrees; and the Assistant Secretary-General for Africa, Ms. Martha Pobee, for their comprehensive briefings. Their remarks underscore the importance of strengthening the strategic partnership between the United Nations and the African Union (AU). While the cooperation between the two organizations has grown steadily through regular exchanges and joint initiatives, the scale and the complexity of Africa’s challenges demand that we go further. In a few days, we will have the opportunity in Addis Ababa to tackle both horizontal issues of cooperation, such as terrorism and peace operations, and those pertaining to geographical areas, such as the Sahel and the Horn of Africa. In this regard, I would like to make three points. First, Greece appreciates the vital role of the three African members of the Security Council plus in bringing Africa’s concerns to the Council. In the same spirit, we will always welcome strong African participation in the Council and in other multilateral forums. We also align ourselves with the Secretary-General’s view that robust partnerships between the United Nations and regional organizations are the bedrock of effective multilateralism. In this spirit, Greece supported the recent General Assembly resolution 79/329, which constitutes a renewed endorsement of the United Nations-AU partnership. Likewise, we greatly value the continuous dialogue among the United Nations, the AU and the European Union on issues of common interest, as highlighted in the joint communiqué of the recent, sixth trilateral meeting. Secondly, on security and conflict prevention, the Council is well aware of the protracted conflicts currently raging from the Sudan to the eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo, while terrorism is rapidly rising across the Horn of Africa and the Sahel. Maritime security is also another important aspect to be borne in mind in the context of a holistic approach to security. These complex conflicts and crises require integrated responses that combine immediate security measures with sustained investments in peacebuilding, socioeconomic development and resilient institutions. Africa’s abundant resources and human capital provide the foundation for sustainable growth across the continent. The upcoming annual meeting of the Thirdly, we cannot discuss AU-United Nations cooperation without addressing resolution 2719 (2023)  — a historic step forward in expanding the international community’s toolkit for peace and security in Africa. While United Nations peacekeeping missions remain valuable for addressing conflicts, they are not a panacea for every crisis. In some cases, the AU, with its deeper knowledge and stronger stake in regional stability, can serve as a better first responder. Resolution 2719 (2023) is much more than a predictable funding mechanism for AU missions; it offers a new framework for a stronger AU-United Nations partnership that supports African leadership and ownership. Greece commends the joint efforts so far of both organizations to design a road map for implementing this tool in the African Union Support and Stabilization Mission in Somalia and regrets the recent lack of consensus in the Security Council in this regard. Resolution 2719 (2023) cannot remain an act of hope in the toolkit of the AU-United Nations partnership; efforts towards its operationalization must continue. We stand convinced that strengthening the AU’s capacity in close cooperation with the United Nations is key to ensuring lasting peace and stability in Africa. We look forward to the consultations between the Security Council and the AU Peace and Security Council later this month in Addis Ababa and the upcoming ninth United Nations-AU annual conference in New York.

I thank Special Representative Onanga- Anyanga, Ambassador Edrees and Assistant Secretary-General Pobee for their comprehensive briefings. We welcome the continued growth in the scope and depth of the United Nations- African Union (AU) partnership, as demonstrated in the Secretary-General’s report (S/2025/532). The Republic of Korea shares the Secretary-General’s view that a strong multilateral system is essential to addressing the pressing challenges of our time and that the partnership between the United Nations and the AU forms a key pillar of this system. The upcoming tenth annual informal joint seminar and nineteenth annual joint consultative meeting between the Security Council and the AU Peace and Security Council, to be held in Addis Ababa this month, will provide a valuable opportunity for the two Councils to further strengthen this partnership. In this context, I will make three points. First, supporting and collaborating with regional peace initiatives remains crucial to finding lasting political solutions to conflicts in Africa. The impact of ongoing conflicts in the Sudan, the Sahel, eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo and Somalia extends well beyond the countries themselves. We note with concern the challenging security environment and recognize the important progress that has been made in coordination mechanisms. For example, the Personal Envoy of the Secretary-General for the Sudan has continued to closely coordinate his work with the joint AU-Intergovernmental Authority on Development High-level Panel on the Sudan, the League of Arab States and other partners, including through the high- level consultative meeting in May. The merger of the East African Community- Southern African Development Community facilitation with AU mediation in the Democratic Republic of the Congo in August exemplifies this enhanced regional Secondly, we must continue building on Africa’s enhanced role and ownership in peace operations, particularly through the implementation of resolution 2719 (2023). We welcome the endorsement of the joint road map for the operationalization of resolution 2719 (2023) during the eighth AU-United Nations annual conference in October 2024 and the continued work of the joint task force in finalizing the guidelines. While the Council has not reached unanimous agreement on the application of resolution 2719 (2023) to the African Union Support and Stabilization Mission in Somalia (AUSSOM), we recognize the importance of ongoing institutional and operational preparations. We would also like to highlight that the dire financial situation of AUSSOM requires urgent attention from all partners to ensure adequate, predictable and sustainable financing during this critical phase of Somalia’s security transition. For our part, the Republic of Korea has already contributed $1.6 million to AUSSOM this year, out of a total of $5 million allocated to the AU Peace and Security Architecture. Thirdly, conflict prevention and sustaining peace must be prioritized in the AU- United Nations partnership to address the root causes and drivers of conflict. The seventh annual consultative meeting between the AU Peace and Security Council and the Peacebuilding Commission in October 2024 underscored the importance of multidisciplinary approaches that also include investments in peacebuilding, socioeconomic development and resilient institutions. We particularly commend the deepened collaboration between the United Nations and the AU on climate, peace and security, as climate change remains a significant threat multiplier for peace and security across Africa, as described in the Secretary-General’s report. We look forward to the finalization of the common African position ahead of thirtieth Conference of the Parties to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change in November. Korea will continue to support the advancement of this agenda, including through our support for a climate, peace and security adviser to the United Nations Office for West Africa and the Sahel. Support for an effective African Peace and Security Architecture across the entire peace continuum, including mechanisms for early warning, conflict prevention, mediation, peace support operations and peacebuilding, is consistent with the principles of Chapter VIII of the Charter of the United Nations. The Republic of Korea remains dedicated to supporting the AU’s peace and security initiatives, including through its ongoing financial contributions.

I shall now make a statement in my capacity as the representative of the Russian Federation. We thank the Assistant Secretary-General, Ms. Martha Pobee; the Special Representative of the Secretary-General, Mr. Parfait Onanga-Anyangal; and the Permanent Observer of the African Union to the United Nations, Mr. Mohamed Edrees, for their briefings. The Russian Federation welcomes the comprehensive strengthening of the strategic partnership between the United Nations and the African Union (AU) and supports the activities of the United Nations Office to the African Union. We are pleased to note the steady progress in developing the architecture for cooperation between the two organizations. We call for cooperation to be widened further, first and foremost, with a view to ensuring peace and security in Africa. There is a prevailing understanding within both the United Nations and the AU that lasting and sustainable peace on the continent will be impossible if the root causes of crises are not eradicated. Nonetheless, there is no consensus within the international community on where exactly those root causes lie. The most frequently Furthermore, experience, including in Africa, shows that most conflicts are the legacy of colonialism — a system that disrupted the natural historical trajectory of the continent’s peoples and ways of life that had developed over thousands of years, arbitrarily drew borders and imposed an economic order to serve the metropolises’ interests. We continue to see various forms of neocolonialism, interference in internal affairs and the exertion of pressure through unilateral sanctions, which are only perpetuating poverty in countries and fuelling social tension and destabilization. The situation in Libya is a striking case in point. The wealthiest of countries lapsed into a state of permanent crisis as a result of military intervention by Western States. The aftermath of the collapse of Libyan statehood saw the destabilization of the entire Sahara-Sahel region, an upsurge in terrorism and an exacerbation of problems and tensions there. The adverse role of external actors is also apparent in the Sudan, the Democratic Republic of Congo and other hotspots. The sorry legacy of the colonial era should not remain the preserve of historians. Justice vis-à-vis the former metropolises must be relentlessly pursued. In this connection, we note the efforts of the African Union, which has declared 2025 the Year of “Justice for Africans and People of African Descent through Reparations”. We regard the African Union’s decision to extend this crucial African Union theme until 2035 to be a correct one. We wish to take this opportunity to call on United Nations Member States to support the draft resolution on the proclamation of an International Day against Colonialism in All Its Forms and Manifestations that the Group of Friends in Defense of the Charter of the United Nations presented to the Fourth Committee of the General Assembly. We are committed to further reinforcing the partnership between the United Nations Security Council and the AU Peace and Security Council, including through joint annual events involving Security Council and Peace and Security Council members. The next such round of events will take place on 16 and 17 October in Addis Ababa. The basis for cooperation is an acknowledgment of the Security Council’s primary responsibility for maintaining peace and security and the complementarity of United Nations and AU efforts, whereby their comparative advantages are leveraged. We are fundamentally convinced that the regions themselves must take the lead in determining how African crises are to be resolved. The collective task of the United Nations is to provide comprehensive support for their efforts without imposing on national Governments solutions that are based solely on the Western experience of State-building and that are often disconnected from local realities. The way that the Security Council should proceed in performing that task is straightforward and, namely, entails taking on board the positions of the three African members of the Council during the adoption of mandate resolutions and working constructively with host countries, while fully respecting their sovereignty. Strengthening the capacity of the African Union through cooperation with United Nations entities is key to bringing stability to the continent. Above all, Africa needs the African Union and subregional organizations to be united and politically robust and to bear collective responsibility for the welfare of their regions. Most African crises affect neighbouring countries’ security and humanitarian situation. States in every region must strive to foster a shared understanding of causes, threats and responses. Maintaining a high degree of trust in regional and pan-African efforts The adoption of resolution 2719 (2023) was an important milestone in synchronizing United Nations and AU peacekeeping efforts. It was our sincere hope that that resolution could be applied to Somalia, where all these factors are converging. In our view, the lack of progress, for various reasons, in implementing resolution 2767 (2024) does not absolve the Security Council of its responsibility to ensure sustainable, flexible and predictable funding for the African Union Support and Stabilization Mission in Somalia. For our part, we stand ready to strive for mutually acceptable solutions. Russia is a long-standing and reliable partner of African countries. We will continue to support our friends in strengthening their anti-crisis capabilities and in resolving conflicts, as well as in other areas, ranging from ensuring food security to combating infectious diseases. Russia and African States have a shared position on the most pressing issues of our time, as reflected in the final documents of the summits and ministerial conferences of the Russia-Africa Partnership Forum. We look forward to getting thoroughly on the same page as our partners during the November ministerial meeting to be held as part of this format in Cairo.