S/PV.8314 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: Ms. Sahle-Work Zewde, Special Representative of the Secretary-General and Head of the United Nations Office to the African Union, and His Excellency Mr. Smaïl Chergui, African Union Commissioner for Peace and Security. 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/2018/678, 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 on the work of the United Nations Office to the African Union. I now give the floor to Ms. Zewde. Ms. Zewde: I would like to begin by expressing my appreciation to you, Madam, for convening today’s meeting on cooperation between the United Nations and regional and subregional organizations, including the African Union (AU). Today’s meeting is taking place at a time of unprecedented collaboration between the United Nations and the African Union. As the Secretary- General noted in his briefing to the AU Peace and Security Council in Addis Ababa last week, of all the world’s regional organizations, the African Union is the most important strategic partner of the United Nations in terms of peace and security, development and human rights. Our two organizations have given priority to the development of a systematic, predictable and strategic partnership based on mutual respect, shared values and comparative advantage. Since the signing of the Joint United Nations-African Union Framework for Enhanced Partnership in Peace and Security, in April 2017, and the Joint Framework for the Implementation of Agenda 2063 and the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, signed in January 2018, the partnership has been characterized by closer collaboration, more regular exchange of information, consultations and coordinated action, including joint field visits and joint statements. The important events taking place this month between the two organizations, in particular the second annual conference between the Secretary-General of the United Nations and the Chairperson of the AU Commission and the joint briefing to the AU Peace and Security Council, both held in Addis Ababa on 9 July; the joint meeting of the Peacebuilding Commission and the AU Peace and Security Council, which took place this morning; and the twelfth annual consultative meeting between members of the Security Council and the African Union Peace and Security Council, which will take place tomorrow, not only all serve to illustrate the importance of the partnership between the two organizations but also provide an opportunity to discuss how to strengthen it even further. The Council has before it 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 on the work of the United Nations Office to the African Union (S/2018/678). The important recurring themes in the report, which are illustrated by the strategic engagements I have just referred to, are the following. First, the complex peace and security challenges we face in Africa are such that neither the United Nations nor the African Union can address them on their own. Partnership is therefore not a choice but a necessity. The two organizations recognize their interdependence. We also recognize the critical role played by subregional organizations, which are often the first to detect early warning signs of impending conflict and are important partners in promoting dialogue and reconciliation, exercising leverage through personal contacts with the parties to a conflict and in countering terrorism, preventing violent extremism and addressing migration. Having strong partnerships with subregional organization is therefore key to ensuring consistency of messaging and alignment of positions and action. (spoke in French) Secondly, the need for partnership leads us to recognize the imperative of even closer collaboration with the African Union, in accordance with the Charter of the United Nations. As detailed in the report, there has been much progress in strengthening collaboration between the United Nations and the African Union in the area of peace and security. Interactions and collaboration at all levels, from the Secretary-General and the Chairperson of the Commission to the Under- Secretaries-General and Commissioners of the African Union, including at the level of staff at both organizations, have become more frequent, constructive and collegial. Such collaboration is also becoming the norm in field missions, where the Special Representatives and Envoys of the two organizations are working more closely together and are jointly informing the Security Council and the Peace and Security Council of the African Union with increasing frequency. In addition, I would like to highlight in particular the increasing trend towards joint field missions led by senior United Nations and African Union officials. Last week, the Deputy Secretary-General of the United Nations and the African Union Special Envoy on Women, Peace and Security briefed the Council on their recent mission  — their second such mission on the ground in as many years, this time to the Niger, Chad and South Sudan (see S/PV.8306). These missions sought to highlight issues relating to women, peace and security, and development. Similarly, last April, the Under-Secretary-General for Peacekeeping Operations and the African Union Commissioner for Peace and Security undertook a joint mission to the Central African Republic and the Sudan, with the aim of supporting a common vision of peacekeeping in Africa. I would also like to acknowledge the joint work on the financing of the African Union Mission in Somalia (AMISOM) undertaken by Mr. Jean-Marie Guéhenno and Mr. Ramtane Lamamra, Special Envoys of the United Nations and the African Union, respectively, who conducted consultations with a wide range of partners. The aim was to propose a transformation of AMISOM with a view to assisting the transition to Somalia’s full ownership of its security and therefore to continuing funding the Mission to that end. In April, they submitted a joint report that contributed to the joint United Nations-African Union review of AMISOM, conducted last May. The increasing use of joint missions, joint briefings, joint reports and declarations, and joint messages illustrates progress towards a common understanding of peace and security issues and a common approach to addressing them. Indeed, at the second annual African Union-United Nations conference in Addis Ababa last week, the Secretary-General and the Chairperson of the Commission agreed to make joint communiqués systematic wherever possible. Building trust has been essential, and I believe we have made tremendous progress in this regard over the past year. Thirdly, the Secretary-General and the Chairperson of the African Union Commission continue to stress the importance of conflict prevention by responding quickly and decisively, in collaboration with national stakeholders, including civil society and subregional organizations, in order to address emerging signs of conflict while ensuring African ownership in this process. This means that we must conduct more joint analyses and assessments and align our early warning indicators, where appropriate. We must also engage more actively with those with influence over the parties to conflict, often neighbouring countries and community leaders. We must continue to focus greater attention and resources on peacekeeping and preventing the resumption of conflict, including by identifying and addressing the root causes of conflict. In that regard, the Peacebuilding Commission has done commendable work across the continent over the past 15 years. The African Union initiative Silencing the Guns by 2020 also provides a road map for concrete actions that can be undertaken and supported. With regard to peacekeeping, the Secretary- General was clear in his briefing to the African Union Peace and Security Council last week on the challenges that require us to rethink our approach to peacekeeping through his new Action for Peacekeeping initiative. The Secretary-General stressed that the conflicts in Mali, the Central African Republic, the Democratic Republic of the Congo and South Sudan  — with their blocked peace processes, multiple actors, tragic acts of extreme violence and an increasing number of casualties among peacekeepers  — show that the current model is not adapted to contemporary challenges. A redefinition of the division of tasks has been proposed by the Secretary- General in order to further deepen cooperation with regional organizations and to clarify the mandate of peacekeeping operations. (spoke in English) That leads me to my fourth and last point. It is also essential that the issue of predictable and sustainable financing, on a case-by-case basis, for AU peace support operations authorized by the Security Council be framed within the context of a common political strategy, agreed to by the two Councils and informed by joint analyses and assessments of conflict situations. Within that context, support to AU peace support operations should be viewed as a means by which the Security Council can exercise its primary responsibility for the maintenance of international peace and security through effective collaboration with regional organizations, in accordance with Chapter VIII of the Charter of the United Nations. The Security Council, in resolution 2378 (2017), expressed its intention to give consideration to the possibility that practical steps that can be taken for African Union-led peace support operations authorized by the Security Council could be partly financed through United Nations assessed contributions. The Secretary-General has also expressed his support for financing AU-led peace support operations authorized by the Security Council, including through United Nations assessed contributions. With regard to the conditions outlined in resolution 2378 (2017), we welcome the progress made by the African Union on the operationalization of the Peace Fund, the development of a compliance framework and the development of a reporting framework. Contributions to the Peace Fund have reached their highest level since the establishment of the Fund in 1993 and demonstrate the commitment of AU member States to financial burden-sharing and greater self-reliance. Further work on priority areas is still required, and we look forward to collaboration in that regard with the AU Commission through its interdepartmental task force. Finally, I would like to express appreciation for the continued high-level political support of the Security Council, which ensures our ability to fully operationalize the strategic partnership in peace and security, as called for by the Council. The role of the United Nations Office to the African Union, as the conduit and main United Nations interlocutor with the African Union in peace and security, will remain critical, and we look forward to the Council’s continued support for the work of the Office. I also wish to place on record our appreciation to the AU Commission for its strong and steadfast support for enhancing the strategic partnership.

I thank Ms. Zewde for her briefing. I now give the floor to Mr. Chergui. Mr. Chergui: Allow me first of all to warmly congratulate Sweden on assuming the presidency of the Security Council for this month, and I commend your initiative, Madam President, to convene this timely and very important meeting on cooperation between the African Union and the United Nations, which takes place on the eve of the twelfth annual consultative meeting between the African Union Peace and Security Council and the United Nations Security Council. I am also pleased to note that today’s meeting is being held only a few days after the very successful African Union-United Nations second annual conference, held in Addis Ababa on 9 July. At the outset, I would also like to thank my sister, Ms. Sahle-Work Zewde, for the important briefing she delivered. I would like to tell her that the African Union Commission recognizes itself fully in all she said. It is therefore my distinct honour to address this meeting to highlight the significant progress that has been made in the partnership between our two organizations and the coherence in our decision-making, while enriching each other with the knowledge of our respective comparative advantages. Over the years, the African Union has forged a critical partnership with the United Nations in order to achieve its vision of a peaceful, prosperous and integrated continent. That relationship was given new impetus by the signing in April 2017 of the Joint United Nations-African Union Framework for Enhanced Partnership in Peace and Security by Secretary-General António Guterres and the Chairperson of the African Union Commission, Mr. Moussa Faki Mahamat. That renewed commitment has indeed moved the partnership from an ad hoc approach into a more structured and predictable one. The second annual conference of the African Union and the United Nations, which took place recently in Addis Ababa on 9 July, reaffirmed the importance of our partnership and the significance of multilateral responses to global security challenges. In that regard, we have committed to enhancing collaboration, cooperation and coordination between our two organizations, based on the principles of complementarity, comparative advantage, burden- sharing and collective responsibility. We have also agreed to enhance consultations prior to decision-making in order to reach a shared understanding of the issues at hand and attain consistency in the support for African-led peace support efforts. As the Council has already noted, the ever-growing partnership with United Nations colleagues has allowed us to incorporate an additional operational tool, which is the joint visits that I started with Mr. Jean-Pierre Lacroix to Darfur and the Central African Republic. That effort will continue in the coming weeks and months. It is essential that the positive momentum currently prevailing between our respective secretariats continue to foster dynamism in cooperation and coordination between the Security Council and the African Union Peace and Security Council. In the field, the partnership between our two decision-making bodies is manifest in our collaborative peacemaking efforts in several conflict and post- conflict situations, including in the Central African Republic, the Democratic Republic of Congo, the Great Lakes region, Guinea Bissau, Mali and the Sahel, South Sudan and Somalia, just to name a few. Despite the progress achieved so far, we still face some challenges, particularly when it comes to the relationship between the African Union Peace and Security Council and the Security Council, where more work is needed in order to achieve greater coherence and coordination when dealing with crisis situations on the continent. Those include building on recent gains made in South Sudan to impress upon the parties to uphold and implement the signed agreements. In the Democratic Republic of the Congo, attention must be focused upon addressing the future challenges associated with the general elections scheduled for 23 December in line with the 31 December 2016 agreement. In Somalia, resource mobilization to enable the African Union Mission in Somalia to deliver on its mandate, including the gradual handover to the Somali security forces through Somalia’s transition plan and capacity-building, remains a critical challenge. If not addressed, the progress made in Somalia might be reversed. The deteriorating security situation in the Central African Republic is a continuing source of concern. The African Union is grateful to the Security Council for recognizing the African Initiative for Peace and Reconciliation as the main framework for achieving a political solution in the country, and I urge the Council to continue to support it. The situation across the Sahel region also requires our urgent attention. The instability in northern Mali has not only spilled over into the central region of the country and to neighbouring Burkina Faso and the Niger; it has also morphed into intercommunity clashes spurred by the conflict between herders and farmers. Critical support from the United Nations is therefore required to hasten the operationalization of the Joint Force of the Group of Five for the Sahel. For its part, the African Union is finalizing the revision of its strategy for the Sahel in line with the decision adopted by the African Union Peace and Security Council at its recent Heads-of-State meeting in Nouakchott. In that regard, I am grateful to my sister Deputy Secretary-General Amina Mohammed, who met our envoy President Buyoya in Nouakchott, where they agreed to coordinate two strategies so that we can avoid duplication and, more important, assist the people in the Sahel. Allow me to recall that the African Union has consistently advocated for predictable and sustainable financing through United Nations-assessed contributions for African Union-led peace operations. In 2015, the African Union Assembly of Heads of State and Government decided to finance 25 per cent of the cost of the African Union’s peace support operations. In order to deliver on that objective, in 2016 the African Union Assembly decided to endow the African Union Peace Fund with $400 million. The full endowment level will be reached in 2021 and will be achieved incrementally at the following annual targets: $65 million for 2017; $65 million for the current year and $90 million per year for 2019, 2020 and 2021. As I address the Council, African Union member States have already contributed $47 million out of the targeted $65 million. That illustrates that, despite their limited resources, African Union member States are committed to assuming their share of responsibility to enhance peace and security on the continent. We hope that that will serve as impetus for the Security Council to move forward in its considerations to avail assessed contributions to African Union-led peace support operations. It is our hope that today’s meeting will pave the way to achieve that objective in line with the relevant provisions of the Charter of the United Nations, including Chapter VIII. Flexibility and innovation should guide our discussions to ensure coherence across the various layers of our global security architecture. In that regard, I am pleased to note that there has been progress with regard to the Secretary- General’s recent Action for Peacekeeping initiative. In conclusion, I would like to stress once again the strategic importance of the African Union-United Nations partnership, particularly its positive impact on peace and security in Africa. Our joint efforts are already bearing fruit, and we look forward to building a closer relationship that will deliver on our aspirations for peace and security on the continent, including silencing the guns by 2020. In the meantime, we are receiving excellent news from Africa, as we heard earlier with regard to developments between Ethiopia and Eritrea and elsewhere. With such efforts under way in Africa, together with our collective work, I believe that we can achieve the noble goal of silencing the guns.

I thank Mr. Chergui for his briefing. I shall now make a statement in my capacity as the Deputy Foreign Minister of Sweden. I would like to begin by thanking the Special Representative and Commissioner Chergui for their very important briefings to the Security Council this afternoon. As we have heard, recent developments in Africa give us cause for optimism. The joint declaration of peace and friendship signed by the leaders of Eritrea and Ethiopia represents a courageous step towards a new beginning of peace and cooperation for the people concerned, neighbouring countries, the region and neighbouring regions. Sweden remains a steadfast supporter of an enhanced strategic partnership between the United Nations and regional and, no less, subregional organizations in Africa. The emerging security challenges that we are facing are shared and increasingly interconnected. They require a collective response. Regional actors have a thorough understanding of the issues at stake on the ground. They are invested in resolving crises in their neighbourhood, and they have established relationships at the local level. We commend the African Union (AU) and its subregional partners for all that they do. They can serve as an inspiration for other regions lacking regional security and cooperative arrangements. They work in environments in which the United Nations is unable or cannot deploy with sufficient speed. We must not forget that, when African countries respond to increasingly complex and interconnected challenges, they do so on behalf of all of us. The partnership between the AU and the United Nations with regard to more efficient peace operations constitutes an important part of our ongoing discussions on the Action for Peacekeeping initiative. We therefore welcome the renewed momentum and concrete steps being taken to advance the United Nations-AU partnership, not least, thanks to the commitment and dedication of the leadership in both organizations. We just heard about the second United Nations-AU annual conference, held in Addis Ababa, where the Secretary-General and the Chairperson of the AU Commission announced their commitment to further deepening the partnership. We welcome the move towards more structured cooperation between the two organizations over the past 18 months through the two important agreements mentioned earlier. The joint visit by Under Secretary-General Lacroix and Commissioner Chergui to the Sudan and the Central African Republic was another tangible example of closer cooperation. We received the note that that will happen again as very welcome news. The need for the flexible, predictable and sustainable funding of AU peace operations is clear. We commend the African mobilization of funding within the AU Peace Fund. The conversation that we are presently leading on alternatives and modalities is truly urgent. Sweden views positively access to assessed United Nations contributions for AU-conducted peace operations. We welcome the agreement on fiduciary reporting as an important and concrete step in the right direction. We also note progress in the development of the compliance framework. In addition to enhancing our cooperation concerning peace operations, we also need to invest time and energy into United Nations- AU cooperation in the area of conflict prevention and resolution. The annual consultation with the AU Peace and Security Council tomorrow will provide an important opportunity to explore both issues further. Yesterday in Brussels, Sweden, together with the European Union and President Farmajo of Somalia, hosted the Somalia Partnership Forum. The United Nations and the AU had important roles at the Forum. Successful AU-United Nations cooperation in Somalia  — where the United Nations provides operational support to the AU-led African Union Mission in Somalia, in turn operating on a United Nations mandate  — is a precondition for continued progress in Somalia’s State-building process. The joint United Nations-AU mission to the Sahel two weeks ago, which we heard about earlier and in which the Swedish Minister for Foreign Affairs participated, is an encouraging sign of the much-needed cooperation to advance the women and peace and security agenda. As we said then, missions like this should become a regular occurrence. We are also encouraged by the work carried out by the African Women Leaders Network to build on and harness women’s participation throughout the region in peace and conflict resolution. Women’s participation is not a women’s issue; it is a peace and security issue. I am confident that tomorrow’s joint meeting between the Security Council and the AU Peace and Security Council will contribute to deepening our joint cooperation. Such meetings are critically important for building the relationship between the Councils, and we would welcome more opportunities for informal interactions between the two Councils. I look forward to the adoption of the joint communiqué that has been discussed, which will serve to signal our joint commitment. Peace is best pursued in partnership. Moving forward on this agenda will require our substantial and sustained political investment, and we look forward to doing our part. I now resume my functions as President of the Council.

Allow me to begin by thanking Sweden for convening this important briefing on cooperation between the United Nations and regional and subregional organizations, including the African Union (AU). I also wish to thank the Special Representative of the Secretary-General and Head of the United Nations Office to the African Union, Ms. Sahle-Work Zewde, for her informative briefing. As this is the first time that she has briefed the Council in her new role, on behalf of the three African members of the Council I take this opportunity to offer our sincere congratulations to Ms. Zewde, wishing her resounding success in her new functions, to which we offer our full support. We would also like to express our sincere thanks and gratitude to Mr. Smaïl Chergui, African Union Commissioner for Peace and Security. I deliver this statement on behalf of the three non-permanent African members of the Security Council: Côte d’Ivoire, Equatorial Guinea and Ethiopia. It is encouraging to note that the strategic partnership between the United Nations and the African Union is advancing. In particular, efforts are being made to improve collaboration between both the United Nations Security Council and the African Union Peace and Security Council and between the United Nations Secretary-General and the African Union Commission. That collaboration has become even more steadfast since the eleventh consultative meeting. We believe that the twelfth annual joint consultative meeting between the members of the Security Council and the African Union Peace and Security Council, which is scheduled for tomorrow, Thursday, 19 July, will be a good opportunity for both bodies to step up their efforts to address the most urgent security obstacles and challenges in Africa, in particular the problems related to South Sudan and the Democratic Republic of the Congo. However, further steps could be taken to take this cooperation to the next level, including through joint field visits, the development of methods of understanding and shared analysis, regular information exchange and joint planning, evaluation and information systems. We also welcome the continued strengthening of cooperation between the secretariats of the two organizations within the Joint United Nations-African Union Framework for Enhanced Partnership in Peace and Security, which was signed last year. In that regard, we welcome the recent visit of the Secretary-General to Addis Ababa for the second high-level meeting with the Chairperson of the African Union Commission, which is testimony to the determination of the top leadership of both organizations to forge solid ties between the United Nations and the African Union on issues of peace and security on the continent. The shared commitment of the United Nations and the African Union in the Joint Task Force on Peace and Security, as well as in the high level of representation on the bureau, is also encouraging. In that regard, we commend the joint visit of Under-Secretary-General Mr. Jean-Pierre Lacroix and Commissioner Chergui to the Central African Republic and the Sudan. We are pleased that the Secretary-General has given the highest priority to partnership and cooperation with the African Union in his proposal for reform of the peace and security pillar, and his recent endorsement, through the Fifth Committee, shows that Member States strongly support this noble objective. The three African members of the Council remain committed to assisting the Secretary-General in his effort to implement the United Nations reform process. It is very important that we improve operational cooperation between the United Nations and the African Union in the areas of conflict prevention and mediation, maintenance and peacebuilding. Of particular relevance is the support to peace support operations of the African Union. We must remember that in resolution 2378 (2017), the Security Council expressed its intention to continue considering the adoption of practical measures and the conditions necessary to establish a mechanism through which the African Union could direct peace support operations authorized by the Security Council. Those could be financed in part through the contribution of the United Nations, on a case-by-case basis. As indicated in the Secretary-General’s report (S/2018/678), the African Union has made definitive progress towards putting the Peace Fund into operation, and the three African members of the Council wish to salute the important achievements made during the past year in that regard. In particular, we applaud the endorsement by the Assembly of the African Union of an instrument relating to the enhanced governance and management structure of the Peace Fund, which created the necessary legal framework for the establishment of a board of trustees, an executive management committee, an independent evaluation panel and the creation of the Peace Fund secretariat. It is important that the instrument of governance and management be put into operation as soon as possible. We praise the efforts that the African Union is currently deploying in that regard. With regard to the contents of the report, it also indicates that there are promising advances being undertaken by the African Union, of course with United Nations support, to establish the necessary framework for international humanitarian law and human rights, as well as the conduct and discipline required for the support operations of the African Union. We applaud the completion of the conduct and discipline policies, as well as the prevention of and response to exploitation and sexual abuse. Other frameworks related to progress in guaranteeing respect for human rights in the deployment of troops from troop-contributing countries, as well as compliance with training standards for African Union peace support operations, are also encouraging. The three African members of the Security Council are proud of the level of commitment shown by African Union member States in their quest for self-reliance in order to reach their goal of funding 25 per cent of peacekeeping and security costs. In that regard, the $47 million raised by African Union member States this year accounts for the highest-ever contribution to the African Peace Fund since its establishment in 1993 and proves that African Union member States are seriously committed to achieving the goal of 25 per cent self- funding. The three African members of the Security Council expect a similar commitment from the United Nations, in particular from the members of the Security Council, in line with resolutions 2320 (2016) and 2378 (2017). I reiterate that United Nations-African Union cooperation is a valuable tool in preventing and resolving conflicts on the continent. It is vital that the Security Council and the Peace and Security Council support both the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development and the African Union Agenda 2063. We believe that supporting social and economic development in Africa can help resolve several conflicts on the continent. Therefore, greater cooperation in the area of development is also needed, not just in the area of peace and security, because one without the other will lead us nowhere. We are pleased that several initiatives have been undertaken to ensure that women are involved in processes to promote peace and security in Africa. The three African members of the Security Council support the participation and inclusion of women and young people in the relevant processes and strategies because they are key to achieving lasting peace on the continent. The African Union is an indispensable partner of the United Nations in the area of promoting peace and security in Africa. We encourage the African Union to continue its leadership and commitment to finding African solutions to African problems. We recommend that the Security Council and the African Union Peace and Security Council continue to strengthen their strategic partnership and align their visions with a view to providing a speedier and more effective response to conflicts. The three African members of the Security Council will continue to firmly support those key processes. I would like to conclude by underscoring the initiative by Ethiopia and Eritrea to achieve peace, security and stability, not just for the two countries or the Horn of Africa, but for the entire continent. The African Union’s promise to silence weapons by 2020 is not just a pipedream; it is possible. But we need support. We must ensure that that noble goal is achieved.

The Kingdom of the Netherlands would like to thank Special Representative of the Secretary-General Zewde and African Union Commissioner Chergui for their briefings. I would also like to join African colleagues in congratulating Ms. Zewde on her recent appointment as Head of the United Nations Office to the African Union. I wish her every success in her new endeavours. The Kingdom of the Netherlands attaches great value to closer collaboration between the African Union (AU) and the United Nations. We are a staunch supporter of the intentions enshrined in resolution 2320 (2016). A strong partnership enables both the United Nations and the AU to respond more swiftly and decisively to threats of international peace and security. As we look for ways to further strengthen the partnership between the United Nations and the AU, we would like to highlight the following three important aspects: practical cooperation, complementarity and financial support. First, with regard to practical cooperation between the AU and the United Nations, the Kingdom of the Netherlands welcomes the practical progress made, in particular the increase in the number of joint briefings by Special Representatives and Envoys. It also welcomes the enhanced collaboration between the United Nations Secretariat and the AU Commission, as well as the joint field visits by senior officials. We welcome in particular the joint visit of Commissioner Chergui and Under-Secretary-General Lacroix in April to Darfur and the Central African Republic. In addition, we encourage more joint AU- United Nations analysis, early warning, planning and decision-making and increased issuance of joint statements. To that end, we would welcome closer alignment between the agendas of the Security Council and the AU Peace and Security Council, especially when addressing African issues. In that same vein, we believe that joint meetings between the Peacebuilding Commission and the AU Peace and Security Council, such as the one taking place today, are important. Lastly, we strongly support the intention, as expressed by members of the two Councils, to conduct joint field missions so as to facilitate the formulation of common positions and recommendations. Secondly, concerning complementarity between the two organizations, we should do all in our power to ensure that United Nations and AU approaches to peacekeeping and conflict resolution are mutually reinforcing. The AU’s ability to act as first responder and move in much more quickly than the United Nations is widely recognized and should be facilitated. Similarly, political processes being positively fuelled or facilitated by the AU or regional economic organizations deserve the Council’s full support. On the other hand, 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 on the work of the United Nations Office to the African Union (S/2018/678), rightly observes that regional interests and proximity can also complicate matters. Cooperation between the United Nations and the AU must rest on comparative advantage and complementarity. An organization’s willingness to act should be decisive in that regard. Thirdly, I would like to address the importance of increased financial support for AU peacekeeping. The role of the AU in peace operations in Africa is essential. However, the AU cannot do it alone. We must step up our efforts. Resolution 2320 (2016) clearly indicates the need for increased support for AU peacekeeping, which includes discussions on a different mode of financing between the United Nations and the AU. We must translate words into action. As highlighted in the Secretary-General’s report, the AU has made important steps forward, including through the African Peace Fund. Such steps must be recognized. Sustainable, predictable and flexible financing would enhance the effectiveness of AU peacekeeping, as would its required compliance to the relevant agreed standards on human rights and strategic and financial oversight and accountability. We support the Secretary-General’s intention to explore financing options in greater technical detail with the General Assembly. In conclusion, today’s complex security challenges require an efficient relationship between the United Nations and regional organizations, in particular the African Union. A good example is the Secretary- General’s Action for Peacekeeping initiative. Regional organizations will play a central role in tackling the existing challenges to peacekeeping. I would like to underscore that the AU will find a constructive partner in us on efforts that take the strategic partnership with the United Nations forward.

At the outset, my delegation would like to thank your delegation, Madam President, for convening today’s briefing. We are especially honoured to have you presiding over today’s meeting. We would also like to thank the Special Representative of the Secretary-General and Head of the United Nations Office to the African Union, Ms. Sahle-Work Zewde, and the African Union Commissioner for Peace and Security, Mr. Smaїl Chergui, for their briefings. It is sheer coincidence that today’s meeting is being held as we mark the centennial of Nelson Mandela’s birth. As we remember him, we run no risk of placing him on an unattainable pedestal. We must never forget that Nelson Mandela was a man of flesh and blood. He was a revolutionary. He was always ready to change the structures of an unjust regime such as that of apartheid. However, he had a global vision with regard to how we should build a more just and human world. My delegation would also like to join in commending and congratulating the important efforts being undertaken by Ethiopia and Eritrea for mutual support. That is an example not just for the African continent, but for the entire world as to how we can resolve our problems and disputes through dialogue, negotiation and peaceful means. Bolivia underscores the importance of continuing to improve the cooperation between the United Nations and the African Union. It is necessary to highlight the responsibility of the international community to implement this relationship in order to facilitate a common understanding of the root causes of conflict and the promotion of consensus in decision-making. It is also necessary to deepen the integration of peacekeeping and peacebuilding activities, strengthen and improve dialogue and cooperation and coordination mechanisms through the Joint United Nations-African Union Framework for Enhanced Partnership in Peace and Security in order to address the challenges to peace and security between the two organizations, including joint strategies related to demobilization, disarmament and reintegration, conflict prevention, and the prioritization of the leadership and participation of women and youth on peace and security issues. Along those lines, we welcome the signing of the African Union-United Nations Framework for the Implementation of Agenda 2063 and the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development. That agreement will enable a systematic, predictable and strategic partnership to be developed, based on the principles of mutual respect and comparative advantage. Similarly, we commend the fact that both organizations have initiated the preparation of a memorandum of understanding that will enhance capacities to combat terrorism and prevent violent extremism, which continue to hinder the consolidation of peace and development in Africa. With regard to cooperation and coordination mechanisms, a notable example is the deployment of joint operations, which are a key instrument in the constant quest to strengthen peace and security. They are also a useful tool for addressing obstacles and threats, such as terrorism and humanitarian crises. That is the case in the region of the Lake Chad basin, where the United Nations, the African Union and other international partners support the work of the Multinational Joint Task Force to combat Boko Haram. Bolivia encourages those initiatives, including the full deployment and operationalization of the Group of Five for the Sahel Joint Force, which together with the African Union Mission in Somalia, represents one of the most successful examples of partnership between the United Nations and the African Union, without forgetting the African Union-United Nations Hybrid Operation in Darfur, a mission that is an example of how the African Union and the United Nations can develop a joint vision with regard to the priorities based on the reality on the ground and the needs of the area. We also commend the initiatives put forward by subregional organizations, such as the Economic Community of West African States and those under way within the framework of the Nouakchott process, in particular those aimed at identifying the root causes of the conflicts in Mali and the Sahel region, which should be in line with the United Nations integrated strategy for the Sahel and the support plan for that region. Bolivia underscores the growing level of strategic partnership between the Security Council of the United Nations and the Peace and Security Council of the African Union and their commitment to developing a structured and equitable relationship. That partnership must be strengthened on the basis of mutual support and ongoing technical assistance, both for political issues and peacekeeping operations. We therefore welcome the recent briefings by special representatives and envoys of the African Union in the Security Council. Similarly, we support the option of having both Councils conduct joint field missions. Furthermore, we believe that efforts should be made to continue exploring different modalities for support and assistance to the African Union peacekeeping operations pursuant to resolution 2320 (2016). In that context, Bolivia supports the requests made by the African Union for a predictable and flexible budget and for economic support for peace and security operations. However, not all experiences have been positive. We cannot forget the weakening or breakdown in trust with regional organizations. For example, that has been the case with South Sudan and the political process that the Intergovernmental Authority on Development (IGAD) is conducting as mediator. We regret that the Security Council ignored IGAD’s express request that targeted sanctions and an arms embargo not be imposed at a time when headway was being made in the dialogue in South Sudan. Bolivia once again reaffirms its full support for the regional and subregional architecture as a useful tool for conflict resolution in Africa. It is essential to take into account the African perspective and African recommendations, as they are more aware of the reality on the ground. In conclusion, Bolivia believes that it is crucial to grant a greater leadership role to the African Union in decision-making on matters that concern it, with respect for the sovereignty, independence and territorial integrity of all the countries that make up the African Union, in the interest of the peace that we so long for.

I thank you, Madam President, for convening this meeting. At the outset, we congratulate Ms. Sahle-Work Zewde on assuming her new post as Special Representative of the Secretary-General to the African Union and Head of the United Nations Office to the AU. We also would like to thank Mr. Smaïl Chergui for his thorough briefing on cooperation between the African Union Peace and Security Council and the United Nations Security Council. Cooperation between international and regional organizations is indispensable, given the international necessities, circumstances and enormous challenges, on the one hand, and the unprecedented expansion of the role of regional organizations in the areas of peace, security and stability, especially in the light of the growing number of national and regional conflicts, on the other. Emphasizing the importance of such cooperation in addressing security challenges and settling African conflicts, the African Union (AU) sought to cooperate with the United Nations pursuant to Chapter VIII of the Charter. Kuwait’s relationship with the African continent is historical and deep-rooted and precedes the establishment of official diplomatic relations with its States. That relationship was significantly bolstered after Kuwait’s accession to the AU as an observer in December 2011. This is an unequivocal evidence of Kuwait’s recognition of the political and economic importance of Africa. The report of former Secretary-General Kofi Annan on the causes of conflict in Africa and the promotion of durable peace and sustainable development in Africa (S/1998/318) clearly noted that there can be no peace without development and no development without peace. That is consistent with one of the basic principles and pillars of Kuwait’s foreign policy, particularly the policy of the Kuwaiti Fund for Economic Development since 1961, as reflected in its contributions of over $10 billion to African countries. The State of Kuwait, as an observer in the AU and together with its member States, will continue to implement the AU vision for peace, progress and prosperity, as well as the prevention and resolution of conflicts and the maintenance of regional peace, security and stability. The momentum of this cooperation must be maintained in the light of our understanding that the tools and mechanisms of the United Nations and the AU in the area of preventive diplomacy can be enhanced only by working closely at all levels, be it in the framework of cooperation between the Security Council and the AU Peace and Security Council or of the United Nations Office to the African Union, not to mention the close synergy among the Special Envoys and representatives of the United Nations and the AU, in addition to scaling up joint field visits. It is incumbent on us to advance all the early warning mechanisms in order to avert future conflicts. We count on the role of the African members of the AU and their unified positions to increase cooperation between both organizations and particularly between both Councils. Greater harmony and alignment between the Security Council and the Peace and Security Council of the African Union will enhance their existing partnership and have a positive effect on their joint peacekeeping, peacebuilding and sustainable peace operations in conflict-affected countries, not to mention improving the transparency of information exchanges between both organs, which will facilitate consistent and appropriate responses to issues of conflict prevention, mediation, peacekeeping, peace-support operations and post-conflict development. We agree with the Secretary-General that it is essential to build African countries’ capacities, especially in the area of peacekeeping. We hope that progress can be made in ensuring predictable, sustainable and flexible financing for AU-led peace-support operations that are mandated by the Security Council. We commend the fact that the AU continues to cover 25 per cent of the costs of peace-support operation. We also support the activation of the Peace Fund and partnership between the AU and the United Nations in ensuring sustainable and predictable funding. We emphasize the importance of starting early to develop a joint understanding of conflicts, coordinate efforts, ensure responses and ensure effective partnership between the two organizations and regional economic groups, which will enable them to achieve their roles as desired. We are pleased to see the cooperation between the two Councils, and we commend the joint communiqué to be issued at their twelfth joint consultative meeting, to be held tomorrow. We look forward to maintaining that approach and pace until the desired goals are achieved. Given the ongoing conflicts in the Arab region, the State of Kuwait looks forward to enhanced cooperation between the Security Council and the League of Arab States in the areas of conflict prevention, early warning,and conflict resolution through peaceful ways in accordance with the Charter of the United Nations. (spoke in English) On the hundredth anniversary of the birth of the late great leader Nelson Mandela, I would like to conclude with a quote attributed to him, which says that “Peace is the greatest weapon for development that anyone can have”. Indeed, no one can deny the existence today of the peace-and-development nexus. Development, along with peace and human rights, is one of the core pillars of the United Nations. Let us continue to work with the African Union, through the various bilateral and multilateral partnerships that we have with it, towards achieving peace and development in Africa.

We are very pleased to have you with us for today’s discussion, Madam President. We would also like to thank Commissioner Chergui and Special Representative Zewde for their briefings, and to congratulate Ms. Zewde on her new appointment. We look forward to working with her. As the Council has recognized, the African Union (AU) is a critical partner for the United Nations. We are pleased to see greater collaboration, more regular exchanges of information and consultations and coordinated action aimed at effectively preventing, resolving and managing Africa’s complex tasks related to peace and security. Africa is a continent of promise as well as enduring challenges. Progress towards open markets and free trade has spurred economic growth there, and today Africa is home to five of the world’s 10 fastest-growing economies. By 2030 Africa will represent almost a quarter of the world’s workforce and consumers. By 2050 its population is expected to double to 2 billion people, a majority of whom will be under 18, making Africa the world’s youngest continent. Almost 70 per cent of Africans today are under 25 years old. The success or failure of African Governments in meeting the aspirations of their peoples, particularly their young people, will affect peace and security issues across the continent. Meeting those aspirations will depend on their ability to continue to develop institutions that are accountable and responsive to citizens, promoting the rule of law and ensuring political stability. The African Union plays a leading role, and its partnership with the United Nations is a critical component in advancing our shared objectives of stability and prosperity in Africa. The United States appreciates the Secretary- General’s recognition that the focus of joint efforts between the United Nations and the AU must be on facilitating sustainable political solutions, which requires addressing the root causes of conflict. We applaud the efforts to develop linkages with financial institutions such as the World Bank and the African Development Bank. They are essential to bringing to bear the resources necessary to help address the root causes of conflict in Africa. We also welcome the African Union’s efforts to increase financial self- reliance, including through the AU Peace Fund, and to meet the commitment made by the Assembly of the African Union in January 2015 to funding 25 per cent of the cost of its peace and security operations. We especially look forward to working with AU member States to identify non-trade mechanisms for greater self-financing that are transparent and compliant with their international obligations and commitments. What the United States will not do is consider additional financial support through the United Nations for any future AU-led operations authorized by the Security Council under Chapter VIII of the Charter of the United Nations, until benchmarks for financial transparency, conduct and discipline and human rights are demonstrably implemented across AU peace organizations and operations. To do otherwise, or to act prematurely, would be to risk jeopardizing the legitimacy and credibility of United Nations peacekeeping. However, we do recognize the progress that the AU has made towards developing compliance frameworks for international humanitarian law and human rights, and for conduct and discipline, particularly the policies on conduct and discipline and on the prevention of and response to sexual exploitation and abuse, as well as the training standards for the integrated protection of civilians. We urge the United Nations and the AU to continue to prioritize the development and implementation of standards in order to achieve greater transparency and accountability in AU peace support operations. As the Council is aware, earlier this year the General Assembly’s Special Committee on Peacekeeping Operations called on the Secretariat to develop a comprehensive performance policy that details performance standards and mechanisms for accountability. We would be interested to hear our briefers’ thoughts on how the AU can better support and draw from that policy as it develops its own performance and accountability mechanisms. Lastly, we are confident that this important relationship is headed in the right direction. We share the vision of a stable, prosperous and secure Africa, and applaud the many efforts to pursue continued and increased collaboration between the United Nations and the African Union in order to achieve our shared goals.

We would like to thank Ms. Sahle-Work Zewde, the Special Representative of the Secretary-General, and Mr. Smaїl Chergui, African Union Commissioner for Peace and Security, for their substantive briefings. We share the attitude of the Secretary-General to the development and strengthening of the cooperation between the United Nations, the African Union (AU) and Africa’s subregional organizations. The challenges facing both the African continent and the international community make it essential to unite our efforts and make use of the organizations’ comparative advantages. We see the potential for more thorough interaction. We welcome the efforts of our African partners to resolve conflicts on the continent and have been pleased to note a marked intensification in the activities of the African Union and subregional organizations in that regard, including in efforts to establish a continent- wide peace-and-security architecture. There can be no question that in order to deal effectively with Africa’s crises, the continent requires first of all an approach in which Africans themselves take the leading role in determining ways to settle their various problems, combined with effective support to their efforts from the international community. The approach we support is that of “African solutions to African problems”. We would like to focus attention on the fact that cooperation between the United Nations and the AU should be based on Chapter VIII of the Charter of the United Nations, including such key provisions as ensuring that the peace and security activities of regional arrangements are consistent with the purposes and principles of the Charter, that peaceful means are used for settling disputes, that Security Council authorization is obtained for any enforcement action and that the Council is kept informed. Besides that, it is important to ensure that individual recipes for dealing with crises are developed for each concrete situation and geared to local specifics. We believe that in the majority of cases, the regional stakeholders have a better understanding of situations in their area of responsibility. However, the Security Council has the primary responsibility for the maintenance of international peace and security, so its participation in resolving Africa’s problems is also essential. We understand the concerns of our African partners about the provision of resources for African peacekeeping operations. It will be important to improve the predictability, reliability and flexibility of the financing for African operations and joint missions. We do not object in principle to considering the possibilities for expanding United Nations participation in such missions, and we are ready for further constructive dialogue in that regard. However, we believe it is extremely important to maintain the current United Nations procedures for considering and approving the relevant budgetary applications, to ensure transparency and accountability in the allocation and use of funds, and to provide for the participation of United Nations personnel at every stage of the planning and practical implementation of the tasks involved. Obviously, strengthening cooperation between our organizations will inevitably mean additional responsibilities for the regional actors that they must be fully prepared for. Russia participates actively in the logistics of peacekeeping, primarily by providing air services. We give a great deal of attention to training police and military personnel from Africa through Russia’s specialized institutions. In particular, the All-Russian Institute of Advanced Training of Employees of the Ministry of Internal Affairs of the Russian Federation runs a training programme for peacekeepers. African law-enforcement officials are given the opportunity to study in higher-education programmes as well as short- term training courses for improving their qualifications in Ministry of Internal Affairs educational institutions. We are ready to share with our African partners our experience in counter-terrorism and to implement projects to increase the capacity of the continent’s countries to combat the threats of terrorism and extremism.

We are pleased to see you, Madam President, leading this timely and important meeting on the eve of tomorrow’s meeting with the African Union Peace and Security Council, and we thank Ms. Sahle-Work Zewde and Mr. Smaïl Chergui for their important briefings. We would also like to note that this meeting falls on the hundredth anniversary of the birth of Nelson Mandela, whose memory continues to inspire the region and the world in their efforts to achieve peace and combat poverty. We also commend the courage of the leaders of Ethiopia and Eritrea for the important step they have just taken towards peace and reconciliation. Peru notes with concern that despite African countries’ potential and the efforts and progress they have made in consolidating and sustaining peace, many continue to face serious challenges and threats driven or exacerbated by violent extremists, terrorist groups and criminal organizations. The transnational and cross-border reach of those non-State actors, the agents of the vast majority of conflicts today, reflects the underlying causes of the global effects that are especially seriously apparent on the African continent  — poverty, inequality, climate change and weak institutions. In that context, we consider it vital to strengthen multilateralism and cooperation between the United Nations and the African Union, as well as with other regional and subregional organizations and international financial institutions, in order to respond to the current challenges. We would like to highlight three main lines of action for enhanced cooperation. First, with respect to peacekeeping, we urge the Council to closely coordinate with the African Union and other regional organizations in order to strengthen the effectiveness of peace missions, in accordance with resolution 2320 (2016), which promotes complementarities and synergies, including joint analysis and planning missions. Regional organizations are key in addressing terrorism, a task that is normally beyond the mandates and capabilities of peacekeeping operations. In that regard, we want to highlight the African Peace and Security Architecture and initiatives such as the Joint Force of the Group of Five for the Sahel and the Multinational Joint Task Force against Boko Haram. Secondly, with regard to conflict prevention, we must coordinate strategic action for mediation and facilitating dialogue, early-warning systems and confidence-building measures, and give visibility to best practices and help countries interested in replicating them. We believe the electoral calendar in Africa provides opportunities for that. We underscore that prevention requires inclusive and accountable institutions with the ability to address the demands of citizens, which are generally indicators of the root causes of conflict. It also requires greater participation on the part of citizens, the private sector and civil society, and especially women and young people. We believe that the efforts of member States must be buttressed by the political and diplomatic support, normative framework and technical cooperation that the United Nations system, the African Union and other regional and subregional actors are called on to provide, in a coordinated and coherent manner. In that regard, we highlight the roles of the African Union in Mali and the Sahel, the Economic Community of West African States in Togo and Guinea-Bissau and the Intergovernmental Authority on Development in South Sudan. Thirdly, with regard to peacebuilding and sustainable development, it is also essential that the United Nations, the African Union and other relevant organizations work together on post-conflict reconstruction and development by addressing root causes. To that end, the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development and the African Union’s Agenda 2063 should be mutually reinforcing. We want to emphasize the role of the Peacebuilding Commission in that regard, as well as the importance of promoting the rule of law in order to safeguard human rights and foster economic growth, in line with the Sustainable Development Goals. We also underscore the importance of mitigating and adapting to climate change. Lastly, we support the ongoing internal reforms within both the United Nations and the African Union aimed at creating a closer and more efficient partnership to address their common challenges.

China would like to thank you, Madam President, for presiding over this meeting. We are also grateful to Special Representative of the Secretary-General Zewde and Mr. Chergui for their briefings. We deeply appreciate your efforts, Madam President, to promote the partnership between the United Nations and the African Union (AU). Over the past year, the United Nations-AU partnership has seen relatively significant progress, thanks to efforts on both sides. The eleventh joint annual consultative meeting was held last year in Ethiopia and the twelfth will take place at the United Nations tomorrow. We expect both parties to have a candid and deep exchange on topics of common interest to both sides. The two parties have also jointly carried out activities in areas such as joint evaluations, decision-making and briefing, and coping with the problems of Somalia, Mali, the Sahel, the Democratic Republic of the Congo and many other hotspot issues, with positive results. China highly appreciates those efforts. The continued strengthening of the cooperation between the United Nations and the AU is very important to peace and development in Africa and in the world as a whole. The overall situation in Africa is currently stable, but the continent is still facing challenges on the peace, security, economic development and humanitarian fronts, which creates new demands for cooperation between the two parties. China lends its overall support to the recommendations 2018 annual report of the Secretary- General (S/2018/678) on the partnership between the United Nations and the AU. We believe that, in order to address new situations and challenges, the United Nations should focus on the following three areas, while continuing to enhance its partnership with the AU. First, there is a need to continue to build on and optimize the relevant partnership mechanisms. The United Nations should fully respect the leadership of Africa in solving its own security issues and improve cooperation with regional and subregional organizations, such as the AU. Based on new trends, they should find innovative ways of working together, while improving the coherence of topics, the timeliness of briefings and effective decision-making. Secondly, there is a need to actively explore ways to provide Africa-led peacekeeping operations with sustainable and predictable funding. AU-led peacekeeping operations constitute a significant means to address crises in Africa and an important complement to United Nations peacekeeping operations, but AU peacekeeping operations face difficulties in terms of human and financial resources. The United Nations and the AU have made several attempts to jointly resolve the funding issue and have seen positive results. The Secretary-General and Chairperson of the AU Commission have offered several relevant models, in the light of which the two sides will be able to pursue extensive exchanges and find innovative ways to find a way to resolve the issue. Thirdly, there is a need to maintain support for Africa in its efforts to address the root causes of conflict. Support for Africa’s economic and social development is a major way forward; it will expand the United Nations-AU partnership in the future and is an important channel to help Africa confront emerging causes of conflict. The United Nations should closely align the implementation of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development with the AU Agenda 2063. As a priority, the international community should increase assistance to and investment in Africa’s health care, education, economy, trade, connectivity and other infrastructure to improve the economic and social development of African nations. China is actively committed to promoting African peace and security and strengthening the United Nations-AU partnership. China will continue to uphold the principles and the concept of achieving shared growth through discussions and cooperation, work closely with African nations and assist and support them in their effort to strengthen peace, security and capacity-building, resolve regional hotspot issues, and realize stability and development for African nations.

Let me begin by joining other speakers in thanking Special Representative Zewde and African Union (AU) Commissioner Chergui for their insightful briefings. Allow me also to take this opportunity to congratulate Ms. Zewde on her new appointment and wish her every success in fulfilling her mandate, including fostering progress between the United Nations and the African Union. We could not agree more with Ms. Zewde that partnership is not a choice. It is a necessity, and that is why Poland is a steadfast supporter of fostering the strategic partnership between the United Nations and the African Union. We therefore welcome the progress made over the past year, covered by the report of the Secretary-General (S/2018/678) under consideration. In recent years, the African Union has taken on important responsibilities, and its role in promoting peace and security has only expanded. We appreciate the ownership it has consistently demonstrated in tackling security challenges and in bringing together subregional organizations in joint efforts to ensure peace, stability and development on the African continent. We all acknowledge the comparative advantages of African Union peace operations — their understanding of the realities on the ground, ability to rapidly deploy and flexibility, and capacity to perform mandated tasks that United Nations peacekeeping operations are unable to perform. Poland believes that, if African peace and security operations are to be most effective, the partnership between the two organizations should be further strengthened in the area of joint analysis and planning. We recognize the need for flexible, predictable and sustainable funding of AU peace operations authorized or mandated by the Security Council, and we stand ready to further discuss various options and models of such support, including access to United Nations-assessed contributions. At the same time, we underline the need to ensure the full compliance of African-led peace operations with United Nations rules and standards in terms of troop quality, training and equipment, as well accountability, conduct and discipline. Let me stress that enhanced cooperation and collaboration between the United Nations and the African Union are needed not only in relation to peace and security operations; they are equally important in the area of mediation and conflict prevention, as well as in addressing the root causes of conflict, strengthening political processes and respect for rule of law, and good governance, and promoting sustainable and inclusive development. Therefore, we commend the United Nations-AU action plan on implementation of Agenda 2063 and the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, as agreed at the second United Nations- African Union Annual Conference held in Addis Ababa in early July. At this juncture, allow me to once again express Poland’s appreciation for African mediation and facilitation efforts in various conflicts, including in South Sudan, the Democratic Republic of the Congo and the Central African Republic. Poland believes that continued United Nations support for the African Union in its efforts to equip itself with the capacities, tools and means necessary for effective action is critical. It is of utmost importance in enabling both organizations to face new threats and address complex sources of instability in Africa. We believe that regular exchanges between the Council and the African Union Peace and Security Council are an essential instrument for deepening the partnership. In that context, we would be supportive of the possible expansion of joint field missions of both Councils. We believe that a joint visit to the Democratic Republic of the Congo in the weeks to come could be instrumental in reaching a political solution in the country. In that respect, we also stress the importance of the United Nations Office to the African Union in providing support and ensuring concerted action between the two Councils. In conclusion, I reiterate Poland’s support for strengthening United Nations-AU cooperation and our appreciation to the Secretary-General for his continued efforts focused on strengthening the partnership with the African Union, as well as other regional partners in Africa. Let me assure you, Madam, that Poland stands ready to work closely with African partners not only on African issues, but also on ways to address our shared global challenges.

Let me begin by thanking Commissioner Chergui for his briefing and for the work of the African Union (AU) to bring peace and security to Africa. I would also like to welcome Special Representative of the Secretary-General Zewde to her new role and thank her for her briefing, presentation of the report of the Secretary-General (S/2018/678) and efforts and those of her Office to the African Union. I would also like to join other speakers, including the representative of Bolivia and others, who have taken this opportunity to pay tribute to the remarkable efforts of Ethiopia and Eritrea in advancing peace and stability between the two countries in recent weeks. That is truly positive news for the region, the African Union and the Council. The United Kingdom believes that the African Union is a crucial partner for the United Nations across many different strands of work, including peace and security. The AU’s deep understanding of the issues that the continent is facing makes it uniquely placed to lead efforts in this area. The United Kingdom strongly welcomes the intention of the African Union and the United Nations to coordinate more on peace and security, including on conflict prevention and peacekeeping matters. Combining the knowledge and skills of both organizations will mean that resources can be deployed more effectively and efficiently. As set out in the Secretary-General’s report (S/2018/678), regional economic communities, such as the Economic Community of West African States and the Intergovernmental Authority on Development, have positively contributed to peace and security in the region, and as such must be considered as part of the AU’s reform process. To ensure that resources are coordinated effectively, we agree that the AU must retain oversight over these regional economic communities. The United Kingdom believes that the AU’s peace support operations can play a crucial role in achieving long-term peace. It is therefore important that the long-term financial sustainability and predictability of current and future missions be considered so that they can keep doing their good work. As Commissioner Chergui has already highlighted today, resolutions 2320 (2016) and 2378 (2017) outline the principles of United Nations-assessed funding for AU-led peace support operations. Resolution 2320 (2016) agreed that cooperation between the AU and the United Nations on peace-support operations is key to delivering and maintaining peace in Africa. As set out in the resolution, we look forward to progress towards a United Nations- AU decision-making process that respects Security Council primacy on mandating and deploying missions. We support the AU’s efforts to ensure robust standards that are comparable to the United Nations and are adhered to across the organization. In that regard, we welcome the close work between the United Nations Secretariat and the AU Commission on compliance frameworks and that a conduct and discipline policy and a sexual exploitation and abuse policy have been agreed. We eagerly await the completion of the accountability and oversight frameworks so that we can move forward in considering the use of United Nations-assessed contributions to partially fund AU-led peace-support operations on a case-by-case basis. In that regard, we warmly welcome the AU’s commitment to funding 25 per cent of peace-support operation costs by 2020, and I also welcome the detail set out by Commissioner Chergui earlier in this meeting. In particular, with respect to the Union Military Observer Mission in Somalia (AMISOM), we note the report of the Secretary-General’s Special Envoys on AU financing, future financing and the recommendation for the AU to lead on funding and for non-traditional donors to contribute. As the report concluded, United Nations assessed contributions are not an option in the short term. Therefore, we need to see the international community step up and provide vital contributions to AMISOM in the short and medium terms. The United Kingdom warmly welcomes the cooperation between the African Union and the United Nations, as demonstrated by the joint field visits of the United Nations Secretary-General, Chairperson Faki and others. We encourage more joint United Nations- AU field visits, as well as increased coordination between United Nations Special Representatives of the Secretary-General and AU Special Envoys, particularly ahead of decision points on mandates or sanctions regimes and ahead of the issuing of reports. The African Union’s knowledge of the region is invaluable. With that in mind, we encourage more interaction between the Council and the AU Peace and Security Council, including on reporting, so that we can consider the views of the African Union. The challenges that Africa faces remain significant. Only last year, 15,000 people were displaced every day, 75 per cent of them due to conflict. We must work together to ensure that our efforts are complementary so that we maximize the impact they can have to give us the best chance to address the enormous challenge of achieving peace and security in Africa and in silencing the guns.

At the outset, I wish to thank you, Madam President, for convening this debate. I also thank Ms. Zewde and African Union Commissioner for Peace and Security Chergui for their very interesting briefings. For France, the partnership between the United Nations and the African Union (AU) is of strategic importance for international peace and security, and we are firmly committed to supporting it. The partnership is fully in keeping with the current evolution of peacekeeping, which requires better coordination among the United Nations, regional organizations and subregional organizations under Chapter VIII of the Charter of the United Nations in order to better exploit the comparative advantages of each organization, thereby better preventing and responding to crises. In that context, we welcome the progress made over the past year under the personal leadership of the United Nations Secretary-General and the Chairperson of the African Union Commission, Mr. Moussa Faki Mahamat, to better coordinate and analyse crises and our responses to them. For example, the joint visit of the Commissioner and Jean-Pierre Lacroix to the Central African Republic highlighted the importance of coordinated action by the two organizations in support of the peace process in that country to achieve a comprehensive political agreement as soon as possible. In the face of evolving threats in Africa and the need for the United Nations and the AU to improve their responses and efficiency, France is in favour of United Nations reinforcement of African peace operations. President Macron made a clear commitment to this goal during his speech in Ouagadougou, in November 2017, and more recently at the thirty-first African Union Summit in Nouakchott. We believe that African Union operations should be supported in two areas. First, it is important to promote the concept of African peace enforcement operations that are mandated by the African Union Peace and Security Council and the United Nations Security Council. African peace operations can be deployed more quickly than United Nations peacekeeping operations in carrying out offensive peace-enforcement or counter- terrorism operations. That division of tasks would allow United Nations peacekeeping operations to focus on peacekeeping, which is at the core of their mandate. At the political and military levels, such operations should therefore be provided with a stable framework for cooperation, as has been done with the African Union Military Observer Mission in Somalia, the United Nations Multidimensional Integrated Stabilization Mission in Mali and the African Union Mission for the Central African Republic and Central Africa and, more recently, to the Joint Force of the Group of Five for the Sahel (G-5 Sahel). The proposals of the Secretary-General and the Chairman of the African Union Commission to establish a joint process for the analysis of threats, developing mandates and operational concepts, planning and the evaluation of African peace operations constitute a solid basis for further efforts, and we invite them to develop it further. The second key point for enhancing African peace operations is the need to move concretely and swiftly towards their predictable and sustainable financing, as called for in resolutions 2320 (2016) and 2378 (2017). Given the current situation, it now seems logical that African peace enforcement operations, which would complement United Nations peacekeeping operations, should also enjoy sound and predictable funding, including through mandatory contributions from the United Nations. In that regard, we welcome the reforms led by the African Union, including the revitalization of the Peace Fund, and the African Union’s commitment to funding 25 per cent of African peace operations. We also commend the unprecedented financial commitment of AU member States to replenishing the Fund. Of course, several crucial points still need to be discussed concerning financing, in particular regarding the acceleration and finalization of ongoing work on compliance frameworks in the fields of international humanitarian law, human rights and conduct and discipline, as well as work related to chains of command in African peace operations. However, we remain confident that the work will proceed and allow us to move forward. I conclude by emphasizing that France considers the progress achieved by our African Union partners to be real and must now be strongly supported by the Security Council. France will play an active role, together with its partners in the Security Council, to ensure progress in the cooperation between the United Nations and the African Union, in the name of peace and security on the African continent.

I thank you, Madam President, for convening today’s meeting. I join others in congratulating the Special Representative of the Secretary-General, Ms. Sahle-Work Zewde, on her new assignment and assure her and her staff of our full support for the United Nations Office to the African Union. I thank her and African Union (AU) Commissioner Smaïl Chergui for their insightful briefings on enhancing African capacities for peace and security. My delegation fully supports the recommendations contained in the Secretary-General’s report on strengthening the partnership between the United Nations and the African Union on issues of peace and security in Africa, including on the work of the United Nations Office to the African Union (S/2018/678), and would like to make the following observations. First, with regard to institutional partnerships, we are encouraged to see strengthened cooperation between the United Nations and the AU in an effort to support Africa’s steady pursuit of peace, stability and sustainable development. We welcome the progress made to capitalize on the United Nations-African Union Framework for Enhanced Partnership in Peace and Security and the African Union-United Nations Framework for the Implementation of Agenda 2063 and the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development. We, the international community, should support to the fullest efforts to implement the Frameworks through joint field visits to conflict areas, joint briefings, meetings of the United Nations-African Union Joint Task Force on Peace and Security and other initiatives. At the same time, further technical work is needed to develop the modalities for joint analysis, planning and assessment, as well as reporting to the relevant intergovernmental bodies. Both the United Nations and the AU must revise their internal administrative processes, policies and procedures and strengthen common synergies. Secondly, with regard to the peacekeeping partnership, AU-led peace support operations are recognized as being absolutely essential to the Security Council’s responsibility to maintain peace and security. This is particularly relevant,considering the limitations of United Nations peacekeeping operations in countering terrorism. AU forces have also proven to be very effective because they are familiar with their own terrain, local conditions and the tactics of armed and militia groups. Good examples of such partnership are the AU-United Nations Hybrid Operation in Darfur and the African Union Mission in Somalia. Similarly, the Multinational Joint Task Force and the Joint Force of the Group of Five for the Sahel are exemplary reinforcements as part of our global counter- terrorism action. My delegation commends the AU for its continued efforts to operationalize the African Peace Fund and its commitment to covering 25 per cent of the cost of its peace-support operations. We encourage the AU to pursue with greater determination the creation of the African Standby Force and strengthen a robust compliance framework. However, it is clear that without sufficient financial and capacity-building support, the ability of AU peace operations to deliver will not match expectations. My delegation therefore calls on the Security Council to consider practical steps to develop a mechanism to ensure the sustainable and predictable joint financing of AU peace operations. The four financing options, identified in last year’s reports of the Secretary-General’ (S/2017/744), should be explored for optimal results, beyond the use of voluntary contributions through trust funds. We must also find a way to understand and harmonize the varying differences in the orientation, structures and bureaucracies of the two organizations for a smoother and more effective partnership. Thirdly, we should prioritize conflict prevention and mediation by improving the efficiency of United Nations-AU preventive diplomacy and developing a comprehensive approach, while strengthening the security-development nexus. We need more coordinated actions in order to adopt what the Secretary-General calls a whole new approach  — one of preventing conflicts rather than spending time and resources on resolving them. Currently, we spend 10 times more funds on peacekeeping than on peacebuilding and addressing the root causes of instability. We must therefore invest more in human development, including education, employment, social services, State institutions and good governance, rule of law, security sector reform and disarmament, demobilization and reintegration. At the same time, attention must be paid to climate mitigation, disaster risk reduction, resilience-building and infrastructure development to foster trade and agriculture, as well as water, food and energy security, so as to develop a holistic concept of human security. Lastly, we underscore that only collective action, with the engagement of all relevant actors, will be the most effective in achieving peace and stability in Africa. We must listen carefully to the guidance given by the three African non-permanent members of the Council on all the issues related to Africa. We also encourage the United Nations to leverage the comparative advantage of regional economic communities and mechanisms, such as the Economic Community of West African States and the Intergovernmental Authority on Development. They, in particular, possess a better understanding of the dynamics and root causes of conflicts and can mobilize local financial and human resources. Parliamentarians, religious leaders and civil society are also assets in our efforts. Last but not least, it is important to ensure that women and youth are integrated into every stage related to peace and security. Kazakhstan, as an observer to the AU, is strongly committed to further strengthening the capacity of that organization and all subregional structures to help African countries fulfil their vision for peace, progress and prosperity.

I would like to make a further statement in my capacity as the representative of Sweden. We spend an inordinate amount of time in the Chamber discussing devastating crises on the African continent. However, today’s meeting has provided a welcome opportunity to focus on cooperation and solutions and on how our joint efforts can yield better results. I am very encouraged by the resounding support we have heard today for a deepened strategic partnership between the United Nations and the African Union. It is clear that enhanced collaboration is part and parcel of ongoing efforts to make peace operations more effective. In order to foster such collaboration, further discussion is required on the modalities for much needed predictable financing. It was encouraging to hear from Ms. Sahle-Work Zewde and Commissioner Chergui about the magnitude of activities, exchanges and collaborative efforts between the two secretariats in an effort to operationalize closer cooperation. Such endeavours deserve our full support. That momentum must continue in order to achieve results. I believe that it all bodes very well for the twelfth annual joint consultative meeting to be held tomorrow with the African Union Peace and Security Council. I now resume my functions as President of the Security Council. There are no more names inscribed on the list of speakers.