S/PV.9149 Security Council

In accordance with rule 37 of the Council’s provisional rules of procedure, I invite the representatives of Egypt, Germany, Japan, Morocco, Namibia, Senegal and South Africa to participate in this meeting. In accordance with rule 39 of the Council’s provisional rules of procedure, I invite His Excellency Mr. Moussa Faki Mahamat, Chairperson of the African Union Commission, to participate in the meeting. 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/2022/643, 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; and to document S/2022/736, which contains the text of a letter dated 3 October 2022 from the Permanent Representative of Gabon to the United Nations addressed to the Secretary-General, transmitting a concept note on the item under consideration. I wish to warmly welcome the Secretary-General, His Excellency Mr. António Guterres, to whom I now give the floor.

I thank Gabon for hosting this important meeting on cooperation between the United Nations and the African Union. I also welcome my dear friend Mr. Moussa Faki Mahamat, Chairperson of the African Union Commission, to the United Nations. I am pleased that we can take this opportunity to celebrate the twentieth anniversary of the creation of the African Union. In 2002, African leaders pledged to work together to prevent conflict and promote peace, development, human rights and the rule of law. They wished to enable Africa to play its rightful role in the international arena, thus leading to a fairer and more effective system of global governance. Since then, the African Union has demonstrated its determination to achieve integration, peace and prosperity. Agenda 2063 and its flagship initiatives, the African Continental Free Trade Agreement, the Silencing the Guns in Africa initiative, and the Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention are the latest examples. In the past 20 years, the United Nations and the African Union have developed a unique partnership rooted in the principles of complementarity, respect and African ownership, to the point of becoming a cornerstone of multilateralism. My annual report (S/2022/643) presents the latest developments in this cooperation, including the joint launch with the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) and the Group of Five for the Sahel, of the independent assessment led by His Excellency Mr. Mahamadou Issoufou to improve overall action on security, governance and development across the Sahel; joint initiatives with ECOWAS for a rapid return to constitutional order in Burkina Faso, Guinea and Mali; a sustained commitment to a negotiated settlement through an African Union process of the conflict in Ethiopia; close cooperation, also with the Intergovernmental Authority on Development (IGAD), in the Sudan, to restore civilian-led democratic governance; joint efforts in Somalia with IGAD and other partners that contributed to successful presidential elections, support for Somali security forces and the newly established African Union Transition Mission in Somalia; continued support, in cooperation with the African Union, for the transition process in Chad; and joint arms collection campaigns in Madagascar, Niger and Uganda. It is clear that our cooperation has never been stronger, but equally major challenges remain. They can only be met by a local and adapted approach and strong determination from the international community, including within the Security Council. First, the use of force is too often seen as the only method of resolving disputes. Unconstitutional changes of government are on the rise. In the Sahel, Da’esh and its Al-Qaida affiliates continue their deadly onslaught and seek to extend their reach. In the Horn of Africa, in Ethiopia, in eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo, Mali, the Sudan and Libya, protracted conflicts and a dire humanitarian situation are plunging populations into despair. Violence against women — and in particular against human rights defenders  — is a bone of contention. We also see an increase in misinformation and hate speech often used as a weapon of war. In accordance with the United Nations Charter, the Constitutive Act of the African Union, and the Silencing the Guns initiative, States must develop the capacity to detect and pre-empt conflicts at the earliest signs. It is equally important to address the governance deficit, including restrictions on human rights and freedoms, which undermine stability and sustainable development. With regard to peace and security missions, our two organizations have worked together on the compliance framework for African Union operations to ensure that they meet international human rights and humanitarian standards. At the same time, the Security Council must ensure predictable funding for African Union operations authorized by the Council. As requested by the Council, we are preparing a joint progress report on the financing of these operations, which is due in April 2023. It is up to us to put in place an innovative architecture that supports African peace operations in an effective and sustainable manner. (spoke in English) Secondly, we are heading straight off a climate cliff. For many Africans, this is not a distant threat, but a daily reality. Africa barely contributes to global greenhouse-gas emissions, yet it is paying an outsized price. This is a textbook case of moral and economic injustice. In the Horn of Africa, for example, people are facing the threat of famine after four consecutive failed rainy seasons — a first in over 40 years. In the Sahel, drought and land degradation are exacerbating tensions between farmers and herders. At the same time, communities in southern Africa face hurricanes and flash floods. I commend the many African States, regions and municipalities that are taking bold steps to combat climate change despite the serious challenges. As we prepare for the twenty-seventh session of the Conference of the Parties to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (COP27) in Egypt next month, I urge leaders, especially those of the Group of 20 (G-20) countries, which are responsible for 80 per cent of greenhouse-gas emissions, to finally take the urgent action needed. Developed countries must make good on their commitments, starting with their pledge to provide $100 billion a year for developing countries, and double funding for adaptation. COP27 must also deliver concrete action on loss and damage. That is not just a matter of trust between developed and developing countries. For many countries, particularly in Africa, it is a question of survival. Thirdly, the social and economic conditions around the world are a major concern. The coronavirus disease pandemic and the war in Ukraine, among other challenges, have fuelled an unprecedented cost- of-living crisis. Despite some relief provided by the Black Sea Grain Initiative, millions of people are facing soaring food and energy prices, crushing debt burdens, skyrocketing inflation and a lack of access to financing. That is particularly serious on the African continent. Without a solution to the crisis of fertilizer availability, next year’s harvest may not be enough to feed the world. We have been working tirelessly to ensure that Russian fertilizers have unhindered access to the international market. Once again, the most vulnerable are suffering the most. That is unacceptable, and that is why, three weeks ago, I called for a Sustainable Development Goals stimulus, led by the G-20, to massively boost development assistance. International financial institutions and multilateral banks must remove the barriers that prevent developing countries from accessing the financing that they need. We also need an effective global debt relief mechanism. Many African countries have an urgent need for such a mechanism to work. Sustainable development, guided by the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development and the African Union’s Agenda 2063, is our best chance to address the root causes of conflict and leave no one behind. Nelson Mandela once said: “Resentment is like drinking poison and then hoping it will kill your enemies.” Twenty years ago, African leaders decided to learn from the past and inspired the world by establishing the African Union  — a Union based on cooperation and solidarity among African peoples, with the ambition to become an even more important actor in the international arena. I pay tribute to the dedication of the African Union and the perseverance of all who work every day for an integrated, peaceful and prosperous continent. I call on all leaders  — in the Security Council, on the African continent and beyond — to spare no effort in supporting the African Union in achieving those goals.

I thank the Secretary-General for his briefing. I now give the floor to Mr. Faki Mahamat.

At the outset, I would like to congratulate Gabon on its presidency of the Security Council for the month of October, which is a clear indicator of the role that Gabon has always played within Africa and on the world stage. The theme that your presidency has chosen, Sir, lies at the heart of the issue of promoting peace, security and stability, which are the pillars of the strategic partnership between the United Nations and the African Union. As we are all aware, our continent is buckling under the weight of terrorism, instability, unconstitutional changes of Government, food insecurity and all kinds of health- and environment-related crises and precarity. The war in Ukraine, with its devastating global consequences, has significantly aggravated such challenges and has increased the risks of instability, violence and war in every fragile area across the continent. Enshrined in the Charter of the United Nations and from the Constitutive Act of the African Union to the Protocol Relating to the Establishment of the Peace and Security Council of the African Union, our strategic partnership with the United Nations has been framed by a series of pertinent and technically perfect texts. The issue is therefore no longer a matter of normative mechanisms. Rather, it is founded on decisions taken at two different levels  — first, those considering the profound transformations that have occurred throughout African development, and secondly, the conservatism that has governed the doctrine in force at the United Nations since the end of the Second World War. Africa is now home to 1.4 billion people, as well as to 70 per cent of United Nations peacekeeping missions. The African continent’s issues are at the forefront of debates at the United Nations. Yet Africa is the only true continent excluded from the benefits of permanent membership of the Security Council. Africa has made gains in intelligence, talent, awareness and ambition. How many billions of dollars are spent on United Nations missions in Africa? What results have been achieved? Africa is seeking an answer. The Council cannot avoid the question by letting it fall on deaf ears or refusing to provide a response satisfactory to the universal conscience. Africa is striving to make sacrifices for its peace and security imperatives and objectives. The African Peace and Security Architecture — not least the African Union Peace Fund — is being put in place. However, the denial of Africa’s decisive and primary role in meeting its challenges remains patently obvious. What we need is something more than ceremonial statements. Let us set a specific time frame to discuss and decide on Africa’s role in this forum for world peace that has brought us together today. Let us ensure that African missions are established according to the immutable principle of the primacy of the mandate to establish and safeguard peace in Africa. Let us ensure that all the funds and financial structures for preventing and combating pandemics materialize. Let us make sure that in Africa the portion of financing and investment directed to climate-related issues is no longer a small one. Let us make sure that the unlimited universe of science and new technologies is generously opened to Africa. Let us ensure that one half of the planet no longer labours under the burden of its affluence while the other half cries out in hunger and deprivation. If the Security Council chooses that path, it will find the entire continent mobilized around it. If it does not, its credibility may suffer irreversibly. Africa refuses to accept the prospect of resignation. I know that my friend António Guterres, who carries Africa in his heart, will spare no effort to ensure that Africa is heard, respected, included and placed at the centre of the global processes of peace, security, development and inclusive and democratic transformations. I am certainly pleased with what we have done and what we are doing together, but that is no reason to ignore the shortcomings. We still need to deepen our partnership between our specialized agencies, our special envoys and especially the African Union Peace and Security Council and the Security Council. The business of peace in Africa is too complex not to widen the channels for finding solutions for all of us in respect, equality, solidarity, inclusion and sharing. I am by nature an optimist. I dare to believe that soon the voices of the true friends of Africa will be raised so that together we can join hands for a genuine renaissance of multilateralism, which is now deeply scarred, belittled, biased and in dangerous decline. May the Council echo this call from the depths of Africa.

I thank Mr. Faki Mohammed for his briefing. I shall now make a statement in my capacity as the Minister for Foreign Affairs of Gabon. I would like to thank Secretary-General António Guterres for his comprehensive briefing on the partnership between the United Nations and the African Union (AU) in maintaining international peace and security. The annual 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 (S/2022/643) provides an excellent opportunity to take stock of such cooperation and to reaffirm our commitment to a leading role for regional and subregional organizations in addressing international crises and conflicts. Cooperation between the United Nations and the African Union is a standing item on the Security Council’s agenda because it is key to the effectiveness of the international peace and security agenda and because the international community should ensure that the necessary complementarity and subsidiarity that flow from the partnership between the United Nations and the African Union are enhanced. That partnership is crucial to the Security Council because Africa takes up more than half of the Council’s agenda. As we all know, almost 50 per cent of the issues on the Council’s agenda and 70 per cent of those under Chapter VII of the Charter of the United Nations concern Africa. Since the signing of the Joint Framework for an Enhanced Partnership in Peace and Security in 2017, followed by the African Union-United Nations Framework for the Implementation of Agenda 2063 and the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development in 2018, the scope of cooperation between the United Nations and the AU has continued to expand. It now encompasses a broad range of issues, in particular conflict prevention, early warning, mediation, peacekeeping and peacebuilding, disarmament, combating terrorism and violent extremism, combating maritime piracy, the protection of human rights and the coordination of humanitarian assistance, including promoting economic and sociopolitical development. Periodic meetings between the Security Council and the AU Peace and Security Council play a leading role in developing coordinated strategies. The interconnectedness of agendas and programmes shows not only a similarity in emphasis, but also a clear willingness to work together to address the major challenges of the continent and the aspirations of the peoples of the world, and Africa in particular. In that vein, the Silencing the Guns in Africa initiative of the African Heads of State and the African Union Master Roadmap of Practical Steps for Silencing the Guns in Africa by 2020 have been supported by the United Nations, particularly by providing technical assistance in the areas of mediation and disarmament, by helping to establish the African Women Leaders Network and by investing in youth empowerment activities, including peace education. In addition, hybrid peacekeeping operations, such as the African Union-United Nations Hybrid Operation in Darfur, which ended in 2020, or the African Union Mission in Somalia, led by the AU and supported by the United Nations, which became the African Union Transition Mission in Somalia, are notable examples of the value and dynamism of that partnership. But we can go much further, and we must do so without delay, because the magnitude of the threats and challenges demands it. Given the changing nature of terrorism in Africa, the resilience of armed groups, the recurring crises fuelled by climate change, the proliferation of small arms and light weapons, the plundering of natural resources, geopolitical rivalries and identity-based divisions, we must further strengthen the partnership between the African Union and the United Nations through greater synergy and more effective coordination of initiatives. Now more than ever, Africa aspires to assert its approach and solutions to the many crises and conflicts that plague the continent and darken the horizon of African peoples’ aspirations for security and dignity. In advocating African solutions to African problems, the African Union and all its members stand firmly as full- fledged actors in assuming ownership of the destiny of our peoples and fully shouldering our responsibilities. We are, of course, aware that the primary responsibility for international peace and security lies with the Security Council. Africa cannot be satisfied with being a mere issue of power with regard to the numerous armed conflicts and crises that are bloodying and destabilizing several of its regions, particularly the Sahel, the Horn of Africa, the Great Lakes region and Central Africa. Africa cannot stand idly by as the hordes of mercenaries and terrorist and armed groups successively destroy the foundations of its nations, plundering its resources and exacerbating the plight of its people through violence. Africa remains more than ever committed to providing solutions to its problems. The repositioning of African troops and the deployment of peacekeeping missions under the auspices of the AU or regional economic communities in some theatres of operation are the result of that unwavering resolve to assume responsibility for peace and security. The will and efforts of the African Union deserve to be supported. The support required must be commensurate with what is at stake and must be based on the primary responsibility of the United Nations for the maintenance of international peace and security. In most area of recurring crises where peace must be established, it is important to rebuild peace missions with more robust operational mandates and adequate and predictable funding. It is also important to provide the necessary logistical support to the mechanisms put in place by African countries at the regional and subregional levels to strengthen their operability. In that respect, the Central African Early Warning Mechanism can be a valuable tool lever in preventing crises in that subregion. Of course, peace and security in Africa cannot be achieved without the involvement of Africans. To that end, we welcome the Secretary-General’s appointment of Mr. Abdoulaye Bathily as his new Special Representative for Libya, and we are grateful for his sensitivity to the situation of African countries. Beyond fostering synergies between the United Nations and the African Union, one of the major tools that will make that partnership more inclusive and better aligned with today’s global realities remains the need for Africa to occupy its rightful place on the Security Council. The urgent call for a Council that is more representative of current geopolitical dynamics has clearly reached a pivotal moment, with many voices recognizing that it is high time to translate words into action. It is intolerable to see Africa in the Council Chamber without hearing its full voice around the table on a permanent basis, despite its legitimate claim to a seat as expressed in the Ezulwini Consensus and the Sirte Declaration. As President Bongo Ondimba clearly stated in his recent address to the General Assembly (see A/77/PV.6), Africa has waited a long time and will wait no longer to assume its responsibilities. In conclusion, I would like to emphasize the urgent need to further strengthen and lend new impetus to the partnership between the United Nations and the African Union in order to ensure that it is capable of fulfilling the commitments and responsibilities to be assumed with regard to peace and security. That aim is embedded in the presidential statement submitted for consideration by the Council, for which I seek all members’ support. I now resume my functions as President of the Council. I call on Her Excellency Mrs. Linda Thomas- Greenfield, Permanent Representative of the United States and Member of President Biden’s Cabinet.

Let me thank you, Sir, for presiding over this high-level event. I also want to thank Secretary- General Guterres for joining us today and welcome the participation of Chairperson Faki Mahamat in this meeting. As we commemorate the twentieth anniversary of the African Union (AU), this is a perfect moment to highlight the strong partnership between the AU and the United Nations. It is also an opportunity to look for ways to build on our progress. The United States shares the Secretary-General’s belief that our collective action on conflict prevention, mediation, peacekeeping and peacebuilding is absolutely vital. As part of today’s discussion, we must acknowledge the range of factors that are contributing to rising insecurity, including the most significant global food-security crisis in decades, the adverse effects of climate change and one of the worst droughts in the history of the Horn of Africa. Those challenges must not deter us but must rather bolster our commitment to working together and addressing them head-on. In that regard, we strongly support the United Nations-African Union Joint Framework for an Enhanced Partnership in Peace and Security, which is aimed at mobilizing the collaboration between the AU and the United Nations, starting with the earliest indicators of potential conflict, and which is critical to conflict prevention and post-conflict reconstruction. Peace in Africa cannot wait. We applaud African leadership in its efforts to resolve crises and conflicts in Ethiopia, the Great Lakes region, the Sudan, the Sahel, Mozambique and Somalia, and we appreciate the United Nations providing its full support to those efforts. We are also encouraged by the growing partnership between the AU and the United Nations in addressing the crisis of children and armed conflict in Africa. We must do absolutely everything in our power to advance that work, which also means strengthening protection for children affected by conflict, an issue that the AU has been leading the charge on. Today let us also recognize the collaborative efforts of the United Nations, the AU, the Intergovernmental Authority on Development, the European Union and the Federal Government of Somalia. Those joint efforts led to the establishment of the AU Transition Mission in Somalia in April. Together, we set ambitious goals for the reconfiguration and transition of the peacekeeping Mission in Somalia, and we must redouble our efforts to achieve those goals. The bottom line is that with the United Nations, the AU and regional peace operations active in some of the most fragile parts of Africa, we have a shared interest in aligning our doctrines, policies and directives. That is exactly how we can make those efforts as effective as possible. That also means protecting and upholding human rights in every AU initiative and mission across the continent. We applaud the progress that the AU has made in developing its own human rights and international humanitarian law frameworks, as noted in the Secretary-General’s report (S/2022/643), and we encourage the AU to continue implementing compliance frameworks for peace support operations in key areas such as international humanitarian law, human rights and conduct and discipline, including sexual exploitation and abuse. Efforts to strengthen training, monitoring, reporting and accountability are central to that work. The implementation of those frameworks, as well as other oversight mechanisms outlined in resolutions 2320 (2016) and 2378 (2017), remains a key consideration for any discussions about the use of United Nations assessed contributions. That includes any actions undertaken by regional organizations under Chapter VIII of the Charter of the United Nations. The United States also appreciates the efforts of the United Nations, the AU and the Economic Community of West African States to support the region and we look forward to the joint strategic assessment that is under way to review the security, governance and development challenges in the Sahel. But let us not sugar-coat it. The challenges we face in that region are grave. In particular, we are deeply concerned about the spread of violent extremism across the Sahel and into parts of coastal West Africa. Terrorist groups have taken thousands of lives and displaced millions of people. If we are going to tackle those challenges together — and we have to — then I believe we need predictable and sustainable funding options for AU peace support operations. That will give the AU the flexibility it needs to address those evolving threats, and we are committed to seeing that through. At the same time, we believe our institutions must evolve to reflect today’s world. As President Biden stated during the General Assembly debate last month (see A/77/PV.6), the United States supports increasing both the permanent and non-permanent membership of the Security Council. That includes, for the first time ever, permanent seats for countries in Africa and in Latin America and the Caribbean. To that end, we look forward to forging a consensus around reform proposals with the aim of having a Security Council that is more effective, representative and credible. During my most recent trip to Africa, I made it clear that peace in Africa must come from African leaders and from the African people themselves. Our job here at the United Nations is to serve as partners and allies. We must continue that close cooperation to advance peace and security for the next 20 years and beyond.

I thank you, Sir, and Gabon’s leadership on convening this timely debate at such an important moment. I would also like to thank Secretary-General Guterres and the Chairperson of the African Union Commission, Mr. Faki Mahamat, for their commitment to a strong relationship between the African Union (AU) and the United Nations. As we celebrate the twentieth anniversary of the African Union, it is high time that we took stock of the important relationship that the AU has with the United Nations, as well as the impact it has had on peace and security in Africa. There is no doubt in our minds that we should be working harder together to identify ways to strengthen that partnership, notably by building on the 2017 United Nations-African Union Joint Framework for an Enhanced Partnership in Peace and Security, on the 2018 African Union-United Nations Framework for the Implementation of Agenda 2063 and the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development. In a context of emerging multipolarity, the African Union, and indeed the agency of African stakeholders, has to be embraced and leveraged. Both are effective examples of multilateralism in action that continue to showcase that new forms of cooperation are indeed possible, and they are more effective, dynamic and impactful on the ground. When the Council met earlier this year to discuss capacity-building in Africa (see S/PV.9106), the United Arab Emirates drew attention to the fact that in today’s interconnected and rapidly evolving world, African challenges have both origins and effects that extend well beyond the continent’s borders. We also emphasized that African solutions, not just challenges, equally have global dimensions. Those key messages bear repeating today. Put simply, we are in this together. With that in mind, I would like to share three elements for further strengthening the partnership between the African Union and the United Nations. First, there is a clear need to reflect on what a successful collaboration between the AU and the United Nations could look like, in a true demonstration of Chapter VIII of the Charter of the United Nations in action. Looking at recent examples, the initiatives on which the two organizations have closely collaborated have had a direct impact on change on the ground. The trilateral mechanism in the Sudan brought the comparative advantage of regional and subregional organizations, along with those of the United Nations, in facilitating talks among Sudanese stakeholders. In the Central African Republic, the United Nations used its Mediation Support Unit to work with the AU and subregional actors to help facilitate a comprehensive peace agreement for the sustainable disarmament, demobilization and reintegration of armed groups. In Somalia, the sustained engagement of the United Nations and the AU, alongside the Government of Somalia and others, facilitated the transition from the African Union Mission in Somalia to the African Union Transition Mission in Somalia. Those are just a few of the examples of the Council’s work that can be drawn on when considering further cooperation. Regional organizations also have a lot to learn from each other, particularly when there are clear areas of overlap and shared priorities. That is why, as a member of the League of Arab States, the United Arab Emirates continues to advocate for strengthening trilateral cooperation and coordination between the United Nations, the AU and the Arab League. Secondly, as with any good partnership, cooperation between the AU and the United Nations should be based on trust, mutual respect and open communication. Our institutions are fundamentally meant to support and reinforce one another. For the Council, that means signalling our faith, in deeds and not just words, in the wisdom and capabilities of African regional and subregional organizations, by endorsing their leadership and particularly their efforts to resolve African conflicts. And as the United Arab Emirates has emphasized in the Security Council before, constructive partnership also means providing space, time and support to the measures that African organizations deploy from their diplomatic toolkit. Furthermore, as the Council acknowledges, there is a need to secure predictable, sustainable and flexible resources for Security Council-authorized AU-led operations — a position strongly voiced by our African colleagues and which the United Arab Emirates supports. The Council must strive to achieve consensus soon around that important matter. In addition, the AU and the United Nations can provide a clear signal of unity through the increased use of joint missions, briefings, reports and declarations to demonstrate progress towards a common understanding of critical issues and a common approach to addressing them. Thirdly, the United Nations and AU should seek to demonstrate unity of purpose in combating the most pressing challenges for Africa and the world, particularly the growing threats of terrorism and climate change, as highlighted by the Secretary-General. As the Council has heard, including at the Arria Formula meeting on transnational activities of terrorist groups, organized by Kenya and the United Arab Emirates in August, several prominent voices from Africa and the Middle East continue to caution the Council about that threat. The picture they paint is one of a vicious cycle, where terrorists exploit existing vulnerabilities in our counter-terrorism architecture, which in turn further exacerbate the humanitarian situation on the ground for the most vulnerable people on the ground. On addressing challenges related to climate change, external support must be aligned with continental priorities and on a scale that matches the level of urgency required by those who live in climate-vulnerable situations across the continent. We look forward to hearing more on African perspectives at the meeting on climate and security in Africa tomorrow. As others have acknowledged, there is space to grow our partnership, and the Council would indeed benefit from stronger African representation on the Council. The renewed commitment around that topic is a welcome development, and we hope it leads to concrete outcomes. In conclusion, regional efforts require international support, which implies being deliberate in listening, engaging and supporting the AU and other subregional organizations. The role of the Council is to encourage those synergies for our common objectives of peace, security and stability.

I thank Gabon for organizing this debate, and I thank the Secretary-General and the Chairperson of the African Union Commission for their briefings. On this twentieth anniversary of the African Union (AU), I will focus on two points. First, I would like to commend the progress made by the African Union, thanks to the efforts of its member States, but also through its partnership with the United Nations and other regional organizations, particularly the European Union. The European Union-African Union Summit on 17 and 18 February reaffirmed our joint desire for a renewed partnership. In that regard, I would like to recall that the European Union remains the largest contributor to the African Union’s budget. The African Union has become the benchmark player in preventing and resolving conflicts on the continent. It has embodied the principle of non-indifference, as we saw at the AU extraordinary summit held in Malabo in May, which underscored the opposition of the continent’s Heads of State to unconstitutional changes of Government and mobilized African Union support for mediation efforts between the Democratic Republic of the Congo and Rwanda. The role of the African Union in the resolution of the conflict in northern Ethiopia and in overcoming the political crisis in the Sudan also comes to mind. My second message is a call to action. In that regard, I would like to welcome the initiative on the Sahel of the Secretary-General and the Chairperson of the African Union Commission. France wishes every success for the Independent High-level Panel on Security and Development in the Sahel, led by President Issoufou, and hopes that its work will lead to concrete and ambitious proposals. Beyond the Sahel, we reiterate our call for permanent and sustainable resources to be mobilized to support African peace operations, including through mandatory United Nations contributions. The negotiations that have begun between the Council and the African Union should be resumed as soon as possible. We must also act to reform the Security Council so that Africa is better represented, including among the permanent members. France supports that, and we would like to begin text-based discussions as soon as possible, that is, at the next session of intergovernmental negotiations. We call on all who sincerely wish to see the Council reformed, as we do, to support the principle of text- based negotiations. Beyond the major issues of governance, the participation of women and young people, education, development and combating climate change, I would also like to focus on the new challenges we are facing. First, we must counter propaganda and misinformation. It is easy to create troll factories spewing torrents of hate. That is a threat to African societies, States and citizens and to the peacekeeping missions deployed there. We have allocated nearly $1 million in 2022 to combat disinformation and to strengthen strategic communication for peace operations. France will continue to work hand in hand with States and civil society to strengthen access to free and reliable information from multiple points of view. Secondly, we must address global food insecurity and malnutrition, which have been aggravated by Russia’s aggression against Ukraine. The European Food and Agriculture Resilience Mission initiative aims to provide vulnerable countries a concrete and supportive response. We call on all relevant public and private actors to join that initiative, which is part of the Secretary-General’s efforts and is coordinated with other international initiatives. Right now addressing the shortages of fertilizer is urgent. With a view to coming up with concrete solutions to that crisis, France, in collaboration with its partners, has launched a Harvest Rescue Operation in the General Assembly. Thirdly, we must tackle the challenge of mercenaryism. The Wagner Group does not support States. Instead, mercenaries keep in power a person or a clan in exchange for control over natural resources. Their presence is accompanied by a systematic retreat from democracy, the weakening of the host State’s sovereignty, the closure of the public space and massive violations of human rights. We cannot accept that. France is following with interest the work of the African Union on the revision of the 1977 Convention for the Elimination of Mercenaryism in Africa.

I thank the presidency of Gabon for putting this debate on the agenda at a time when Africa is facing many challenges and cross- cutting crises, including unconstitutional Government changes, flourishing terrorists and armed groups, the presence of private military groups, human rights violations and abuses and the adverse effects of climate change. Those issues affect us all, and they therefore require an effective response from us all. I also thank the Secretary-General and the Chairperson of the African Union (AU) Commission for their continued engagement in strengthening the relations between the United Nations and the African Union. We join other members in commemorating the twentieth anniversary of the African Union. We believe that the United Nations should count on the fundamental contribution of regional organizations, since they are in the best position to detect early-warning signals and deploy preventive tools before tensions escalate. Albania believes that the United Nations should act as the anchor and catalyst of joint efforts, while promoting greater cooperation and coordination among all actors, including specialized agencies, regional and subregional organizations, national institutions and civil society representatives. We call for enhanced cooperation between the United Nations and the African Union. In that vein, we need to keep the momentum going. The sixteenth Annual Joint Consultative Meeting between the Security Council and the African Union Peace and Security Council is a unique opportunity to reinforce our strong partnership — both at the headquarters level and on the ground. Concerning the situation on the ground, Albania commends the willingness of the United Nations, the African Union and the Economic Community of West African States to promote the democratic model of governance in West Africa. Albania welcomes the call of the Secretary-General and the AU for an independent high-level panel on security, governance and development in the Sahel. We look forward to their recommendations. In addition, we support the African Union’s efforts to tackle the devastating consequences of the conflict in northern Ethiopia. Progress has been made in tackling humanitarian issues; however, more needs to be done to bring conflicting parties to the table in order to engage in peace talks. In recent years, natural disasters have been compounding the challenges of an already fragile continent. Natural disasters are depleting Africa’s energy, food and security resources. In that vein, Albania calls for a renewed commitment to address the growing food insecurity. We also share the concern about the dangerous impact that disinformation, extremism, fake news and hate speech can have in crisis contexts, including through new digital Internet technologies and in social media. To tackle all those alarming challenges, a holistic and sustainable approach is required now more than ever. In conclusion, we are of the view that all actors involved must continue finding practical ways to cooperate effectively in renewing existing policies and programmes and sharpen their focus in addressing the root causes of conflicts and crises.

I thank Secretary-General António Guterres and the Chairperson of the African Union (AU) Commission, His Excellency Mr. Moussa Faki Mahamat, for their briefings. We appreciate the Secretary-General’s efforts to strengthen the strategic partnership between the United Nations and the AU. Our cooperation is happening in the context of a dangerous global crisis in Europe that is causing serious harm to Africa’s food security and, as a result, its political stability. Even as we celebrate the growing collaboration between these two organizations over the past few years, we must pay greater attention to ways in which that framework can be a plus for international peace and security. The Constitutive Act of the AU faces the world even if it primarily focuses on the challenges, opportunities and obligations within Africa. In the coming months and years, its outward-facing dimensions will need to be crafted into a platform of engagement that responds to the profound and growing risks to Africa from Europe’s broken security order. In that regard, we commend the efforts of the AU Chairperson and the Commission’s Chair to encourage dialogue and humanitarian responsiveness in the context of the war in Ukraine. Their efforts reflect Africa’s global responsibilities and linkages and also assist African countries in this moment of great need. We urge them to maintain their effort to reach out and to continue doing so while strongly supporting the principles underlying the Charter of the United Nations and the AU’s Constitutive Act. As we rightly focus on Ukraine, it may be time for more collaboration with regard to Haiti, which is also facing a profound crisis. Haiti is part of the African Union’s sixth region, and there is room for the AU and the United Nations to explore, side by side and in response to the people of Haiti, how we can do more together in order to help them. A major part of stabilizing the global security order requires reform. It is by now clear that the current structure of the Security Council is not effective in maintaining international peace and security. We can continue to make every effort to make the collaboration between the United Nations and the AU more effective, but we will achieve real and sustainable results only when the Council is more balanced by permanent African membership. I welcome the openness for reform expressed by delegations this morning. Let us now move to the concrete actions that will deliver the change. Before that welcome watershed moment is reached, we can do more to make the Council inclusive and responsive to Africa through reforms to its methods of work. Penholdership, for instance, needs to change in response to African responsibility, knowledge and ownership; it would bring extra life to the Chapter VIII linkage to the African Union. We are debating on the eve of the seventh informal joint seminar and the sixteenth Annual Joint Consultative Meeting between the Security Council and the AU Peace and Security Council. This debate provides a great opportunity for us to advance the realization of a strategic partnership that focuses on the real delivery of peace, security and development in Africa. The Security Council has the primary responsibility for the maintenance of peace and security, including in Africa. Crises in Africa deserve the same attention and priority as situations in other parts of the world. It is inconceivable, for instance, that AU-led peace support missions should perennially be pleading for adequate, predictable and sustainable financing. And yet those operations are essentially being undertaken on behalf of the international community and the United Nations. The Security Council should adequately and sustainably facilitate such missions through assessed contributions to ensure that they remain fit for purpose. In addition, the Security Council should reconsider how it undertakes peacekeeping in Africa. We suggest enhanced cooperation with the African Union such that more African countries would contribute troops in order for Africa to own such mission, and since they have a better understanding of the operating environments. We also call on the Security Council and the United Nations, in general, to scale-up efforts to place Africa’s subregional organizations at the centre of its peace efforts. They have a huge stake in the peace and stability of their regions and in the past have delivered timely and decisive interventions. A good example of that is the current effort being led by the East African Community, at the invitation of the Government of the Democratic Republic of the Congo, to seek a peaceful resolution of the security situation in the eastern part of the country. It is critical for such efforts to be supported by international partners, including through the provision of the necessary resources as well as technical and logistical capacities. Finally, we recommend that our partnership appreciate the transboundary nature and geopolitical dimensions of crises and conflicts. In some cases, African countries are grappling with a confluence of extraregional actors and interests that are increasingly complicating peace efforts and even aggravating insecurity. Neighbours and countries of the region should be consulted in order to ensure that these conflicts are contained, particularly when insurgent and terrorist organizations are involved. The Security Council also needs to be bold enough to address clashes of external interests so that they do not undermine the search for sustainable peace in Africa. In conclusion, I reaffirm Kenya’s commitment to all efforts to build a more ambitious collaboration between the United Nations, the African Union and subregional organizations in the pursuit of peace, security and prosperity for Africa and its peoples.

I would like to thank Gabon for its initiative in convening today’s important meeting and to welcome Foreign Minister Adamo in presiding over it. I thank Secretary- General Guterres and Chairperson Faki Mahamat. In recent years, the African Union (AU) has been steering Africa’s development and revitalization, maintaining peace and stability on the continent and firmly defending multilateralism in a demonstration of African strength and wisdom. The strategic cooperation between the AU and the United Nations has continued to deepen into one of the world’s most dynamic and fruitful partnerships. During this year’s general debate in the General Assembly, we heard every African leader call for continued and deepened solidarity and cooperation between the AU and the United Nations in order to collectively respond to our global challenges. China welcomes and supports further enhancement of the cooperation between the United Nations and the AU in order to better promote peace and development in Africa. First, we should increase cooperation in the maintenance of peace and security in Africa. Traditional hotspot issues in Africa are heating up alongside increasing challenges related to terrorist activities, arms trafficking, maritime security and public health, which requires the United Nations, the African Union and the countries of the region to work together to address them. The countries of the region should establish a common, comprehensive, cooperative and sustainable security concept and promote national and regional security through dialogue and cooperation. United Nations peacekeeping operations should keep up with the evolving dynamics on the ground, coordinate the positioning of peacekeeping operations, optimize their mandates and invest resources and energy according to the needs of the countries concerned and the expectations of the local populations. China is in favour of having more Africans serve as Special Representatives of the Secretary-General on hotspot issues in Africa. For its part, the Council should support more African members serving as penholders on African issues. Secondly, we should foster cooperation designed to enhance capacity-building in Africa. If we are to achieve long-term peace and security in Africa, we must identify points where breakthroughs can be made and focus on steadily scaling up investment. Capacity-building is a key component of those efforts. The Security Council held an open debate on capacity-building in Africa in August (see S/PV.9122) and issued a presidential statement (S/PRST/2022/6) calling for support for African countries in strengthening capacity-building in governance, law enforcement, sustainable development and talent training and development. Council members and the wider international community should work together to implement the outcomes of that meeting with the aim of providing more tangible assistance for Africa’s capacity-building. The United Nations and the African Union have signed the framework for a 10-year capacity-building programme for the African Union, and the two organizations should continue to make capacity-building a pillar of cooperation and support the AU in strengthening its capacity in early warnings of conflict, conflict prevention, mediation and preventive diplomacy. Funding shortages are a key constraint on the African Union’s ability to operate in peace operations. Secretary-General Guterres has suggested funding AU peace operations through the United Nations regular budget or peacekeeping assessments, an idea that we believe merits serious consideration by the Security Council. The relevant United Nations agencies, peacekeeping missions and resident coordinators should support African capacity-building in accordance with their respective mandates in an effort to create synergy. Thirdly, we should increase our cooperation in promoting sustainable development in Africa. At the end of the day, development is what truly matters. Regions such as the Sahel, the Horn of Africa, the Great Lakes and Central Africa are grappling with both security risks and development difficulties. Without greater investment in development, it will be difficult to break the vicious circle of instability and poverty. During the General Assembly’s high-level week, China and African countries co-hosted a ministerial meeting of the Group of Friends of the Global Development Initiative, announcing seven results-oriented initiatives and proposing concrete action in areas such as food security and clean energy. Those initiatives are in line with Africa’s development needs and highly compatible with the African Union’s Agenda 2063. China is willing to work with African countries to ensure the timely outcomes of those initiatives so they can generate more resources and create better conditions for the sustainable development of African countries. Fourthly, we should increase cooperation in promoting international governance reform. Africa is generally at the middle or lower end of the international industrial and supply chains. Any spillover of global risks tends to bring about greater and more serious economic losses for Africa, and can reverse countries’ development gains. The United Nations should take systematic measures to give Africa a greater say in the international governance system and further reflect Africa’s overall needs and interests in terms of rule-making and resource allocation. The international community, especially developed countries and international financial institutions, should fulfil its responsibilities in terms of development assistance and technology transfer, and should work to ensure that attention to and investment in Africa is not short- changed by other, competing issues. Countries should uphold openness, inclusiveness and mutual benefit in their cooperation with Africa and should not interfere in African countries’ internal affairs, let alone force them to choose sides. China has always worked to cooperate with Africa while upholding the greater good, shared interests and the principles of sincerity, genuine results, friendship and good faith. We have firmly supported and contributed to the process of achieving revitalization and prosperity for Africa. No matter how the international situation changes, China will always stand with African countries and the United Nations to contribute to the realization of lasting peace and common development.

Let me begin by thanking Gabon for organizing today’s debate on such a significant topic. I also thank the Secretary-General for his invaluable insights. Cooperation between the United Nations and regional organizations is a cardinal principle of the maintenance of international peace and security, enshrined in Chapter VIII of the Charter of the United Nations. The Charter also provides a broad framework for the Security Council’s cooperation with the regional organizations. That partnership assumes further significance in the context of Africa, considering that more than half of the issues on the Council’s agenda and nearly 70 per cent of Chapter VII mandate resolutions pertain to Africa. The fact that peace and security are an important pillar of Agenda 2063 of the African Union (AU) has further strengthened that cooperation. The Council will agree that no one can understand Africa better than our African brothers and sisters themselves. History has shown us that offering external solutions to African problems without African involvement has not served the interests of the African people. Meaningful and effective engagement with African subregional organizations and mechanisms should therefore constitute an integral component of United Nations-AU cooperation. The East African Community, the Economic Community of West African States, the Economic Community of Central African States, the Southern African Development Community and the Intergovernmental Authority on Development, inter alia, have also bolstered the efforts of the African Union in preventive diplomacy and mediation efforts. My country supports enhancement of cooperation between the United Nations and AU that could mutually benefit both organizations in a meaningful way. In this context, let me flag the following issues for the Security Council’s consideration. First, the activities of the United Nations, the African Union and subregional organizations should complement each other, while keeping their respective core mandates intact. Collective efforts should be geared towards regional diplomacy, mediation, reconciliation and security sector reforms in order to secure lasting peace on the continent. Secondly, terrorist outfits, like armed groups, deserve the Council’s priority attention in its response to addressing security threats confronting Africa today. In the Sahel and throughout the Lake Chad basin region, as well as in Somalia and beyond, African States face persistent threats of terrorism from groups affiliated with Al-Qaida and Da’esh. National and regional security forces are the prime responders in efforts to combat terrorism. However, capacity constraints and lack of financial resources have become major impediments in the fight against terrorism. Initiatives such as the African Union Transition Mission in Somalia, the Group of Five for the Sahel Joint Force, the Southern African Development Community Mission in Mozambique and the Multinational Joint Task Force need more encouragement from the international community. Thirdly, the Security Council needs to work with the African Union Peace and Security Council to strengthen financing mechanisms for African Union-led peace support operations that have been authorized by the Security Council. We endorse the Secretary- General’s call to support African Union-led peace support operations and regional counter-terrorism operations with sustained financing, including through assessed contributions. Fourthly, peacebuilding initiatives in Africa deserve the unwavering attention of the international community. Major donors, in particular developed countries and the international financial institutions, should ramp up their overseas development assistance commitments and eliminate barriers to concessional financing to the economies of Africa so that they can indeed achieve the development goals enshrined in the United Nations 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development as well as Agenda 2063. Fifthly, United Nations peacekeeping operations and special political missions in Africa need to be appropriately mandated and resourced. Our experience in peacekeeping in Africa shows that such missions often struggle to implement ambitious yet underresourced mandates. Furthermore, peacekeeping missions should have a clear and well-thought-out exit strategy, prepared in consultation with national and regional stakeholders. Sixthly, the Security Council needs to move way beyond mere lip service to meet Africa’s concerns. Africa’s continuing denial of representation in the permanent category of membership in the Council is a historical injustice that needs to be corrected sooner rather than later. India has consistently called for urgent Security Council reforms to ensure that Africa’s aspirations, as outlined in the Ezulwini Consensus and the Sirte Declaration, are honoured. India and Africa share a unique, historical and time-tested friendship. Since the 1960s, Indian peacekeepers have so far served in 22 missions in Africa. Currently, Indian peacekeepers are serving in eight peacekeeping missions on the African continent. India has also contributed to the training and capacity- building of peacekeepers from Africa. India believes that Africa’s rise is essential for true multipolarity in the global order to which we are committed. We have always worked with Africa in accordance with Africa’s priorities, both through bilateral and multilateral mechanisms. Even as we meet our own development targets, this tradition of South- South solidarity continues to strengthen. For India, partnership with Africa is and will remain a top priority. In enunciating his 10 guiding principles in an address to the Ugandan parliament in 2018, the Prime Minister of India said, “... if this is to be an age when the light of opportunity dawns on all humans; if this is a time when our planet has a more hopeful future; then all of this magnificent continent of Africa must walk in step with the rest of the world. India ... will stand in solidarity with [Africa’s] endeavours, in transparency, with respect and on the principle of equality. We will speak for you, and with you.”

Let me begin by thanking you, Mr. President, for your continuing leadership of the Security Council during this month’s Gabonese presidency. I also welcome the briefings by Secretary- General António Guterres and Chairperson Moussa Faki Mahamat at this important annual debate on cooperation between the United Nations and the African Union (AU). Strengthening the links of cooperation between the United Nations and the African Union is required to sustain peace and security on the continent, but also to address the multifaceted dimensions of the socioeconomic and other challenges that negatively affect Africa. In our determination to reverse the roll back of democracy in five countries on the continent, silence the guns in Africa and develop the resilience of many societies experiencing strain caused by climate change and other contexts that engender fragility, it is clear to us that while the African Union should take a leadership role on the basis of its normative frameworks for peace and security, and in terms of governance, the responsibility and support of the United Nations should not be curtailed and will continue to be critical. We therefore underscore the importance of Chapter VIII of the United Nations Charter and the need to deepen the cooperation and partnership between the Security Council and the African Union Peace and Security Council across the peace continuum, from conflict prevention and peacekeeping to peacebuilding and sustaining peace, as well as the need to address the request for sustainable financing of AU-led peace support operations. To ensure the cooperation between the United Nations and the AU in furtherance of durable peace and security on the continent, we would want to highlight a few additional points. First, we emphasize the need for consultations between the United Nations and the African Union to be deepened and for there to be proactive focus on reinforcing capacity for homegrown solutions to deal with the continent’s complex security challenges. In this regard, we urge that such consultations should, for instance, include support arrangements for the 2021-2025 workplan on the enhancement of the African Standby Force, which is soon due for submission to the African Union Specialized Technical Committee on Defence, Safety and Security. Secondly, we encourage the further implementation of joint briefings, missions and assessments on issues of peace and security on the continent, including the ongoing joint independent assessment of security and development in the Sahel led by the former President of the Niger, Mr. Mahamadou Issoufou. We are optimistic that the mandate of the Independent High- level Panel on Security, Governance and Development in the Sahel, which is undertaking that assessment, would emerge with a more sustainable approach to addressing the multidimensional crises in the region and on the continent at large. We encourage that such joint approaches be extended to the assessment of the performance of a number of peacekeeping missions on the continent that have yet to fully deliver on their expected objectives and mandates, while also focusing on resolving the concerns over predictability, sustainability, and flexibility of financing for African Union-led peace support operations. Thirdly, in the light of the increasing incidents of terrorist attacks in many parts of the continent, we cannot approach our collective response to such threats in a business-as-usual manner. As the African Union proceeds with its implementation of the Malabo Declaration on Terrorism and Unconstitutional Changes of Government in Africa of 28 May 2022, it is important that the United Nations be a partner in that process. In this regard, it would be important that, in addressing terrorism and governance challenges on the continent, United Nations-African Union cooperation addresses the root causes of instability on the continent while also addressing the impact of climate change, the coronavirus disease pandemic and other aggravating geopolitical situations. The role of women and young people in sustaining peace and development should be elevated. Fourthly, it is important for the cooperation between the two bodies to continue to harness the rich experiences built over the years in the area of preventive diplomacy and mediation. As we have consistently maintained, prevention is always better than curing, and early support for regional preventative measures would go a long way in maintaining international peace and security and in realizing the AU Silencing the Guns by 2030 initiative. In conclusion, Ghana believes that there is no better way to address the myriad security and development challenges in Africa than through the enhancement of home-grown interventions, coupled with deeper cooperation among the United Nations, the AU and other interregional arrangements. The political will and commitment of Member States, including the Security Council, will continue to be essential in sustaining peace in Africa. We also heard renewed support for the permanent representation of Africa in a reformed Security Council. The time to move past words into action is now.

Let me begin by thanking Gabon and Your Excellency, Mr. Minister, for organizing this debate and for the commitment to keeping cooperation between the United Nations and the African Union as a central topic of the Security Council’s agenda. I also thank Secretary-General Guterres and Mr. Faki Mahamat, Chairperson of the African Union Commission, for their invaluable reflections. Our statement focuses on two major aspects. The first one is the link between security and development, especially in Africa. A helpful point of departure is Agenda 2063  — that pioneering report published by the African Union Commission, whose subtitle is “The Africa We Want”. The study reiterates how the people of Africa and its diaspora committed to acting together towards achieving two main aspirations: on the one hand, “a prosperous Africa based on inclusive growth and sustainable development” and, on the other, “a peaceful and secure Africa”. The people of Africa and its diaspora recognize that a prosperous, integrated and united Africa, based on good governance, democracy, social inclusion and respect for human rights, justice and the rule of law, is a necessary precondition for a peaceful and conflict- free continent. Therein lies the very core of the link between security and development, which are not only closely interlinked, but also mutually reinforcing. We deem it vital that the United Nations and the African Union always strive to adopt comprehensive and integrated approaches to addressing the economic, political and social dimensions of conflict-affected African countries. We must acknowledge the reinforcing relationship between peace and socioeconomic development. There can be no development without peace, and no lasting peace without development. Sustainable peace requires comprehensive approaches, which could benefit from the support of the Peacebuilding Commission. Given its unique composition and bridging mandate, the Peacebuilding Commission is well placed to put forward coordinated efforts within the United Nations system and create sustainable cycles of peace and development. My second point is on the coordination between the United Nations and the African Union to address security challenges. In their efforts to achieve lasting peace and sustainable development, conflict-affected African countries have long faced complex and multifaceted challenges beyond the military and traditional security realms. That intricacy is a major reason that we should analyse each conflict’s political, economic and social dimensions, while looking for adequate responses. In that regard, a reform of the Security Council is long overdue. The representation of Africa is a central point in tackling African and global challenges. We commend the Joint United Nations-African Union Framework for an Enhanced Partnership in Peace and Security for its continued significance amid evolving challenges across Africa. The joint framework constitutes a structured dialogue. We recognize how it provides a predictable platform for increased coordination between the two organizations. We also commend how the joint framework strengthens multilateralism and the core values that the United Nations and the African Union share. Let me conclude with a quick comment on the African Union theme for the year 2022, “Strengthening resilience in nutrition and food security on the African continent”. It is crucial to once again underline that security and development are not only closely interlinked, but also mutually reinforcing. Local, resilient food production with sustainable practices, for instance, is key to nutrition and food security. We commend the efforts to enhance the United Nations-African Union partnership, which is vital to strengthening food-security resilience in Africa. Aside from that, we call on the international community to scale up its support for, on the one hand, nationally defined development and peacebuilding priorities and, on the other hand, comprehensive and integrated approaches to conflict prevention, conflict resolution and peacebuilding in Africa.

We thank Gabon for organizing today’s debate, and we welcome your participation, Mr. Minister, in today’s meeting. We are grateful to Secretary-General António Guterres for his briefing. We welcome the briefing by the Chairperson of the African Union Commission, Mr. Faki Mahamat. United Nations cooperation with regional and subregional organizations is an integral element of the current international agenda in general and the Security Council in particular. We consistently support the development of such cooperation on the basis of the Charter of the United Nations, in particular Chapter VIII. We see that, in recent years, there has been increasing will and greater opportunities to seek regional solutions to emerging problems. The African Union, subregional organizations in Africa, the Association of Southeast Asian Nations, the Shanghai Cooperation Organization, the Collective Security Treaty Organization and other regional bodies have been much more assertive. That is a response to today’s geopolitical realities and challenges, and it is a genuine sign of strengthening multilateralism. It is a move in the right direction because, first, the countries of the region are the main beneficiaries of peaceful solutions and, secondly, they are more aware of the specifics of the current contexts. However, it is clear that the activities of regional bodies must be consistent with the purposes and principles of the Charter and that peaceful means must be given priority in the settlement of disputes. In the past 20 years, since its transition from the Organization of African Unity, the African Union has indeed come a long way in terms of building a regional peace and security architecture. Today Africans have locally tailored conflict-prevention and conflict- resolution mechanisms on the continent that coherently complement the efforts of the world Organization within its area of ​responsibility and mandate. That enhances the influence of African voices in both the Security Council and the United Nations as a whole. We very much appreciate the work of the three African members of the Security Council in defending the interests of their neighbours on the continent. We particularly want to note the importance of efforts by the African Union and subregional organizations to prevent disputes and mediate their resolution. Unfortunately, there have been numerous occasions when African mediation efforts have been relegated to the background or intentionally thwarted by external actors. One clear example was the blocking of African Union mediation in Libya and Western countries’ subsequent use of force there, leading to a tragedy whose consequences are still being very much felt far beyond that country’s borders. In that regard, we welcome the appointment, 10 years later, of an African Special Representative of the Secretary-General and Head of the United Nations Support Mission in Libya, Mr. Abdoulaye Bathily. The road map adopted for the implementation of the African Union’s flagship initiative to end armed conflicts in Africa, which has been extended until 2030, is a major undertaking. It is also important for the African Union to take advantage of the current state of global affairs to develop its own partnership and cooperation mechanisms independent of any external forces and without pressure, coercion or blackmail. The dialogue between the African Union and the United Nations has also been the subject of some steady dynamics. What matters is that that cooperation has a strategic nature today. Joint work is being conducted on the basis of the framework documents for strengthening partnerships for issues of peace and security, as well as the implementation of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development and the AU’s Agenda 2063. Joint meetings are held annually through the Security Council and the Peace and Security Council, the next series of which will take place in New York this week. Yet despite all of those achievements, the situation on the African continent today remains problematic. Security challenges and socioeconomic problems have escalated, spreading instability and expanded terrorist activity. There are still many difficulties in the area of governance. We urge our friends to examine those challenges in depth, evaluate all their factors and causes, including in a historical context, and take into account the ethnic and cultural characteristics of individual States. It is futile to attempt to manage the symptoms of a disease when the problems created by its underlying causes, many of them rooted in Africa’s colonial past, have not been dealt with. First of all, a swift response is needed to the widespread practice on the continent, in violation of the Charter of the United Nations, of illegal unilateral sanctions and political blackmail, including threats to stop the provision of humanitarian and socioeconomic assistance with the collusion of the Bretton Woods institutions. The cynicism of such actions is obvious. The restrictions hit the civilian population hardest, obstructing their access to essential goods, including medicines, vaccines and food. The situation is compounded by the lack of political freedom in a number of African States with regard to fundamental national issues, including in the security sector. It is time to pay particular attention to that problem. Secondly, we consider it reasonable for African States to raise the question of the provision by the United Nations of material and financial assistance for their efforts to maintain international peace and security. We look forward to an agreement on a common African position on modalities for financing African peacekeeping operations and the use of African Union Peace Fund resources for that purpose. We are ready to engage in constructive dialogue on the issue. In that connection, we would like to specifically emphasize that the key to the success of regional efforts is a shared assessment by the countries of the region of existing threats and ways to overcome them, as well as their willingness to bear the risks involved and to create a coherent and effective command-and-control system. As far as funding methods are concerned, regardless of which of them are appropriate to the situation, it is important that initiating countries be able to retain the space to make their own policy decisions to counter threats rather than having them imposed by others. Finally, we believe that the growing terrorist threat in Africa requires special attention. We are ready and willing to share our experience in counter-terrorism with our African partners and to implement projects for building the capacity of their countries in the fight against terrorist and extremist threats. In conclusion, we want to reiterate Russia’s readiness to continue cooperating with its African partners on an equal footing, focusing on strengthening their potential. We also continue to devote considerable attention to training personnel on the continent. Joint work on the flagship initiative of the African Union to end all armed conflicts on the continent by 2030 is included in the 2023-2025 draft action plan for cooperation between the Russian Federation and the African Union, which we expect to adopt at the second Russian-African summit scheduled for next summer in St. Petersburg.

Let me begin by thanking Gabon for convening this important discussion, which coincides with the twentieth anniversary of the African Union (AU). I would also like to thank the Secretary-General and Commissioner Faki Mahamat for their briefings. Global threats to international peace and security, such as terrorism, climate change and the intersecting food, energy and financial crises, are disproportionately affecting the African continent. Enhanced coordination and cooperation between multilateral organizations such as the United Nations and the African Union are essential tools in responding to those crises. In recent years we have seen how deeper engagement between the United Nations and the African Union can enable positive developments in responding to peace and security challenges facing the continent. In the Sudan, a trilateral mechanism between the United Nations, the AU and the Intergovernmental Authority on Development has been created to jointly facilitate a solution to the ongoing political and security crisis there. In the Sahel, the United Nations and the African Union are undertaking a joint assessment aimed at strengthening international coordination to address the multidimensional crisis. On Ethiopia, we welcome the close engagement between the African Union and the United Nations to find a pathway to a negotiated, durable resolution of that appalling conflict. We urge the Security Council to remain closely engaged. Those initiatives are positive, but all face challenges. They must be strengthened and built on. The African Union can draw on the expertise and support of the United Nations where appropriate. The United Nations must continue to help build the capacity of the African Union and support its work in trying to resolve some of Africa’s most serious challenges. There remain a number of areas that would benefit from greater collaboration. First, we must work together to address the global challenges affecting peace and security in Africa. That includes the food, energy and financial crises that have been exacerbated by Russia’s war of aggression against Ukraine. Those interlocking crises mean that urgent action is needed to provide the countries affected with immediate humanitarian assistance and to address the issue of debt relief. We welcome the initiatives of the African Union and those of regional organizations such as the Economic Community of West African States and the Intergovernmental Authority on Development to address the global challenge of climate change. The Security Council must play a greater role in supporting Africa to respond to the threat of climate change, which is driving insecurity and acting as a threat multiplier across the continent. As the United Nations body charged with the maintenance of international peace and security, the Council must discharge its responsibilities in this area. Secondly, the Council must support efforts to strengthen the African Union’s central role in promoting good governance. The recent wave of coups d’état across the continent, including most recently in Burkina Faso, are a matter of grave concern. They demonstrate the need to better support citizens and civic movements across Africa in order to advance inclusive and accountable governance. That includes the full protection of freedom of expression and assembly, and it also includes transparent elections and the promotion of the rule of law. The multidimensional crises in the Sahel and the Horn of Africa have proved that a failure to address political and security crises and their underlying causes leads to humanitarian and economic crises. Thirdly, Ireland recognizes the need for predictable and sustainable financing for United Nations-authorized, AU-led peace support operations. We hope that the Secretary-General’s upcoming report on the issue will prompt an open and frank discussion and provide a window of opportunity to make concrete progress. Finally, the challenges we face are too complex for any one nation, large or small, to address alone. It is only by working together that we can hope to resolve them successfully. Ireland looks forward to continuing its commitment to working across the United Nations in order to support the vital efforts of the African Union and of African subregional organizations towards the maintenance of peace and security in Africa.

We thank you for your presence at this meeting today, Mr. President, and we are grateful to the Secretary-General and the Chairperson of the African Union Commission for their briefings. Mexico congratulates the African Union and its members on the twentieth anniversary of the establishment of that important organization. Its cooperation with the United Nations is essential to responding effectively to the challenges facing the African continent. I would like to recall that at the United Nations Conference on International Organization, held in San Francisco in 1945, we, the Latin American countries, made Chapter VIII of the Charter of the United Nations possible, in our firm belief that disputes should be addressed as a priority at the regional level. I would like to focus today on two issues. First, in the area of international peace and security, we welcome the African Union’s leadership in exercising its good offices, spearheading mediation efforts and deploying regional peacekeeping forces. In that regard, we appreciate the ongoing work to promote dialogue between the Government of Ethiopia and the Tigray People’s Liberation Front. The Security Council should continue to support that mediation. Another commendable effort is the African Union’s support for the national reconciliation initiative in Libya, which seeks to break the cycle of violence in that country. Mexico will closely follow the conference planned for that purpose and reiterates that stability in Libya is key to the security of the Sahel countries and that of the continent as a whole. We also commend the actions undertaken to promote the women and peace and security agenda in the continent. The formation of the African Women Leaders Network and the Network of African Women in Conflict Prevention and Mediation are important actions if we are to advance towards the full, equal and meaningful participation of women in conflict prevention and resolution, as well as in their own countries in their various political institutions. Mexico believes that the African Union is a fundamental ally in promoting the fight against trafficking in small arms and light weapons. My country reiterates that the United Nations should support the efforts undertaken as part of the Silencing the Guns by 2030 initiative in order to achieve its objectives. Resolution 2616 (2021), which my country supported, establishes some lines of action that the Council can promote in order to strengthen the fight against the proliferation of small arms and light weapons in Africa. Mexico will continue to contribute militarily to the peacekeeping operations deployed in various African countries. Secondly, the unconstitutional changes of Government that have occurred in recent months — or even weeks  — in Burkina Faso, Chad, Guinea, Mali and the Sudan delineate a very worrisome trend that must be reversed before it affects other countries of the region. The international community must mobilize in order to continue stressing the importance of democratic governance on the continent and to prevent political instability from exacerbating the situation of violence in some parts of the Sahel and Central Africa. We therefore call on subregional organizations to harmonize their responses to breaches of constitutional order in any given country. In that connection, the African Charter on Democracy, Elections and Governance sets out the criteria to be applied. It is in everyone’s interest to avoid any signal that could be interpreted as indifference or permissiveness in the face of the violation of a country’s institutional framework. That is equally valid for the Security Council, which has not always been able to reach agreement on statements by the President on such events. In the face of the challenges arising from the economic consequences of the pandemic, the rise in food and fuel prices, as well as the previously mentioned negative effects of climate change, cooperation between the United Nations and the African Union continues to be paramount and could have very positive effects. We hope that at the joint meetings between the Security Council and the Peace and Security Council of the African Union, which will take place this week, we will be able to agree on further action that will enable us to strengthen cooperation between the two organizations for the sake of peacebuilding and peacekeeping. But above all, let us do everything we can in the Security Council so that Africa does not once again become the stage and victim of competition among the great Powers. That competition is nothing more than the new face of colonialism. Mexico also supports Security Council reform that gives Africa its rightful place on a more representative Council of the international community. That reform should not be limited to an increase in the Council’s membership, however. Its working methods must be reformed first. I am referring particularly to the use and abuse of the veto. That is why, as Mexico participates actively in intergovernmental negotiations on Security Council reform, with proposals that are in the interests of all Member States, we will continue, alongside France, to promote a restriction of the use of the veto in situations of mass atrocities. We once again call countries that have not signed on to that initiative to support it. Dame Barbara Woodward (United Kingdom): I thank you, Mr. President, for convening this debate during your Security Council presidency. I also thank the Secretary-General and the Chairperson of the African Union (AU) Commission for their briefings. On this the twentieth anniversary of the African Union, strengthening the partnership among the United Nations, the AU and African member States remains indispensable as we strive towards a freer, safer and more prosperous continent. That is why the United Kingdom supports permanent African representation on the Security Council. That is why the annual consultations later this week between the Security Council and the African Union Peace and Security Council are so important. I want to emphasize three points about this important partnership. First, coordination among the AU, the United Nations and other international partners is vital for finding political solutions to conflicts, including in northern Ethiopia, the Sudan and Somalia. We therefore welcome the planned AU-facilitated talks concerning northern Ethiopia and urge the Ethiopian Government and the Tigray People’s Liberation Front to engage in the process. In the Sudan, we welcome cooperation among the United Nations, the AU and the Intergovernmental Authority on Development to help facilitate a political solution following the October 2021 military coup. As a Council, we must continue to support the tripartite mechanism’s efforts to deliver the freedom, peace and justice that the Sudanese people have called for. And in Somalia, the African Union Mission in Somalia and its successor, the African Transition Mission in Somalia (ATMIS), demonstrate the value of United Nations-AU cooperation. The United Kingdom has long supported that critical cooperation, including by contributing £25 million towards ATMIS stipends this year alone. Secondly, the United Nations-AU partnership is important for tackling transregional challenges to stability, such as terrorism, disease, climate and food insecurity. At least 130 million people in Africa are experiencing crisis levels of food insecurity. The United Kingdom is working with African partners to address the heightened food, economic and wider humanitarian risks in the region that have been exacerbated by the war in Ukraine. Finally, I note that today is International Day of the Girl Child. We welcome AU efforts on children and armed conflict, as well as recent meetings of the African Union Peace and Security Council on women and peace and security and gender-based violence. The AU-United Nations partnership is important for making progress on those issues. We look forward to working diligently in order to implement the Transforming Education Summit, in support of 12 years of quality education for girls, and to strengthening cooperation on preventing sexual violence in conflict. We hope that the AU will participate in the international conference the United Kingdom is hosting next month, which focuses on prevention, justice and supporting survivors.

We thank the Secretary- General and Chairperson Faki Mahamat for their valuable insights. The global challenges we face are disproportionately affecting Africa. We thank Gabon, as well as Ghana and Kenya, for their efforts to ensure that the effects on Africa are placed higher on the Security Council’s agenda. For example, in May, the Council discussed the sharp rise in acute food insecurity, hunger and malnutrition (see S/PV.9036), a topic that was also discussed at the African Union (AU) yesterday. The climate crisis has also become increasingly evident in the work of the Council because it affects livelihoods, human security and people’s futures, multiplies the risks of further conflict and drives displacement. Next month’s meeting among world leaders in Sharm el-Sheikh, Egypt, is a critical moment. Norway stands firmly by its commitments to doubling its funding for climate finance. The links to security are clear. More than half of the 20 countries most vulnerable to climate change are also affected by armed conflict. There can no longer be any doubt that climate-related security risks must be integrated into our efforts for peace, in Africa and beyond. The shared goal of the African Union and the United Nations is to prevent, mitigate and resolve conflicts. Combining the AU’s situational awareness with the mandates, tools and technical capacity of the United Nations improves conflict resolution and mediation  — and we must do more of that. The trilateral mechanism in the Sudan is an example of an effective partnership between United Nations envoys, AU representatives and subregional organizations. Such partnerships should be further developed and could serve as a model for effective cooperation and coordination in other conflict situations as well. There can be no peace without women’s full, equal and meaningful participation and leadership, as was recognized in the conclusions of the open session of the African Union Peace and Security Council on women and peace and security, held last week. We applaud the AU’s continued work to strengthen the implementation of the agenda, including through the active use of the Panel of the Wise, FemWise-Africa, the network of African women mediators and joint partnerships with civil society on the ground. Since 2002, the AU has assumed greater responsibility for maintaining peace and security in Africa, including through peace support operations. The AU’s ability and willingness to mount counter-terrorism and peace enforcement missions are increasingly important in what are often rapidly changing conflict dynamics, especially given the fact that such operations fall outside the scope and borders of traditional United Nations peacekeeping operations. Let me be clear. The AU has made progress on a number of fronts. It has taken significant steps to ensure that its Peace Fund is now operational. It has also made advances on the AU compliance framework project with the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights, including drawing up a code of conduct, developing disciplinary processes and beginning to roll them out in existing missions. The African Union Transition Mission in Somalia and the Joint Force of the Group of Five for the Sahel (G-5 Sahel) are examples in which the compliance frameworks are being tested and implemented, and Norway is pleased to support those efforts. We back the Secretary-General’s call for a United Nations support office for the Joint Force of the G-5 Sahel. Norway believes that the Council should not shy away from serious discussions on predictable, sustainable and flexible funding, including for AU-led and regional missions. Peace and stability are the most important building blocks for realizing the ambitions for economic and social progress in Africa, and African countries have the critical experience and insights. Cooperation with Africa is paramount in dealing with security issues on the continent. That is why the Security Council must also reflect the geopolitical realities of today. Norway supports efforts to expand the Council and increase the number of permanent and non-permanent seats for Africa.

I now give the floor to the representative of Egypt.

At the outset, I would like to welcome you, Mr. Adamo, as you preside over the Security Council on behalf of our sister Republic of Gabon. I would also like to thank Secretary-General António Guterres and my brother Mr. Moussa Faki Mahamat, Chairperson of the African Union Commission, for their valuable briefings. I commend the Gabon presidency for allowing the general membership to take part in today’s important debate. In line with its role as a founding member of the United Nations and the African Union and its adherence to multilateralism, Egypt prioritizes strengthening cooperation and promoting integration between the two organizations. A constructive relationship between the United Nations and the African Union is in the interests of peace, security and development in Africa. The fact of the matter is that despite the fact that this debate in the Security Council is an annual one, this year it has special significance in the light of the unprecedented challenges facing Africa. They include the sharp polarization among the major Powers, the escalating economic crisis, threats to food security and the negative consequences of climate change in Africa, especially as a result of the spread of drought and water scarcity — as well as the spread of terrorism and extremism, which know no religion or race. In addition, some actors have been working to dismantle and divide African States and push them into a quagmire of identity and ethnic conflicts instead of enabling them to build and strengthen their national institutions. In the face of those challenges, Egypt affirms that there is no shortage of obligations or agreements between the United Nations and the African Union. The relationship between the two organizations is clearly based on Chapter VIII of the Charter. In the light of the multiple partnership frameworks between the two organizations in various areas of multilateral action, Egypt believes that those obligations must be translated into reality. We must move from drafting documents and ideas to the implementation stage. In that regard, I would like to put forward the following proposals. First, addressing conflicts in Africa requires a continuing response, from peacemaking and peacekeeping efforts to peacebuilding and sustainable peace. Egypt therefore reiterates its call for African peace operations to be able to access their assessed contributions to the United Nations budget. We also stress the importance of providing the funding that peacebuilding activities in Africa require. In that context, we call on the general membership to swiftly adopt the required funding for the Peacebuilding Fund of the Peacebuilding Commission, in accordance with the Secretary-General’s proposal. Secondly, there is an urgent need to take immediate steps to implement the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development and the African Union’s Agenda 2063, including by ensuring States’ access to adequate international financing, considering the extremely difficult economic challenges that they are currently facing. It should be noted in that regard that underdevelopment remains the main cause of conflicts in Africa, and we should therefore act now to meet African needs through the forthcoming United Nations 2023 Sustainable Development Goals Summit, taking Africa’s complicated and special circumstances into consideration. Thirdly, despite the fact that we are not responsible for the global increase in greenhouse-gas emissions, Africa is the continent most affected by the consequences of climate change, especially drought and water scarcity, including through their repercussions for peace and security. The single clearest example of those repercussions in Africa is the lack of security and stability in the Sahel region. Egypt therefore hopes to see wide international participation in the twenty- seventh Conference of the Parties to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change, to be held in Sharm el-Sheikh in November, so that we can adopt measures to address climate change by further strengthening Africa’s capacity for adaptation and resilience through concessional financing. Fourthly, Africa does not suffer from a shortage of resources, but it needs more advanced science and modern technology. The United Nations and the international community must therefore shoulder a special responsibility in promoting capacity-building and knowledge-transfer programmes in African countries and within the African Union and subregional organizations in Africa. In that regard, Egypt calls for the development of a specific programme by the United Nations to build the capacity of the African Union Commission and subregional organizations to implement the Silencing the Guns initiative and Agenda 2063 for development in the continent, in line with the integration benchmarks between the United Nations and the African Union pursuant to Chapter VIII of the Charter. Fifthly, integration between the Security Council and the African Union Peace and Security Council does not mean that one will push responsibility onto the other. Integration requires joint work and exploiting each organization’s comparative advantages to address conflicts, especially emerging ones, through proactive steps and effective preventive diplomacy. In that context, we should point out that establishing a hierarchy in working with the African Union and subregional organizations does not mean that the United Nations would relinquish its responsibility as an overarching organization under the Charter. In conclusion, cooperation between the United Nations and the African Union is at a critical juncture. African States are clearly frustrated by the contemporary reality in which intense pressure from multiple parties draws their attention rather than making efforts towards achieving cooperation and development. In addition, Africa does not receive its fair share of development and international trade. That is why we are talking today frankly and clearly and proposing specific practical steps to promote joint action between the United Nations and the African Union with a view to meeting the demands of our African peoples, who want justice and broader African participation in the international governance structure. Politically, this could be achieved through a real reform of the Security Council based not on piecemeal or gradual solutions, but on ending injustice against the continent in accordance with the Ezulwini Consensus and the Sirte Declaration, and economically by restructuring the international financial institutions so that they would be fairer in dealing with the needs of African and other developing States.

I now give the floor to the representative of Japan.

I thank you, Mr. President, for convening this important meeting, and I am grateful to all the speakers for their insightful remarks. I would like to begin by congratulating the African Union (AU) on the twentieth anniversary of its establishment. The AU has made great progress in the past two decades in its efforts to promote peace and development across Africa, in collaboration with subregional organizations. Despite those efforts, Africa has not been spared from increasing global human security crises caused by multiple factors, such as conflict, terrorism, food insecurity, energy shortages, the coronavirus disease pandemic and climate change. Such trends have made it all the more important for the United Nations and regional arrangements, particularly the African Union, to enhance their cooperation in order to tackle the root causes of crisis. We need to make the best use of the comparative advantages of each organization. The coming annual consultation between the Security Council and the African Union Peace and Security Council will serve as a platform to further cultivate the vast potential for closer cooperation between the two organizations. With that in mind, I would like to highlight the following three points. First, effective approaches require strong regional, national and local leadership and ownership in close coordination with international partners. In other words, international support needs to focus on building and strengthening institutions and human capacities at every level. With the aim of investing in people and spurring quality growth, at the eighth Tokyo International Conference on African Development, Japan announced the investment of $30 billion as the sum of public and private financial contributions over the next three years. Furthermore, we will work towards human-capacity development for 300,000 professionals in a wide range of fields. Japan aspires to be a partner growing together with Africa. Secondly, we should continue to pursue a holistic approach based on the humanitarian- peace-development nexus to synergize and mutually reinforce the efforts of all actors. The United Nations system in particular should strive to integrate the work of its own agencies, funds and programmes so that they can more effectively support the efforts of the African Union and other regional arrangements. The United Nations system should also enhance cooperation with such other partners as the international financial institutions, the private sector and civil society. The United Nations peacebuilding architecture, in particular the Peacebuilding Commission and the Peacebuilding Fund, should continue to play a key role to that end. Finally, given the vital role of peace support operations by regional organizations such as the African Union, the issues related to various funding and assistance options for such operations should be thoroughly discussed from a broad perspective. For its part, Japan has been contributing to the African Union Peace Fund since 1996. Our contributions have supported AU-led peacebuilding activities in the areas of conflict prevention and mediation. Growing threats to the rules-based international order are a stark reminder of the urgent need to reform the United Nations system, particularly the Security Council. Increasing the legitimacy and effectiveness of the Council with more balanced geopolitical representation, including from Africa, is a critical task that should not be put off any longer. In that context, Japan strongly supports the Common African Position enshrined in the Ezulwini Consensus and the Sirte Declaration. As an incoming member of the Security Council, Japan remains committed to further supporting effective collaboration between regional arrangements and the Security Council.

I now give the floor to the representative of South Africa.

We commend the Gabonese Republic for convening today’s meeting. We also thank the Secretary-General, Mr. António Guterres, and the Chairperson of the African Union Commission, Mr. Moussa Faki Mahamat, for their briefings. As we commemorate the twentieth anniversary of the African Union (AU), South Africa reaffirms its commitment to the ideals and spirit of the Constitutive Act of the African Union and the Charter of the United Nations in pursuit of a more just and equitable world, founded on multilateralism and international cooperation. When the African Union was launched in Durban, South Africa, in 2002, 20 years ago, it was understood then and as it is understood even today that development, peace and security are intertwined, and one cannot take place without the others. That implies that sustainable development will remain elusive in the absence of peace, security and stability. It is for that reason that a major role of the AU as a multilateral institution is to promote development, peace, security and stability on, and the integration of, the African continent. The AU has recognized that partnerships are essential to advancing its objectives. One of the most important partnerships that the AU has developed since its inception has been with the United Nations in peace and security. For South Africa, it is important that this partnership is anchored on the principles of subsidiarity, complementarity and comparative advantages. The African Union-United Nations partnership has yielded some positive outcomes over the years, particularly in peace support operations. The African Union-United Nations Hybrid Operation in Darfur (UNAMID), which completed its mandate in December 2020, is an epitome of the cordial partnership between the AU and the United Nations. UNAMID is a model that can be replicated because peacekeeping missions ought to serve the purpose of bringing about peace and stability within a given time frame. The African Union Transition Mission in Somalia, formerly known as the African Union Mission in Somalia, is a key undertaking of the AU. Against all odds, that Mission has registered significant achievements since its inception with the continued support of international partners, notably the United Nations and the European Union. Moreover, our two organizations continue to work together to promote democracy in Africa. That has included supporting free, fair and credible electoral processes, strengthening good governance, promoting the protection of human rights and preventing electoral violence across the continent. However, we believe that more still needs to be done in those areas to ensure that peace support operations are not deployed indefinitely, and that peace holds in post-conflict situations. Importantly, we should ensure that there are no relapses from democratic processes, as evidenced by a resurgence of unconstitutional changes of Governments on the continent. While significant progress has been made between the AU and the United Nations, challenges remain at the level of cooperation between the United Nations Security Council and the Peace and Security Council of the African Union. Although increased efforts of engagement between the Peace and Security Council and the Security Council have helped the organizations to achieve greater strategic convergence on issues that are of mutual importance, there is room for further improvement. While acknowledging the work done to ensure peace on the continent, the United Nations and the AU must strengthen their efforts to address the root causes and drivers of conflict in Africa, including development and governance issues. To respond to those dynamics, we are pleased that the AU continues to reform, as evidenced by the alignment of the African Peace and Security Architecture and the African Governance Architecture. Transitional justice, peacebuilding and post-conflict reconstruction and development remain important in building peaceful societies. Another key challenge facing the AU-United Nations partnership pertains to United Nations-mandated AU- led peace support operations. The Security Council should create the opportunity and a dispensation that will allow Africa to access sustainable and predictable funding from United Nations assessed contributions. In that context, both organizations should strive to implement the Joint United Nations-African Union Framework for an Enhanced Partnership in Peace and Security and the memorandum of understanding on a United Nations-AU partnership in peacebuilding. Both those frameworks provide a solid basis for AU-United Nations cooperation in the advancement of peace and security. Fundamentally, there should be improved engagement with all levels and segments of our societies with the support of the United Nations and other international partners. We must therefore ensure the meaningful and active involvement in peace processes of all segments of civil society and non-State actors, including women, young people and the private sector, in order to contribute to Africa’s development and the silencing of guns by 2030. In conclusion, let me reiterate our concern regarding the much-needed reform of the Security Council. Africa still has no permanent representation in the permanent category of the Security Council, and only three non-permanent seats are allocated to Africa. The current composition of the Security Council does not reflect the world in which we live. A partnership with a global institution without democratic composition and representation undermines the essence of such a partnership. We hope that States Members of the United Nations will proceed with the necessary urgency to reform this important organ.

I now give the floor to the representative of Senegal.

On behalf of Her Excellency Mrs. Aïssata Tall Sall, Minister for Foreign Affairs and Senegalese Abroad, who was unable to take part in this important debate due to scheduling constraints, I would like to thank the sister Republic of Gabon for holding this relevant debate, which is part of a dynamic to enhance the Joint United Nations-African Union (AU) Framework for an Enhanced Partnership in Peace and Security. I would therefore like to thank Secretary-General António Guterres and Mr. Moussa Faki Mahamat, Chairperson of the AU Commission, for the quality of their briefings, which highlighted the challenges of that cooperation. The international system for addressing conflicts in Africa is no longer adequate. That is clear. That state of affairs is linked to the nature of the conflicts, which are more often intra-State than inter-State, the multiple actors involved, the diverse means of violence and the emergence of asymmetric security threats, such as terrorism and organized crime. Those factors have changed the approaches to peacekeeping that once prevailed. As strategic partners of the United Nations, the AU and African subregional organizations have nevertheless demonstrated their determination and capacity to provide initial responses to African crises. There are many examples to illustrate that reality. However, their action has often been limited by constraints of various kinds, including the thorny issue of funding. Indeed, it is worrisome that the lack of adequate funding for African peace support operations unfortunately continues to be an issue at a time when the African Union is increasingly shouldering responsibilities in that area. In the spirit of resolution 2320 (2016), my delegation therefore once again echoes Africa’s call for predictable, sustainable and flexible funding mechanisms for African Union peace support operations authorized by the Security Council under Chapter VII of the Charter of the United Nations. Such efforts expected from the United Nations are all the timelier given the African Union’s firm commitment to addressing the security challenges on the continent by taking a major step towards addressing the issue of predictable funding and increasing its contribution to the cost of its peace support operations to 25 per cent. In the same vein, we call on all the members of the Security Council to support the proposal for the establishment of a United Nations specialized support office, financed through United Nations assessed contributions, in order to provide the Joint Force of the Group of Five for the Sahel with sustainable, predictable and reliable funding commensurate with the gravity of the security challenges that it faces. It must be noted that, while there has been considerable progress in the implementation of the Joint United Nations-African Union Framework in terms of mediation and technical electoral assistance, it is still lacking in terms of peacebuilding and post-conflict reconstruction. In that regard, the focus should be on the following aspects: addressing unconstitutional changes of Government, the implementation of disarmament, demobilization and reintegration programmes, security system reforms, national reconciliation and transitional justice issues, accountability and strengthening judicial systems, among other areas. Such an approach to peacebuilding and conflict prevention is precisely one of the issues on which there is the greatest consensus within the international community, even if that consensus is often expressed more in theory than in practice. The African Union’s readiness to play a leading role in such areas must be met in the Security Council Chamber. That is because the AU, which is well acquainted with African political and cultural realities, is better equipped to act more effectively on early warning and prevention. The Security Council and the AU Peace and Security Council must therefore intensify their dialogue in order to ensure a common understanding of the security dynamics and challenges in Africa and to define the best modalities for supporting African peace and security initiatives. In that same vein, it is essential that African members of the Council play a more meaningful role in this body in which many decisions concerning peace and security in Africa are taken. Before concluding, I wish to echo some of the voices that have spoken up in this Chamber regarding a reality that has become untenable and unacceptable — namely, the fact that the Security Council, as it exists, deals with the world’s problems when it does not represent, in its composition, the true range of powers that it was meant to and should represent. It is high time that Africa be afforded its due representation as a permanent member of the Security Council. It is high time the floodgates were opened. The Council cannot continue to function as it does now. It is important and imperative that we all devote ourselves to this task. This is a heartfelt call and a call to reason. This call to reason must serve the interests of the international community, and I therefore wish to join those who have preceded me here today in emphasizing this.

I now give the floor to the representative of Namibia.

I thank you, Sir, for hosting this high-level event, which coincides with the commemoration of the twentieth anniversary of the transformation of the Organization of African Unity into the African Union (AU). Allow me to also extend my gratitude to the Secretary-General, Mr. António Guterres, and the Chairperson of the African Union Commission, Mr. Moussa Faki Mahamat, for their elaborate and informative briefings. Embracing a multipolar world is synonymous with embracing divergent views and appreciating different contexts. The power dynamic in a setting that accommodates multipolarity requires us to be cognizant of that. The AU-United Nations partnership is symbiotic in nature and has been beneficial on many scores, chief among which is the alignment of development priorities. The ability to seamlessly dovetail the priorities outlined in Agenda 2063 and the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development has been extremely beneficial. That has greatly supported our ability to domesticate the elements of both agendas simultaneously. We are encouraged that the scope and depth of the AU-United Nations partnership continues to grow in stature. Despite that, the continent continues to face a plethora of challenges and ever-present threats such as terrorism, organized crime, violent extremism, food insecurity and pronounced energy and climate challenges. These challenges are not insurmountable. They do, however, require concerted and coordinated efforts to ensure that the AU-United Nations partnership is leveraged for the benefit of the citizens of all member States. Last month, the African Union celebrated the fifth annual Africa Amnesty Month to reduce the number of illegally owned weapons. The threat posed by the use, misuse and abuse of small arms and light weapons continues to have devastating consequences around the world. The continued proliferation of small arms and light weapons fuels conflict and has, in many instances, had devastating effects on intimate partner relationships, as those weapons are used to perpetrate sexual and gender-based violence. In that connection, Africa provided remarkable leadership in the drafting of the Bamako Declaration on an African Common Position on the Illicit Proliferation, Circulation and Trafficking of Small Arms and Light Weapons. That served as the precursor for the Programme of Action to Prevent, Combat and Eradicate the Illicit Trade in Small Arms and Light Weapons in All Its Aspects, which has become an important global instrument for monitoring the prevention, combating and eradication of the illicit trade in small arms and light weapons. As a current member of the AU Peace and Security Council and as Chair of the Southern African Development Community Organ on Politics, Defence and Security Cooperation, Namibia continues to demonstrate its commitment to regional and continental stability by advocating for the advancement of infrastructure for peace, democracy and the protection of human rights. With only seven years remaining until the deadline to silence the guns on the continent, my delegation places emphasis on partnership on an equal footing, with due regard for the value of African voices, not only in providing solutions to African problems, but also in providing global leadership. As long as the Security Council fails to reflect, in stature and composition, the makeup of the multipolar world, it can never adequately address global concerns. While the spotlight may be on Africa today through this focused open debate, we are reminded that we remain guests in this Chamber, with no permanent voice to represent the interests of the continent, whose population of 1.3 billion people constitutes approximately 17 per cent of the world’s population. Sustaining peace on the continent requires strong recognition of and support for the capacity of regional organizations in providing leadership on regional issues. Africa continues to evolve, and our resolve to build institutional capacity and strengthen our governance and peace and security infrastructure serves as our commitment to building the Africa we want. In conclusion, the Council’s agenda continues to be dominated by African issues. Through stronger partnerships, we are confident that inclusivity in debates and decision-making on matters affecting the lives of the people we represent in the Africa Union and the United Nations would be strengthened. In Namibia, we hold the belief that inclusivity spells harmony, while exclusivity could lead to conflict. It is against that background that my delegation welcomes the focus of today’s debate on stronger cooperation between the United Nations and regional and subregional organizations. We believe that such partnerships will foster greater inclusivity, breaking down the barriers of inequality and exclusivity and bringing us closer to a world in which no one is left behind.

I now give the floor to the representative of Germany.

Before turning to the focus of today’s debate, allow me to congratulate you, Sir, on your delegation’s recent assumption of the presidency of the Security Council. We welcome Gabon’s priorities and the importance afforded to issues of peace and security on the African continent. I would also like to thank you for allowing us to participate in this important debate on cooperation between the United Nations and the African Union, which was perfectly introduced by the briefings given by the Secretary-General and the Chairperson of the African Union Commission. I intend to address three main points: the importance of the African Union in maintaining international peace and security; Germany’s support for the architecture and efforts of the African Union; and the support required to enable the African Union to meet the many challenges it currently faces. Since its establishment 20 years ago, the African Union has rapidly become a central and indispensable actor for conflict prevention and resolution in Africa. Its principles and objectives correspond and are intrinsically linked to the principles of the United Nations. The African Union therefore plays an indispensable role in defence of the sovereignty, territorial integrity and independence of its member States. The African Union’s numerous missions and mediation initiatives, often carried out in partnership with the United Nations, other African regional organizations or the European Union, have contributed to the mitigation and resolution of many crises. For example, the African Union played an important role in the peaceful transfer of power after the recent elections in Zambia. In West African States that have recently experienced unconstitutional changes of government, the African Union works in close coordination with the Economic Community of West African States to achieving legitimate political transitions. In Somalia, the African Union Transition Mission in Somalia and its predecessor, the African Union Mission in Somalia, have been contributing for many years to the fight against Islamic terrorism and to the re-establishment of State authority, with the logistical support of the United Nations Support Office in Somalia. In support of the concept of African solutions to African problems, Germany and the European Union have backed the African Union (AU) since its inception. Between 2006 and today, the German Government has contributed to the AU’s institutional development, its governance and numerous initiatives amounting to more than €600 million. Among other things, we have contributed to the development and professionalism of its peace and security architecture and domestic governance. Our support for the African Union’s border programme contributes directly to the structural prevention of conflicts and the promotion of regional and continental integration. We are particularly proud of the progress and achievements of the African Women Leaders Network, a platform that has brought together and supported African women’s networks, particularly in the area of peace and security, since 2017. That being said, the many current challenges in Africa — the political instability and insecurity caused by threats of terrorism, proliferating and recurring coups d’état and the global food crisis, and often compounded by climate change  — require a resolute and multidimensional response, with the African Union taking the lead and strong and reliable support from the United Nations. Germany encourages and supports the discussions on financing for African missions. We are ready to discuss in concrete terms the establishment of a mechanism that would enable a fair and efficient division of tasks and costs between the two organizations. In the Sahel and the West African coastal States, which are particularly affected by instability and the threat of terrorism, a regional and cross-border response seems essential and urgent. We welcome the initiative taken by the Chairperson of the African Union Commission and the Secretary-General to develop African regional solutions to the current crisis. We stand ready to support any regional initiative resulting from the deliberations of the Independent High-level Panel on Security and Development in the Sahel, led by President Issoufou. Germany supports the allocation of permanent seats to African Member States to ensure that they are represented and that their voices are heard in the Security Council, more than half of whose meetings concern Africa.

I now give the floor to the representative of Morocco.

I am particularly pleased to reiterate the Kingdom of Morocco’s sincere congratulations to our brother country of Gabon and to you personally, Sir, for your presence among us, for the time you have taken to preside over Council meetings and especially for your wise leadership of the Council’s work for the month of October. I also want to thank Secretary-General António Guterres and Mr. Moussa Faki Mahamat, the Chairperson of the African Union Commission, for their insightful briefings. Morocco has always been linked to its African roots by historical and secular relations of fraternity and solidarity. The creation of the Organization of African Unity, which later became the African Union, was the result of Africa’s desire to liberate itself, develop and prosper. Those ideals are guided by the principles enshrined in the Charter of the United Nations, which currently nourish and galvanize the partnership between the United Nations and the African Union. It is in that spirit that Morocco, under the leadership of His Majesty King Mohammed VI, remains committed to collective and international African action together with the United Nations to promote peace, development and prosperity. In particular, we support committed and complementary cooperation between the United Nations and the African Union in every area, from strengthening peace and security to dealing with climate change and countering violent extremism, especially in the Sahel and other parts of Africa. Since rejoining the African Union, in 2017, my country has continued to work to promote that strategic and institutional partnership between the two organizations to promote peace and security in the world and especially on our continent, in view of the fact that many of its countries are on the agenda of the Security Council, a trend that we earnestly hope will be reversed in the coming years. That will be possible only if the African Union, and especially the African countries, are represented with dignity and if justice is done by ensuring that they are properly represented on the Security Council, so that they can convey the words and commitment, as well as the actions, of the African Union via permanent members who will also be messengers of peace, of a continent that has a future and is committed to peace, security and international solidarity, especially considering that our world everywhere is experiencing very difficult and deeply troubling times and events. We want to ensure that Africa’s voice and votes are expressed with regard to every crisis around the world. Our African crises are decided on and resolved without the participation of African countries themselves, unless they are non-permanent members of the Council such as those here in the Chamber today. Morocco welcomes the signing of the Joint United Nations-African Union Framework for Enhanced Partnership in Peace and Security. We believe it will make it possible to promote peace and stability on our continent in accordance with the Charter of the United Nations. My delegation fully supports the African Union peace operations authorized by the Security Council on the basis of the Council’s primary responsibility for the maintenance of international peace and security, in accordance with the Charter. We call for adequate and predictable funding for those operations through assessed contributions to the regular United Nations budget. Morocco welcomes the creation of the African Union Peace Fund, which will finance the African Union’s activities related to peace and security, including those related to conflict prevention and resolution. It shows that Africa is taking ownership of the maintenance of its peace and security by allocating very significant resources to that fund and implementing Africa’s commitment to financing peace operations authorized by the Security Council. Without peace, there can be no development or security, and without development, there can be no peace or security. In that regard, my delegation welcomes the establishment of the African Union-United Nations Framework for the Implementation of Agenda 2063 and the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development. Those agendas, which are closely linked, are proof of the cooperation between the two organizations in promoting socioeconomic development, which is essential to peace, stability and security in Africa. That framework is now more important than ever as Africa faces the combined devastating effects of the coronavirus disease, climate change and global conflicts. Our challenges in the area of sustainable development also have to take into account climate and environmental changes, which are seriously affecting African populations and increasing food insecurity, which in turn results in conflict and massive population displacement. That alarming fact must compel us to move from thinking to action. The two organizations must work together to fight poverty, eradicate hunger, promote good governance and improve access to medical services in order to preserve the dignity of African citizens and put an end to the instabilities that have been threatening the continent for decades. Finally, the Kingdom of Morocco, which holds the presidency of the Peace and Security Council of the African Union for the month of October, will continue to work tirelessly to develop cooperation, symbiosis and strategic partnerships between the African Union and the United Nations in the interests and for the common good not only of our continent but of our entire planet.