S/PV.9518 Security Council

In accordance with rule 37 of the Council’s provisional rules of procedure, I invite the representatives of Austria, Belgium, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Botswana, Bulgaria, Burkina Faso, Canada, Cabo Verde, the Central African Republic, Chad, Congo, Côte d’Ivoire, Croatia, Cyprus, Czechia, Denmark, Djibouti, Egypt, Estonia, Ethiopia, Fiji, Finland, Georgia, Germany, Greece, Guinea-Bissau, Guyana, Hungary, Iceland, Ireland, Italy, Kenya, Latvia, Liberia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Mauritania, Mauritius, Montenegro, Morocco, Namibia, the Kingdom of the Netherlands, Nigeria, North Macedonia, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Rwanda, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Senegal, Serbia, Seychelles, Sierra Leone, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, Tunisia, Uganda, Ukraine, Zambia and Zimbabwe to participate in this meeting. The Security Council will now begin its consideration of the item on its agenda. Members of the Council have before them document S/2023/999, which contains the text of a draft resolution submitted by Austria, Belgium, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Botswana, Brazil, Bulgaria, Burkina Faso, Canada, Cabo Verde, the Central African Republic, Chad, China, Congo, Côte d’Ivoire, Croatia, Cyprus, Czechia, Denmark, Djibouti, Ecuador, Egypt, Estonia, Ethiopia, Fiji, Finland, Gabon, Ghana, Georgia, Germany, Greece, Guinea-Bissau, Guyana, Hungary, Iceland, Ireland, Italy, Kenya, Latvia, Liberia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, Mauritania, Mauritius, Montenegro, Morocco, Mozambique, Namibia, the Kingdom of the Netherlands, Nigeria, North Macedonia, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Rwanda, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Senegal, Serbia, Seychelles, Sierra Leone, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Tunisia, Uganda, Ukraine, the United Arab Emirates, Zambia and Zimbabwe. The Council is ready to proceed to the vote on the draft resolution before it. I shall put the draft resolution to the vote now. I shall now give the floor to those members of the Council who wish to make statements before the voting.

In December 1981, then President Daniel Arap-Moi of Kenya, in his capacity as the Chair of the Organization of African Unity, wrote to the Security Council for resources to enable a pan- African peacekeeping force to be deployed to help stop the fighting in Chad. Regrettably, that support was never given and the conflict in Chad ran its course, with many lives lost. In the aftermath of the situation in Somalia and Rwanda in the early 1990s, and particularly since the United Nations and the African Union (AU) partnered to establish the United Nations-African Union Hybrid Operation in Darfur (UNAMID) in 2007, both organizations have learned useful lessons, including about the growing recognition that each organization has its unique strengths and brings to the table comparative advantages that help the Security Council to fulfil its primary responsibility for the maintenance of international peace and security, especially as it relates to the continent of Africa. Indeed, through the experiences of UNAMID and in the evolution of the African Union Mission in Somalia to the African Union Transition Mission in Somalia since 2007, we have also seen a strengthened and coordinated approach to sustaining peace and security on the continent, in reflection of the true intent of the partnership envisioned with regional arrangements under Chapter VIII of the Charter of the United Nations. While acknowledging the critical role United Nations peacekeeping has played in stabilizing several parts of the continent of Africa, the evolving nature of threats on the continent and the increasing complexities of the peacekeeping environment have served to underscore the need to look beyond traditional peacekeeping and deploy other tools as envisaged in Chapters VII and VIII of the Charter, and in a manner that enhances the complementarity of the tools available to the Security Council in addressing the protracted conflicts on the continent of Africa. Driven by the ambition of the African Union to work closely with the United Nations, and in particular the Security Council, to silence the guns over the continent, we have an opportunity today, through the draft resolution that has been presented by Gabon, Ghana and Mozambique (S/2023/999), to address the question of adequate, predictable and sustainable financing, which has been the bane of African Union peace support operations, away from the ad hoc arrangements that have so far existed. The draft resolution that the three African members of the Council (A3) have presented is a framework draft resolution that sets out, in clear and simple terms, the commitments of the African Union in complying with expected standards, the decision-making process, the financial arrangements and the oversight and reporting requirements. When adopted, the framework draft resolution would enable the African Union to request, on a case-by-case basis, the authorization of mandates with United Nations assessed contributions to resolve conflicts on the continent. In getting to this point, we have been faithful to the common African position, also known as the AU consensus paper on the financing of African Union peace support operations, and we have been responsive to the Secretary-General’s numerous appeals, including in his report of May 2023 (S/2023/303) and the relevant aspects of his policy brief on the New Agenda for Peace. We thank all delegations for working constructively with the A3 to reach where we are and count on their continued support to get this draft resolution through in the interest of the millions across the continent of Africa who continue to suffer the undignified conditions that conflict brings. We thank all the co-sponsors of our draft resolution who have believed in this cause. We believe that the United Nations support for enforcement operations led by the African Union brings enormous benefits to all of us and serves the interests of global peace and security. We urge members to support this draft resolution.

Finding a way to better support African-Union-led peace support operations is a priority for the United States. In 2016, we spearheaded resolution 2320 (2016), which cemented the consensus behind the idea of burden- sharing between the United Nations and the African Union (AU) to support the deployment and sustainment of these operations. That resolution was adopted unanimously by the Council. We have worked hard and in good faith with all Council members to reach consensus on this draft resolution, and we commend the penholders for their efforts as well. To be clear, there are many important elements in this draft resolution that the United States supports. But there is one critical element that the draft resolution lacks: an explicit delineation of the financial burden that United Nations Member States will need to bear for these operations. As drafted, we interpret the draft resolution as not — I repeat, not — providing for 100 per cent funding from the United Nations, since it only provides for an “appropriate” amount of United Nations funding. But in order to remove any possible ambiguity, we believe that the draft resolution should be as clear as possible on this point  — not only on principle, but because a clear and actionable resolution will pave the way for the timely deployment of a future AU peace support operation. And resolving this possible ambiguity is an important step to get us there. Accordingly, the United States is proposing this amendment (S/2023/1023) to include a specific limit on United Nations contributions in clear language in this draft resolution and to ensure that all stakeholders are on the same page about what this draft resolution means. We urge all Security Council members who would like this draft resolution to be adopted unanimously to also vote in favour of including this amendment in the draft.

Members of the Council have before them a proposed amendment, contained in document S/2023/1023 and submitted by the United States of America, to the text of the draft resolution contained in document S/2023/999. Rule 36 of the Council’s provisional rules of procedure states, inter alia, the following: “when an amendment adds to or deletes from the text of a motion or draft resolution, that amendment shall be voted on first.” Accordingly, I intend to put the proposed amendment to the vote first.

The proposed oral amendment received 9 votes in favour, none against and 6 abstentions. The amendment has been adopted. I shall now give the floor to those members of the Council who wish to make statements after the voting.

France was unfortunately unable to support the amendment submitted by the United States. We do believe, however, that the draft resolution is insufficiently clear on the financing of the 25 per cent that would not be covered by assessed contributions. Indeed, we believe that one of the key elements of today’s discussion and of this draft resolution is precisely to ensure that African-Union-led operations in this context can obtain predictable financing. We believe that the amendment does not meet that criteria. We want to repeat clearly that we are resolutely committed to supporting, through United Nations assessed contributions, African-Union-led peacekeeping operations. Of course, we wish to see the African contribution be significant as well, but we are prepared to discuss the various levels of financial contribution by the United Nations and the European Union. I would highlight that France and the European Union are major contributors to United Nations peacekeeping budgets, representing 24 per cent of the total. France has consistently supported the growing role of African peace operations, and we wish to see discussions continue so that we can achieve a balanced and predictable funding framework.

It is my understanding that the Council is ready to proceed to the vote on the draft resolution contained in document S/2023/999, as amended. I shall put the draft resolution to the vote now.

The draft resolution received 15 votes in favour. The draft resolution has been adopted unanimously as resolution 2719 (2023). I shall now give the floor to those members of the Council who wish to make statements after the voting.

As the representative of one of the three African members of the Security Council (A3), I would like to thank all of the members of the Security Council for the adoption of the resolution submitted this evening (resolution 2719 (2023)), which will open a new chapter for Africa. Every time this Council fulfils its vocation, such as today, it shows that it is a powerful rampart and a deterrent against war, and it revives hope for current and future generations. The resolution adopted this afternoon is an important message from the United Nations and from the international community to the African peoples. It represents a milestone in responding to the legitimate aspirations of these people to security and dignity. Given the persistence of deadly conflicts on the continent, as Africans, we have been constructively self-critical with regard to the effectiveness of the mechanisms and tools available, and we have full confidence in Africa being able to solve its own problems. But insecurity is constantly taking on new forms, and there are asymmetrical threats to peace. Given the conflicts in different areas of the continent, we have been called upon to change our paradigm, not only with regard to the means of action to address these issues, but also with regard to the very image of the African continent, which very often seems to be one of war, crisis, ethnic and political conflicts, displacement, refugee camps, poverty and dependence. Financial resources are as much the engine of war as they are the heart of peace. For a long time, the African Union depended on donations from the international community. This tendency limits the scope of action of the available mechanisms, as the contributions from abroad are neither philanthropic nor disinterested. Depending on the circumstances, those contributions can be redirected, weaken or lead to financial disengagement or mercantile or transactional approaches. It is worth highlighting that Africa still holds the sad record of the highest number of United Nations peacekeeping operations. Of the 16 peacekeeping operations under way at the moment, until recently nine were located on the African continent, demonstrating the level of instability that prevails there. At the same time, the continent faces many existing and future challenges. Today the Security Council has been able to give effect to the letter and spirit of the Charter of the United Nations by taking ownership of an essential aspect of its primary responsibility for maintaining international peace and security. Africa, whose populations are among the peoples of the world, as emphasized at the very outset of the Charter of the United Nations, will finally be able to legitimately harbour the same aspirations for security and dignity, which implies an equitable role in dealing with threats to peace in a manner commensurate with the provisions of the United Nations, in particular the assessed contributions of its regular budget. We welcome the unity around this table to give effect today to a vital paradigm that echoes the indivisibility of international security. Of course, we know that in order to stop and regulate the spiralling processes of the drivers of conflict, we will have to go further, identifying and acting on the deep-rooted parameters of conflicts in Africa. Those will be unearthed only as part of a broader approach that integrates socioeconomic security with improved living conditions. Once again, I thank my dear colleagues. May God bless the Security Council.

Mozambique wishes to express its profound gratitude to the members of the Security Council following the adoption of the important resolution on the financing of African Union-led peace support operations (resolution 2719 (2023)), proposed by the three African members of the Council, namely, Gabon, Ghana and my own country, Mozambique (A3). The framework resolution just adopted translates our objective to address the concerns of Africa that have been pending for many years. At its core is the need to give appropriate responses to the growing and evolving security challenges on the African continent  — challenges that comprise conflicts, insurgency, the progressive Africanization of terrorism and the proliferation of extremist armed groups. The A3 has embarked on that action with the conviction that enforcement action by the African Union will be undertaken on behalf of the Security Council, whose primary responsibility, as the Charter of the United Nations prescribes, is the maintenance of international peace and security. The latest developments in the world show that, more than ever, peace and security are a global good and cannot be segmented by continents or regions. That is what makes the adoption of the resolution on the financing of African Union-led peace support operations so important. This landmark framework resolution is aimed at providing enforcement actions led by the African Union with predictable and sustainable funding using United Nations assessed contributions. In supporting the resolution, the Council will ensure that the financing for African Union-led support operations can better respond to our need for funding from United Nations assessed contributions.

Two weeks ago, Ambassador Thomas-Greenfield travelled to Ghana for the United Nations Peacekeeping Ministerial. While she was in Accra, she spoke to a group of young leaders at the Kofi Annan International Peacekeeping Training Centre. She told them that Africans deserve a better vision for security — a vision that puts African leadership at the forefront and African people at the centre — and that, as an international community, we have the responsibility to finance and empower African Union (AU) missions to that end. Indeed, the United States is pleased to support this framework resolution (resolution 2719 (2023)), which outlines the conditions under which the Security Council would consider authorizing AU- led peace support operations with access to United Nations assessed contributions. We recognize the AU’s important contributions with respect to the peace support operations it has already deployed, and we applaud the AU’s partnership with the United Nations in developing common frameworks on human rights, conduct and discipline for those operations. As we look to the future, we want to take a moment to highlight a few key elements of the resolution. First, it underscores the primacy of politics and the need for a coherent political strategy to guide any operation. Secondly, it notes that any support to AU peace support operations must be in full compliance with the United Nations Human Rights Due Diligence Policy. Thirdly, it emphasizes that those operations must include appropriate safeguards for the protection of civilians. Fourthly, it outlines that any peace support operation receiving United Nations assessed contributions will be authorized by and, ultimately accountable to, the Council, for the implementation of its mandate, and to the General Assembly, for the appropriate and reasonable use of funds. Finally, it specifies a burden-sharing agreement, namely, that United Nations contributions to AU peace support operations will be no more than 75 per cent of the cost of the operation’s annual budget. We stand ready to work with Security Council members and the African Union to determine how the remainder of the budget would be financed, whether through an AU financial contribution, voluntary contributions, in-kind contributions or some combination thereof. I want to end by expressing the United States’ gratitude to the three African members of the Council for their flexibility as co-penholders in helping put our shared principles to paper, and especially to Ghana for its partnership and leadership throughout the process. As we near the end of Ghana’s time on the Council, we are eager to cement its legacy by moving forward with AU financing to ensure peace on a continent faced with numerous security threats. We look forward to seeing the resolution implemented so that the AU can face those challenges head-on.

France would like to congratulate the three African members of the Council, namely, Gabon, Ghana and Mozambique (A3), on the successful adoption of their very important resolution (resolution 2719 (2023)). Over the past few years, we have consistently supported the principle of partial financing of African Union-led peace operations with a compulsory contribution from the United Nations. The framework resolution proposed by the A3 is a step towards that objective. We welcome the fact that it provides timely clarification on the type of operations that will be deployed in that framework: robust, time-bound peace enforcement operations with a clearly identified exit strategy. We also welcome the fact that the resolution provides for a clear and reasonable decision-making mechanism and that it clearly recalls the financial regulatory and compliance frameworks that apply when United Nations funding is mobilized. Like others in the Council, we would have liked the text to be more precise about the share of funding for the operations that will be assumed by the African Union and its member States. We made a number of creative proposals to help reach a unanimous agreement, which could  — and should have  — been better reflected in the text. We must not lose sight of the fact that discussions on a case-by-case basis will most likely take place in emergency situations in which we will have to address and respond to crises. A unanimous agreement on more precise cost-sharing terms would have spared us further discussions, which will undoubtedly be sensitive when the time comes, in order to be able to concentrate on the best multilateral response to restore peace. France stands ready to continue discussions on this important subject for the African Union, for the United Nations and for everyone who wants more effective solutions to be applied to crises on the African continent.

Brazil welcomes the adoption of resolution 2719 (2023) and commends the three African members of the Security Council — Gabon, Ghana and Mozambique — for their leadership in its negotiating process. We also extend our appreciation to Council members for their constructive engagement in achieving the groundbreaking outcome. It was extremely complex, but definitely worth it. We believe that the unanimous adoption of resolution 2719 (2023) by the Security Council sends a strong message of support from the international community to the indispensable role played by African countries, African regional economic communities and the African Union in ensuring peace and security on the continent. In a challenging moment for the multilateral system, especially regarding peacekeeping operations, the resolution offers innovative approaches that could inspire us to think outside the box in our search for solutions to the many international security crises we now face. I would like to emphasize that the focus on funding peace support operations should not overshadow other critical aspects in addressing Africa’s security challenges. Effective political strategies, especially those aimed at conflict prevention and at addressing the root causes of conflict, should be prioritized both by the United Nations and the African Union and their member States. We sincerely hope that the framework provided by the resolution will concretely benefit Africa and world security as a whole. Dame Barbara Woodward (United Kingdom): I want to start by appreciating the role and the work of Gabon, Ghana and Mozambique, working with the African Union Commission, in seeking to develop a framework for United Nations support to future operations led by the African Union (AU). It goes without saying that the United Kingdom recognizes the important role that African Union peace support operations can play in delivering peace and security in Africa. The United Kingdom voted in favour of today’s resolution 2719 (2023), which represents a significant breakthrough. As we look ahead, we recognize that more work will be needed to ensure that any future African Union-led operation can access the sustainable and predictable financing that it needs. And that requires clarity on financial and logistical burden- sharing arrangements between the United Nations, the African Union and other contributors, beyond elements for which contributors would already expect to receive reimbursement. We also want to ensure that the Security Council, given its mandate for international peace and security, is fully involved and consulted from the outset in the development of any peace support operation. That will help us work hand in hand with the AU Peace and Security Council to design accountable, effective and efficient missions of the future. And we very much look forward to working with Council colleagues in the coming months to cement today’s achievement and to ensure that we have a workable framework that enables African Union-led peace support operations to meet the peace and security challenges faced in Africa and help to silence the guns.

Malta voted in favour of resolution 2719 (2023) because we believe that a new season in peace operations missions needs to emerge within the Security Council. With this resolution, we acknowledge the changing nature of conflicts in Africa and the need to draw on a range of international responses to fit specific, complex operating environments and evolving threats. We will also open the way to peace enforcement when necessary, implementing a clear, robust and focused mandate, with a limited duration in time and an exit strategy that is defined at the outset. At the same time, we collectively affirm the primacy of politics and the need for coherent political strategies for peace support operations led by the African Union (AU), authorized by the Security Council. Those strategies will have a holistic approach and address the root causes of conflicts. With resolution 2719 (2023), we agree on a clear decision-making and authorization process. More important, we set a minimum of compliance standards that will characterize all future AU peace support operations missions. The protection of civilians will always be prioritized. We are also pleased to share that the African Union has significantly strengthened its international humanitarian law, human rights and conduct and discipline compliance framework, with the support of the European Union (EU). This framework resolution is a step forward from case-by-case resolutions that provide partial United Nations assessed contributions. We support the intention of the three African members of the Security Council to achieve a situation in which predictable funding is secured for AU peace support operations. We cannot deny that no agreement has been achieved yet on burden-sharing. Nevertheless, we consider the amended text, as adopted, as a compromise to move forward. On that point we must be clear: the responsibility for the funding of such missions should not rest with one country or one regional group alone. Ambitious actions demand collective efforts. Contributions for future AU peace support operations must come from all actors, as has been stated in the resolution for which we voted. As a European Union member State, let me now share the EU’s position on the resolution. The European Union supports the use of United Nations assessed contributions, in compliance with the relevant agreed standards and mechanisms. We welcome the commitment of the African Union, subregional organizations and its member States to contribute significantly to African Union-led peace support operations. Following today’s milestone operation, and building on our existing partnership, we look forward to working closely with the African Union and African member States in implementing resolution 2719 (2023).

We commend the three African members of the Security Council — Gabon, Ghana and Mozambique — for their active role in facilitating the negotiations on this significant framework resolution (resolution 2719 (2023)) on African Union peace support operations and for their continued engagement with all Member States in the Security Council. Albania voted in favour of this framework resolution and the amendment proposed by the United States because we believe that only by addressing in the best possible inclusive and holistic manner all key pertinent issues, such as the decision-making process, financial arrangements, burden-sharing and human rights compliance, will the resolution be properly implemented and bring about the intended and desired impact. Significantly, this framework resolution reaffirms the commitment to taking effective steps to advance the partnership between the United Nations and the African Union. In line with Chapter VIII of the Charter of the United Nations, that commitment extends to building greater regional and national ownership, while emphasizing the pivotal role of the Security Council in maintaining international peace and security. While more clarity and predictability on the burden-sharing of the part of the financing that may not be covered by assessed contributions will be needed, we nonetheless believe that this decision is one of the most consequential ones taken in years, with an expected important impact in crucial matters for peace and security in Africa and beyond.

We welcome the unanimous adoption of resolution 2719 (2023). Switzerland thanks the three African members (A3) of the Security Council  — Gabon, Ghana and Mozambique — for their efforts during the negotiation process on the resolution on funding for African Union-led peace support operations. The process began in May, under the Swiss presidency of the Security Council, during which we discussed the Secretary- General’s report on the subject (S/2023/303). It is an important step for the New Agenda for Peace. At the outset, Switzerland welcomed the A3’s initiative for a new Council decision to ensure predictable, sustainable and flexible funding for African Union-led peace support operations. To fulfil their mandates, peacekeeping missions must be able to rely on predictable, sustainable and flexible funding. That also applies to African Union-led peace support operations authorized by the Council. Switzerland has remained steadfast in its commitment to that end. In 2018, when the Council already began considering the issue, we co-sponsored the draft resolution. We have also done so today with the draft resolution submitted by the A3. During negotiations, Switzerland was keen to lend its support and play a constructive role in the negotiation process, aimed at promoting compromise among the positions. The resolution acknowledges the significant contributions of the African Union to the maintenance of international peace and security on the continent. It also acknowledges the significant progress and continuing efforts of the African Union in integrating and implementing international human rights law, international humanitarian law and standards of conduct and discipline. We now call on all parties to contribute to the best of their ability to the implementation of the framework resolution. In particular, we call on all to stand ready to find compromise in future negotiations on a case-by-case basis. This is a decisive step for the future of African Union-led peace support operations and a model for other organizations to promote peace and security on the continent.

China welcomes the unanimous adoption of resolution 2719 (2023), submitted by the three African members (A3) of the Security Council. China co-sponsored and voted in favour of it. Over the years, the African Union (AU) and African subregional organizations have been actively and independently carrying out peacekeeping operations and have made major contributions and sacrifices to maintain stability and silence the guns in Africa. The resolution supports the Security Council’s consideration, upon the request of the AU, of financing of AU peace support operations from United Nations assessed contributions on a case-by-case basis. That will help address the issue of funding, which has been a source of concern for African countries for many years, and will help deepen cooperation between the United Nations and the AU. I would like to highlight the following points. First, when we address the issue of financing AU peace support operations, it is important to embrace the fundamental principle of resolving African problems through African solutions. China proposed a number of views and recommendations during consultations, which have been constructively taken on board by the A3. We hope that, in the future, United Nations support for AU peace support operations will fully actualize the principle of African leadership and African ownership. Secondly, the protection of human rights is part of peacekeeping operations’ mandates, and we should not harbour preconceived or biased views of AU peace support operations. The Council’s future deliberations on financing AU peace support operations should not be linked to human rights issues. Thirdly, China advocates for strengthened cooperation between the AU and the United Nations on the issue of funding so that valuable resources can be used when they are most needed in Africa. Developed donor countries that have traditionally given in the past should not decrease their level of support. Funding for AU peace support operations should also be considered holistically in tandem with United Nations peacekeeping operations. We support streamlining and optimizing some of the United Nations peacekeeping operations to avoid the wasteful duplication of resources. China has long been a staunch supporter of addressing African issues with African solutions and has provided financial and material support through bilateral and multilateral channels to strengthen Africa’s autonomous peacekeeping capacity. China stands ready to work with all countries to continue to make greater contributions to maintaining peace and stability in Africa.

I would like to start by thanking and congratulating the three African members (A3) of the Security Council for their initiative in crafting this important resolution (resolution 2719 (2023)). It truly shows African ownership. Japan voted in favour of it, since we believe that the resolution will contribute to addressing the perennial challenge of enhancing the predictability, sustainability and flexibility of financing African Union-led peace support operations, and thereby support and promote the ownership of African countries in their efforts for the sustainable resolution of conflicts in Africa. From now on, the Council will consider on a case-by-case basis requests from the African Union Peace and Security Council for financing AU peace support operations under Chapters VII and VIII of the Charter of the United Nations to access United Nations-assessed contributions with certain conditions. Japan fully engaged in the consultations to ensure that the established mechanism will be rightly placed in the United Nations collective security system, and we believe the points that we made throughout the process should be highlighted for future consideration of any specific authorization of AU peace support operations as well. Those points include the prioritization of conflict prevention, the peaceful settlement of disputes, close United Nations-AU coordination in joint planning and mandating, appropriate burden-sharing, proper oversight and accountability and the strict observance of the human rights due diligence policy, as well as the conduct and discipline compliance framework. In particular, we saw divergent views during the negotiations on how to share the costs between the United Nations and the AU. In that regard, Japan proposed clear language, which reflects the AU’s stronger ownership in operationalizing prospective AU peace support operations. This framework resolution lays out general guidelines for the future course of actions for the Security Council and the AU Peace and Security Council. The details will need to be further elaborated in each case of an authorization of an AU peace support operation, including an appropriate burden-sharing model. We remain committed to further consultations with all stakeholders on possible assistance to AU peace support operations.

The United Arab Emirates welcomes today’s unanimous adoption of resolution 2719 (2023). We joined our colleagues the African members of the Security Council in support of the resolution because it marks a historic milestone in our collective pursuit of global peace and security. Throughout the process, the United Arab Emirates stood firmly in support of the African position, and our vote in favour of today’s amendment was to ensure that the resolution could ultimately be adopted. The resolution breaks new ground and signifies a pivotal shift in the collaborative efforts between the African Union (AU) and the United Nations. By agreeing to consider, on a case-by-case basis, requests from the AU Peace and Security Council seeking authorization for AU-led peace support operations, the Security Council has demonstrated in action what it has articulated in words many times over: regional solutions for regional challenges. The historic adoption today demonstrates the growing recognition of the African Union’s role as a key partner and its capacity to lead peace support operations on the African continent. AU-led peace support operations are critical. By recognizing the pressing need for collective action in addressing complex security challenges, the resolution underscores the imperative for a robust and sustainable financial mechanism to support the AU’s efforts towards the prevention, management and resolution of conflicts on the continent. Empowering the AU in that endeavour is a strategic investment in the global pursuit of peace and security in Africa. I extend my sincere congratulations to the African Union, its member States and all those who worked tirelessly towards this ground-breaking achievement. It is our hope that the resolution will serve as a catalyst for continued partnership in seeking a more peaceful and prosperous future for the peoples of Africa.

The Russian Federation supported the framework draft resolution (resolution 2719 (2023)) submitted by our colleagues the three African members of the Security Council  — Ghana, Gabon and Mozambique  — on financing African Union-led peacekeeping operations. We are consistent in our support for the independent efforts of African States to maintain peace and security on the continent. We favour the progressive development of cooperation between the United Nations and the African Union and subregional organizations on the basis of the principle of African solutions for African problems. The Russian Federation voted in favour of resolution 2719 (2023) because we are convinced that the key to the success of African operations lies in a sober assessment by the countries of the region of the existing threats and ways of addressing them, as well as their readiness to bear the risks involved in responding to challenges to peace and security. At the same time, it is important that African countries retain the freedom to make their own decisions with regard to the modalities for countering threats, regardless of any form of external financial assistance. We regret that, until the very last moment, that issue remained a stumbling block and weighed heavily during the negotiations process, the key goal of which was to reach a collective agreement on ways to improve the international community’s response to crisis situations in Africa. We believe that the States of the region have proven in practice — and continue to prove — the coherence and effectiveness of the pan-African command and control system, as well as their commitment to international standards in the area of human rights and international humanitarian law norms in the conduct of operations. It is fundamentally important that the resolution adopted today will increase the predictability, sustainability and flexibility of resources for the maintenance of peace and security on the African continent, with the African Union playing a leading role. With this decision, the Security Council expresses its confidence in the region’s leadership ability to address crises in Africa and their willingness to step up engagement with the United Nations in the interest of international peace and security. At the same time, the Security Council and the General Assembly retain their prerogatives under the Charter of the United Nations. We congratulate our African colleagues on the adoption of this resolution and thank them for their professionalism and hard work.

I shall now make a statement in my capacity as the representative of Ecuador. I begin by acknowledging the leadership of Gabon, Ghana and Mozambique in the negotiations process on resolution 2719 (2023), which the Security Council just adopted unanimously. Ecuador welcomes the adoption of this resolution, which acknowledges the role of peace support operations led by the African Union, while noting the need to empower and harmonize the efforts of the United Nations and the African Union in support of national and regional initiatives to address security challenges on the continent. That is in line with the Secretary-General’s New Agenda for Peace, which Ecuador supports. Ecuador therefore co-sponsored and voted in favour of the resolution, with a view to contributing to peace and security on the continent, and calls for it to be implemented responsibly. I now resume my functions as President of the Council. There are no more names inscribed on the list of speakers.