S/PV.9739 Security Council

In accordance with rule 39 of the Council’s provisional rules of procedure, I invite the following briefers to participate in this meeting: Mr. Parfait Onanga-Anyanga, Special Representative of the Secretary-General to the African Union and Head of the United Nations Office to the African Union; Her Excellency Ms. Fatima Kyari Mohammed, Permanent Observer of the African Union to the United Nations; and Ms. Martha Ama Akyaa Pobee, Assistant Secretary-General for Africa in the Departments of Political and peacebuilding Affairs and Peace Operations. The Security Council will now begin its consideration of the item on its agenda. I wish to draw the attention of Council members to document S/2024/629, which contains the report of the Secretary-General on strengthening the partnership between the United Nations and the African Union on issues of peace and security in Africa, including the work of the United Nations Office to the African Union. I now give the floor to Mr. Onanga-Anyanga. Mr. Onanga-Anyanga: I thank you, Madam President, for convening this important meeting on cooperation between the United Nations and regional organizations, including the African Union (AU), amid heightened global tensions that require the full attention of the Security Council. 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 (S/2024/629), provides an update on the key achievements and milestones in the strategic partnership between the United Nations and the African Union on issues of peace and security. It also outlines the serious challenges to peace and security across the continent and underscores the strategic importance, and indeed necessity, of the partnership between the United Nations and the African Union. The strategic partnership continues to go from strength to strength. We commend the Security Council and the Peace and Security Council of the African Union for prioritizing collaboration and information-sharing. We welcome the constructive and cordial deliberations at the most recent informal seminar and annual joint consultative meeting of the two Councils, held a year ago in Addis Ababa, and look forward to an equally productive meeting in two weeks’ time under the joint leadership of Switzerland and Egypt. During the reporting period, the two Councils also significantly increased the frequency of the monthly informal coordination meetings between the incoming President of the Security Council and the incoming Chairperson of the Peace and Security Council of the African Union, providing opportunities for enhanced synergies and complementarity. We also recognize the important role of the three African members of the Security Council, the A3, who provide a critical link between the two Councils. Special Representatives and Envoys of the United Nations and the African Union and other senior officials frequently briefed the two Councils, sometimes jointly, offering critical insights and analysis to inform decision-making. During the reporting period, the United Nations Office to the African Union and other United Nations entities also briefed the Peace and Security Council of the African Union on at least 30 occasions, including at meetings held at the level of Heads of State and Government. The two organizations also continue to meet in both formal and informal settings to share information and analysis and to coordinate responses to Africa’s peace and security challenges across the entire conflict cycle. That includes the annual conference between the Secretary-General and the Chairperson and other meetings of course, the high-level strategic dialogues co-chaired by the Deputy Secretary-General and the Deputy Chairperson of the Commission, meetings of the United Nations-African Union Joint Task Force on Peace and Security and the joint retreat of the United Nations and AU Special Representatives and Envoys in Africa. Staff-level collaboration between the two organizations also continues to be a major feature of the United Nations-AU partnership, allowing for joint analysis and planning, a recent example being the preparations for the successor arrangements for the African Union Transition Mission in Somalia and the joint consultations to unpack resolution 2719 (2023), on which Special Representative of the Secretary- General Pobee will provide an update shortly regarding the operationalization process. Moreover, the United Nations and the African Union are closely coordinating efforts to help to address the complex political transitions facing several countries, including through the Africa Facility to Support Inclusive Transitions, established by African Heads of State and Government. The foregoing, though not exhaustive, shows the effectiveness, dynamism and wide-ranging nature of the United Nations-AU partnership. As the Council is aware, several African countries and subregions continue to face significant challenges to achieving lasting peace, security and sustainable development. The Horn of Africa continues to be confronted with several destabilizing conflicts driven by political instability, territorial disputes and an ever-worsening humanitarian situation. The AU-Intergovernmental Authority on Development-United Nations collaboration in responding to those challenges remains essential for sustainable peace in the region. The conflict in the Sudan has resulted in a grave humanitarian emergency, leading to the largest forced displacement crisis in the world, involving more than 10 million people, of which more than 2 million have fled to neighbouring countries. We commend the sustained diplomatic efforts in recent months to end that deadly conflict. The African Union Commission-led expanded mechanism continues to be a useful coordination platform for joint messaging to the belligerents to prioritize inclusive civilian-led political solutions and to silence the guns. In the Sahel region, political instability and violence have intensified, while uncertainty characterizes transition processes in Burkina Faso, Guinea, Mali and the Niger. Burkina Faso, Mali and the Niger have decided to withdraw their membership of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) and to establish a new Alliance of Sahel States. The United Nations and the African Union are working to enhance their collective support in advancing democratic transitions in the region, working closely with ECOWAS. More broadly, we welcome the informal engagements between the Peace and Security Council of the African Union and the countries in political transitions aimed at facilitating their return to constitutional order, including just recently in Gabon. In the Great Lakes region, the 30 July ceasefire agreement between the Democratic Republic of the Congo and Rwanda, facilitated by Angola, has translated into a reduction in the fighting between parties to the conflict in North Kivu. I wish to commend President João Lourenço of Angola for his steadfast efforts through the Luanda process to restore peace and security in eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo. Continued regional and international support is crucial to sustain that milestone. We must remain attentive to the suffering of the civilian population who continue to face atrocities by armed groups and are forced to leave their homes. All groups must lay down their weapons and disarm. The commitment of the Member States of the Southern African Development Community (SADC) to support peace efforts through the deployment of the SADC Mission in the Democratic Republic of Congo is also commendable. The United Nations, through resolution 2746 (2024), and the African Union have reiterated their commitment to support those efforts. For sustainable peace to be restored in eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo and the region, addressing the root causes, including through political initiatives, such as the Luanda and the Nairobi processes and the quadripartite process facilitated by the African Union, is indeed a sine qua non. (spoke in French) The link between climate change, peace and security is an undeniable reality in Africa. The impact of climate change is putting the resilience of States that are already vulnerable to the test and exposing gaps in adaptation and the inadequacy of the response. Against that backdrop, we welcome the significant advances made by African States, for instance in Nairobi, where the process of formulating a common African position on climate, peace and security was finalized. The recent establishment of a climate, peace and security centre for the Horn of Africa by the United Nations will enable us to better support the efforts of the Intergovernmental Authority on Development, through an expanded partnership incorporating the African Union. The imminent deployment of a Climate, Peace and Security Adviser within the United Nations Office to the African Union  — which is being made possible thanks to the Climate Security Mechanism with the generous contribution of your country, Madam President, Switzerland — will also play a key role in deepening cooperation with the African Union in that area. With regard to the women and peace and security agenda, the United Nations continues to work closely with the African Union Commission, including on the promotion of women’s leadership and on the African Union Convention on Ending Violence Against Women and Girls, as well as on gender parity goals in African Union-led mediation processes. The partnership between the United Nations and the African Union draws its dynamism from a shared and enduring commitment to multilateralism. The Secretary-General is right in noting that the partnership is the cornerstone of effective multilateralism and essential to meeting the complex challenges of our time. Today’s meeting is taking place just 10 days after the adoption of the Pact for the Future (General Assembly resolution 79/1), which, among other things, pledges to strengthen cooperation between the United Nations and regional organizations in the maintenance of international peace and security. On that note, I would like to congratulate all Member States on their commitment and to acknowledge, in particular, the essential contribution of the Group of African States, with the assured support of the African Union Commission. That reaffirms Africa’s crucial role in promoting an effective, fair and inclusive multilateral system. (spoke in English) Allow me to make a few concluding comments. In spite of all the daunting challenges Africa still faces, there are reasons to remain optimistic. We can indeed build on the virtuous cycle of encouraging developments that are sparking a greater sense of hope in better outcomes. Those include Africa’s resilient people and resourceful women and youth, their stated preference for democratic rule against all odds, the recently gained Group of 20 membership, the newly adopted Pact for the Future in furtherance of a networked and more effective multilateral system, just to mention a few. Knowing the special attention the Security Council gives to Africa, I have every reason to believe that we will all chose hope over despair and rally around a partnership that is purposeful, smarter and grounded in a fairer global environment, which can better support a genuine African renaissance. Finally, I would like to take this opportunity to pay special tribute to the African Union Commission, particularly Chairperson Moussa Faki Mahamat, for his wise leadership and his dedication to the United Nations-AU partnership, in which Commissioner Bankole Adeoye and my dear sister herself Ambassador Fatima Kyari Mohammed have also been instrumental. In that leadership team, the United Nations has greatly benefited from a dependable and like-minded partner in pursuit of the shared aspiration to build an enduring strategic and institutionalized partnership between our two organizations. As Chairperson Moussa Faki Mahamat nears the end of his term of office, I wish to renew my sincere gratitude for his steadfast support over the years and convey to him my very best wishes for the future.

I thank Mr. Onanga-Anyanga for his briefing. I now give the floor to Ms. Mohammed. Ms. Mohammed: I thank you, Madam President, for the opportunity to address the Council today. I congratulate you on assuming the presidency of the Council for the month of October. I would like to also thank Special Representative of the Secretary-General to the African Union Mr. Parfait Onanga-Anyanga for his briefing, and I look forward to the briefing by Assistant Secretary-General Martha Pobee. My colleagues and I work regularly and very closely with both of them. Over the years, the African Union (AU) and the United Nations have forged a strong and dynamic partnership, focused on promoting peace and security in Africa. As Council members just heard, that collaboration is based on an understanding that global and regional organizations must unite to address Africa’s key priorities, while leveraging its growing potential for economic growth and innovation and its young population, all of which highlight the continent’s human capital and offer significant opportunities for development and prosperity. The collaboration between the two institutions is founded on the principle of complementarity in recognition of the fact that no single entity can fully tackle current and future security challenges alone. In that framework, the AU utilizes its capacity, expertise and proximity to prevent and resolve conflicts, while depending on the United Nations political legitimacy, experience and support to achieve its peace and security goals. Consequently, as the partnership between the AU and United Nations continues to grow, we also look forward to the upcoming eighteenth annual joint consultative meeting between the African Union Peace and Security Council (AUPSC) and the Security Council and their ninth informal joint seminar, as well as the seventh meeting of the AUPSC-United Nations Peacebuilding Commission (PBC) in the coming days. The frequent interactions between the President of the Security Council and the Chairperson of the AUPSC are aimed at better aligning the goals and efforts of both Councils. In that regard, the AU is also eager to implement the joint working methods between the two Councils, which will facilitate the harmonization of efforts and improve coordination to tackle peace and security challenges across Africa. Since the Joint United Nations–African Union Framework for Enhanced Partnership in Peace and Security was signed in April 2017 by Secretary- General António Guterres and the Chairperson of the AU Commission Moussa Faki Mahamat, the AU Commissioner for Political Affairs, Peace and Security and the Under-Secretaries-General for Political and Peacebuilding Affairs, Peace Operations, and Operational Support have maintained their collaboration through the AU-United Nations Joint Task Force on Peace and Security challenges in Africa. In addition, our technical teams have continued to strengthen AU-United Nations desk-to-desk and joint technical-level working group engagements, fostering sustained policy dialogue, horizon-scanning and clustered meetings for the prevention, management and resolution of conflict. The Chairperson of the AU Commission is also looking forward to welcoming the Secretary-General to the eighth annual conference between the two institutions in the coming days. The event will review the progress made in our cooperation on peace, security and development, while highlighting the achievements of the AU’s Agenda 2063 and the United Nations Agenda 2030. Given the evolving security landscape in Africa and instances in which United Nations peacekeeping might not be suitable, it is crucial to recognize that AU- led peace support operations, including enforcement actions, contribute to both regional and global peace and security efforts. In that context, the effective implementation of resolution 2719 (2023) is a top priority for both the Chairperson of the AU Commission and the Secretary-General. The framework provides an opportunity to build on the previous collaborative efforts between the institutions, and we look forward to discussions on that in the coming weeks. As our institutions continue to develop the modalities for fully operationalizing resolution 2719 (2023), we should utilize the complementarity benefits of General Assembly resolution 78/257, on investing in prevention and peacebuilding. That will ensure that, while enforcing peace and stabilizing conflict situations, we also focus on building the capacity of Member States to sustain peace. In that context, the Council and the PBC should identify countries where resolution 2719 (2023) can serve as the financing framework for peacebuilding efforts, thereby enhancing national capacity to consolidate the achievements of AU-led peace support operations. In addition, strengthened cooperation between the African Union Post-Conflict Reconstruction and Development Centre, based in Cairo, and the United Nations Peacebuilding Support Office is essential for implementing the United Nations-African Union memorandum of understanding on peacebuilding. The 2025 review of the peacebuilding architecture offers a valuable opportunity for enhanced collaboration in executing the AU’s revised policy on post-conflict reconstruction and development. In addition, the AU-United Nations joint framework on human rights, signed by the Chairperson of the AU Commission and the Secretary-General in November 2023, also underscores the shared commitment of both organizations to promoting and protecting human rights in Africa. The framework explicitly highlights the need to promote women’s full and equal participation in political, economic and social life, recognizes the critical role of young people in promoting peace, development and human rights and calls for their meaningful participation in decision-making processes at all levels. Addressing the inequalities faced by women and youth through targeted interventions and programmes are critical factors in addressing the root causes of conflict. That also builds on our collaborative efforts to enhance the AU human rights compliance framework for peace support operations, in partnership with the European Union. The increased involvement of the current three African members of the Security Council plus as co-penholders in key resolutions is crucial. The AU anticipates practical steps, including the initiation of text-based inter-governmental negotiations to prioritize Africa in the reform of the Security Council, as outlined in the Ezulwini Consensus and the Sirte Declaration. That is also in line with the Pact for the Future (General Assembly resolution 79/1), recently adopted by Heads of State and Government at the General Assembly during its seventy-ninth session. Our partnership is undoubtedly strong and effective, but it requires concerted multilateral efforts and flexibility to further enhance our ability to fulfil our mandates for continental and international peace and security. Only through enhanced joint efforts can both Councils and institutions effectively address the current peace and security priorities in Africa and, indeed, worldwide. As I conclude, permit me to emphasize that there are a number of key areas where increased collective efforts are required. Examples of those areas include redoubling our efforts in addressing the conflicts in the Sudan and the eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo, while managing rising tensions between neighbouring countries in some regions and consolidating gains in Mozambique and Somalia; combating the spread of violent extremism, including through peace, development and humanitarian efforts in the Sahel, the Lake Chad basin and West Africa; tackling the ongoing threat of piracy in the Gulf of Aden; managing prolonged political transitions in some AU member States and promoting civil-military relations; and, lastly, taking urgent action to support countries facing the dual challenges of climate change and conflict, while building the necessary resilience to effectively respond to climate-related security threats. The time has come for our two institutions to take bold, coordinated action to achieve our critical, shared objectives in Africa. Strengthening cooperation and collaboration, particularly on the ground, is necessary and must be prioritized. Delaying or failing to address the pressing need to prevent, manage and resolve the continent’s ongoing tensions and conflicts will only exacerbate the threats to broader global peace and security. We must therefore their seize this opportunity to recommit and to harness the full potential of both Councils and our respective institutions, while drawing on our collective strength, experience and resilience to create a lasting foundation for peace and stability — one that not only fosters development and economic growth in Africa but also contributes to a more secure and prosperous world. The responsibility we carry is immense, and the stakes are too high for hesitation.

I thank Ms. Mohammed for her briefing. I now give the floor to Ms. Pobee. Ms. Pobee: The unanimous adoption of resolution 2719 (2023) marked a major milestone in the partnership between the African Union (AU) and the United Nations. It built on the enduring relationship between the two organizations, taking into account their respective strengths and comparative advantages. Through that resolution, the Security Council responded to long- standing calls, including by the Secretary-General, to support AU-led peace support operations, such as peace enforcement and counter-terrorism operations, with mandates from the Council and through United Nations assessed contributions, on a case-by-case basis. Since the adoption of resolution 2719 (2023), the Secretariat has intensified its collaboration with the African Union Commission. As a result, significant progress has already been achieved towards the operationalization of the resolution. We worked to develop a common understanding of the resolution and its implications for both the African Union and the United Nations. The focus of our collective work was on achieving greater institutional and operational readiness to ensure its effective implementation. In that regard, we established a United Nations-African Union Joint Task Force on Peace and Security, comprised of representatives from all relevant entities within both the Secretariat and the Commission, to shepherd the process. Meetings were held at the senior and technical levels. The United Nations-African Union Joint Task Force met at the technical level twice, first in Addis Ababa from 23 to 24 May and then in New York from 29 to 31 July. The Joint Task Force has also held a series of virtual consultations. During those consultations, the United Nations-African Union Joint Task Force team discussed four key areas. The first area was joint planning, decision-making and reporting. A shared understanding has emerged within the Secretariat and the Commission of the need for close working relations between the Peace and Security Council of the African Union and the United Nations Security Council. Such collaboration is crucial to ensure smooth joint planning and the rapid deployment of AU-led peace operations under resolution 2719 (2023). We are also developing joint planning processes building on our shared experience and taking into account the existing collaboration platforms between our two organizations. In that regard, we look forward to the outcome of the joint consultation between the two Councils later this month, when resolution 2719 (2023) will be discussed. The second area was mission support. There was a recognition that the operational sustainment of African Union-led peace operations requires enhanced collaboration on operational support. It also requires a review of operational frameworks and modalities to ensure that they are fit for purpose to meet the demands of rapid deployment. The third area was financing and budgeting. Financial considerations and arrangements must feature prominently throughout the planning implementation phases, from start-up to mission closure, and be compliant and consistent with resolution 2719 (2023). The fourth area was human rights compliance, conduct and discipline and the protection of civilians. Compliance with international human rights and humanitarian law and applicable standards of conduct and discipline, as well as the prioritization of the protection of civilians, are requirements laid out by the Security Council for any African Union-led operations accessing United Nations assessed contributions. The implementation of resolution 2719 (2023) will no doubt present complex challenges in that regard, specifically when it comes to peace enforcement missions, owing to the inherent risks. The Joint Task Force agreed on a draft African Union-United Nations road map on the operationalization of resolution 2719 (2023). That draft road map builds on decades of shared lessons learned, operational experience and collaboration between the two organizations. We recognize that strengthening the institutional and operational readiness of the Secretariat and the Commission will be an ongoing process. The road map will therefore serve as a framework for continuously strengthening overall performance and impact. The Secretary-General and the Chairperson of the African Union Commission are expected to endorse the draft road map at their annual conference in Addis Ababa later this month. The African Union and the United Nations have adopted a flexible and forward-leaning approach to institutional and operational readiness for the implementation of resolution 2719 (2023). In that regard, the full implementation of the joint African Union-United Nations road map, once officially endorsed by the Secretary-General and the Chairperson of the African Union Commission, does not constitute a prerequisite for implementing resolution 2719 (2023) in a specific context. Accordingly, should the Peace and Security Council of the African Union decide to mandate an African Union-led peace support operation and should the Security Council decide to authorize it under the resolution 2719 (2023) framework, the African Union Commission and the Secretariat will be ready to launch and support that peace operation. A possible first test-case for the implementation of the resolution 2719 (2023) framework is currently being discussed. Indeed, based on resolution 2748 (2024), the African Union Commission and the Secretariat, in consultation with the Federal Government of Somalia and the relevant international and regional stakeholders and partners, are jointly planning for the successor mission to the African Union Transition Mission in Somalia and the African Union Support and Stabilization Mission in Somalia. As requested by the Security Council, we are preparing a report that articulates clearly a range of options for financing the latter Mission, including but not limited to, the framework established by resolution 2719 (2023), other suitable alternatives or some combination of those options. We will also provide an update to the Council on the status of the implementation of resolution 2748 (2024) on 10 October. More broadly, a report on the overall implementation of resolution 2719 (2023) will be submitted by the end of the year. The report will provide further details on this new and critical aspect of the partnership between the African Union and the United Nations. The support of the Council, as well as that of the States members of the African Union and the wider United Nations membership, will remain essential for the successful deployment of an African Union-led peace support operation under the resolution 2719 (2023) framework. Together, the African Union Commission and the Secretariat stand ready to translate resolution 2719 (2023) into tangible actions that would contribute to lasting peace and stability on the African continent beyond.

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

I have the honour to deliver this statement on behalf of the three African members of the Security Council plus (A3+), namely, Algeria, Mozambique, Guyana and my country, Sierra Leone. We thank Special Representative of the Secretary- General Parfait Onanga-Anyanga, Ambassador Fatima Kyari Mohammed and Assistant Secretary-General Martha Ama Akyaa Pobee for their important and comprehensive briefings. We thank the Secretary- General for his annual report (S/2024/629) and commend his continued personal leadership in strengthening and deepening one of the most critical partnerships of our time: the cooperation between the United Nations and the African Union (AU). This partnership, rooted in the 2017 Joint United Nations-African Union Framework for Enhanced Partnership in Peace and Security, stands as a testament to the spirit of Article 53 of the Charter of the United Nations. The continued recognition of the enduring validity of Article 53 is evident in Action 21 of the recently adopted Pact for the Future (General Assembly resolution 79/1), in which the Group of African States played a pivotal role. Continued cooperation between the United Nations and the AU is essential to achieving the vision of collaboration and collective action outlined in the New Agenda for Peace, which is founded on the principles of trust, solidarity and universality. Allow me to highlight some of the key strategic and pressing issues in the report that define this partnership and shape the path ahead. First, implementing resolution 2719 (2023) in a balanced and realistic manner remains a top priority. The resolution marks a significant step forward towards providing adequate, predictable and sustainable financing for African Union-led peace support operations. As highlighted by Assistant Secretary-General Pobee, significant efforts have been made to translate that agreement into actionable policy. We commend the collaborative efforts of the United Nations-AU Joint Task Force on Peace and Security, which developed a road map centred on four key workstreams, aimed at preparing both organizations to effectively activate and operationalize resolution 2719 (2023) on a case-by-case basis. Supporting the AU in that manner is not just about providing resources; it empowers Africa to develop the capacity to resolve its own conflicts and sustain peace on its own terms. As co-penholders and Africa’s voice on the Council, the A3+ will continue to play a leading role and take a keen interest in the implementation and refinement of this critical tool in our peace and security toolbox. That brings me to my second point, namely, the importance of African ownership, embodied in the principle of African solutions to African challenges. Despite immense challenges, the AU has consistently demonstrated its capacity to leverage its comparative advantages and act as the first responder to the continent’s security threats, whether through mediation efforts or the deployment of peace support operations. As we commemorate two decades of the AU Peace and Security Council, it is crucial to ensure that the African Peace and Security Architecture be equipped with the agency, resources and political support needed to effectively shape the continent’s security landscape. That effort includes reflecting Africa’s positions into the deliberations of the Security Council, whether in establishing mandates for United Nations peacekeeping operations, reviewing sanctions regimes, sequencing mediation efforts or coordinating humanitarian interventions across the region. Thirdly, let us reaffirm that political solutions are at the core of sustainable peace. Governance deficits, unconstitutional changes of Government and political exclusion remain root causes of instability in many regions, particularly in the Sahel. In that regard, strengthening inclusive, accountable governance and upholding the rule of law are essential to breaking cycles of violence. It is equally crucial to ensure that women, youth and marginalized communities are not only participants in the dialogue, but that they are empowered to lead it, making them not just beneficiaries of peace but also its architects. Let me briefly turn to challenges that demand the urgent and sustained attention of our partnership. There is an urgent need to address the humanitarian crisis in conflict hotspots across the continent, with the Sudan standing out as a critical emergency. The United Nations-AU partnership must continue to lead humanitarian response efforts, ensuring that aid and shelter reach those in need. Moreover, we must address the persistent threat of terrorism and violent extremism, which affects nearly every region of the continent, particularly the Sahel region of West Africa. That issue, along with vigilance towards addressing its evolving forms, must remain a top priority on our partnership’s agenda. Last but not least, when addressing security, we must not overlook the growing and adverse impact of climate change on peace and development in Africa. Our partnership must continue to prioritize innovative solutions that mitigate the environmental drivers of conflict and strengthen resilience in vulnerable communities. Against that backdrop of multiple, intersecting and immediate challenges in a volatile global context, it is imperative that we continually fine-tune, evolve and deepen the coordination mechanisms of our partnership. In that regard, we acknowledge the continued consolidation of various modes of interaction between the two organizations, including the monthly informal coordination meetings between the incoming President of the Security Council and the incoming Chairperson of the AU Peace and Security Council, as well as the joint retreat of AU and United Nations Special Representatives and Envoys. We also look forward to engaging with the African Union Peace and Security Council under your presidency, Madam President, at the upcoming eighteenth joint annual consultative meeting and ninth informal annual joint seminar, where we anticipate comprehensive discussions on the guidelines and modalities for implementing resolution 2719 (2023). In addition, we will closely follow the eighth United Nations-African Union annual conference between the Secretary-General and the Chairperson of the African Union Commission. To conclude, the A3+ reiterates its firm belief that the true value of the United Nations-AU partnership will be fully realized when the continent is represented, with equal rights and responsibilities, in this very body, through the long-overdue and pressing reform of the Security Council.

I thank Special Representative of the Secretary- General Onanga-Anyanga, Ambassador Mohammed and Assistant Secretary-General Pobee for their comprehensive briefings. The Republic of Korea shares the view of the Secretary-General that strong partnerships between the United Nations and regional organizations are the bedrock of effective multilateralism. Such partnerships are essential in addressing today’s complex challenges. The foundation of the partnership between the United Nations and the African Union (AU) has grown in scope and depth over the years. The upcoming eighteenth annual joint consultative meeting between the Security Council and the AU Peace and Security Council will provide a valuable opportunity for the two Councils to further strengthen the partnership. In that vein, I would like to make three points. First, supporting and collaborating with regional peace initiatives is crucial to finding lasting political solutions to conflicts in Africa. The impact of the ongoing conflicts in the Sudan, the Sahel, the eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo, Somalia and South Sudan extends beyond the countries themselves. Recent developments such as the support of the United Nations Organization Stabilization Mission in the Democratic Republic of the Congo to the Southern African Development Community Mission in the Democratic Republic of Congo, the United Nations- Intergovernmental Authority on Development-AU trilateral task force’s support to peace process in South Sudan and the United Nations-Economic Community of West African States-AU joint mission in Sierra Leone, to mention a few, are promising examples of effective collaboration between the United Nations and the region. We believe that such strong partnerships with regional actors will enable both the United Nations and the AU to bolster coordinated diplomacy and leverage their comparative advantages. Secondly, we must build on the enhanced role and ownership of Africa in peace operations. That is particularly relevant in addressing threats that go beyond the scope of traditional United nations peacekeeping, as well as in the context of resolution 2719 (2023), adopted last year. We commend the collaboration between the United Nations task force, led by the Department of Peace Operations, and the AU Commission in developing a road map to determine the way forward for implementing the resolution. However, identifying common issues is only the first step. More work is needed to develop detailed guidelines for joint planning, decision-making and the standards for financing and budgeting. We encourage the Secretariat to reach the highest level of preparedness so that resolution 2719 (2023) can be effectively utilized. Thirdly, conflict prevention and sustaining peace, which address the root causes and drivers of conflict, should be prioritized to further strengthen the United Nations-AU partnership. At the recent Peacebuilding Commission (PBC) meeting at ministerial level, we emphasized the importance of strengthening partnerships between the PBC and regional organizations. Korea believes that the AU’s participation in all PBC meetings since last May will significantly contribute to enhancing Africa’s regional and national ownership, especially in relation to the current trends in the transitions of peace operations. We also commend the deepened collaboration between the United Nations and AU on climate, peace and security, and we anticipate the development of common positions. Korea will continue to support the advancement of that agenda, particularly in the Sahel, where the adverse effects of climate change are evident, through our financial support for a climate, peace and security adviser to the United Nations Office for West Africa and the Sahel. Support for an effective African peace and security architecture, including mechanisms for early warning, conflict prevention, mediation, peace support operations and post-conflict reconstruction, is consistent with the principles of Chapter VIII of the Charter of the United Nations. The Republic of Korea remains dedicated to supporting the peace and security initiatives of the AU, including through a financial contribution of $5 million this year. We reaffirm our commitment, made at the inaugural Korea-Africa Summit, held in June in Seoul, to building a future together with Africa, on the basis of shared growth, sustainability and solidarity.

I thank Special Representative of the Secretary-General Onanga-Anyanga, Ambassador Mohammed of the Permanent Observer Mission of the African Union (AU) and Assistant Secretary-General Pobee for their briefings. We know that strong partnerships between the African Union and the United Nations are vital to addressing our shared global challenges. For that reason, the United States was proud last year to vote in favour of resolution 2719 (2023), which marked a historic step towards expanding the international community’s toolkit for addressing threats to peace and security in Africa. While we recognize the critical need to enhance the sustainability and predictability of financing for AU missions, the resolution and the framework it authorizes are much more than a mere funding mechanism. They are an opportunity for an even stronger partnership between the AU and the United Nations and a new means of supporting African leadership. The United States commends the joint efforts of the AU and the United Nations to produce a road map for building the architecture needed to deploy this tool in a conflict setting. As we move forward, it will be critical that we establish and align joint frameworks and implementation processes on human rights, conduct and discipline, accountability for performance, legal and regulatory processes, procurement, vetting, budgets and administration for all AU-led peace support operations. It will also be key to establish a framework for the AU and the United Nations to jointly mobilize 25 per cent of any mission’s annual budgetary needs. Finally, we must ensure that processes are in place for the missions to apply the provisions under the resolution 2719 (2023) framework in order to prioritize the protection of civilians and to contribute to political solutions to conflict. The frameworks and processes are the foundation for ensuring that missions are accountable to States Members of the United Nations and donors, and, critically, to the local populations they serve. We must take up that work together. We must ensure that these conditions for success are met before the first mission is deployed so as to uphold the credibility of the new tool. People will be watching the first applications of the missions closely. And so, getting that right will be key, so we can maintain international confidence in, and support for, the tool in the long run. Early successes will also pave the way for future action and for efforts to expand the range of options available to the Council for addressing peace and security crises. While we know that United Nations peacekeeping missions remain an effective and proven tool for addressing conflicts, we understand that they are not the most appropriate intervention for every crisis. In some cases, the AU may be able to respond more effectively, with a greater vested interest in, and knowledge of, the challenge at hand. But just as United Nations peacekeeping missions are not a panacea for resolving conflicts, AU-led missions are not a perfect solution for addressing all African crises. Durable peace comes through inclusive political processes, which require courageous leadership and sustained commitment from the AU, the United Nations, host Governments, Member States and parties to conflicts. Resolution 2719 (2023) was an act of hope in the power of the AU-United Nations partnership, in the possibility for peace and in African solutions for African problems. We must make the resolution real through implementation. The United States is fully committed to that work, and we look forward to continuing the conversation during the annual joint consultative meetings between the AU Peace and Security Council and the United Nations Security Council later this month.

I thank Special Representative Onanga-Anyanga, Ms. Mohammed and Assistant Secretary-General Pobee for their respective briefings. Over the years, the ties of communication and cooperation between the United Nations and the African Union (AU) have grown ever stronger, representing one of the most enduring, comprehensive and fruitful partnerships. Recently, at the Summit of the Future (see A/79/PV.3) and the general debate of the General Assembly at its seventy-ninth session, many Member States called on the United Nations to strengthen cooperation with the AU and other regional organizations. Going forward, the United Nations and the African Union should make further efforts in the following four areas. First, there is a need to end conflicts and violence in Africa and safeguard common security. At present, protracted conflicts are raging, from the Sudan to the eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo, and terrorism is wreaking havoc from the Horn of Africa to the Sahel. In the light of that, the Security Council and the international community at large must increase their attention on, and engagement in, Africa, rather than allowing it to be diluted by other situations. The United Nations presence in Africa, especially in the form of peacekeeping operations and special political missions, must heed the views of host countries, focus on fulfilling core mandates and effectively improve its performance and efficiency. Later this month, the Security Council will hold its annual consultations with the AU Peace and Security Council. We hope that both Councils will chart a clearer way forward for better communication and cooperation and the maintenance of common security. Secondly, there is a need to support African-led peace support operations and deepen cooperation on an equal footing. Africa is experiencing a new awakening. The AU is undertaking more independent peace support operations, assuming regional security responsibilities and making important contributions to the maintenance of regional and international peace. All those efforts should be fully recognized and supported. Ensuring adequate, predictable and sustainable funding for AU-led peace operations is an inherent part of the United Nations-AU partnership. The framework arrangements laid out in resolution 2719 (2023) should be operationalized as soon as possible. Thirdly, there is a need to eliminate the root causes of conflict in Africa and promote common development. Poverty and war are by no means Africa’s destiny. On the contrary, being blessed with unique resources, Africa has all the potential to become a promising land of development. Mozambique and Sierra Leone used to be on the Council’s agenda. Now both countries are steadily moving towards peace and prosperity and can offer valuable experience and serve as role models in promoting peace processes, dialogue and reconciliation, in addition to reconstruction and development. When addressing conflicts in Africa, the United Nations should not only deliver stability in the short term, but also focus on the long term and make greater efforts to help host countries achieve sustainable development. Developed countries should earnestly honour their commitments to African countries regarding official development assistance and climate finance and scale up technology transfer and knowledge-sharing. Fourthly, there is a need to improve the global governance system and redress the historical injustice done to Africa. African countries have emerged from colonial rule and achieved national independence. Their membership has transformed the United Nations and significantly expanded the universality of the Organization. However, the current international order is still shaped by elements that are unfair and unreasonable with respect to African countries. True equality in access to rule-making, opportunities and power remains elusive. During the general debate of the General Assembly at its seventy-ninth session, African leaders called for reform of the global governance system to be accelerated in order to undo the historical injustice that Africa has suffered for so long. China fully understands and firmly supports Africa’s just demands. We have always advocated for greater representation and voice for developing countries, especially African States, in the global governance system. We support the reform of the international financial architecture, so that multilateral financial institutions can provide more support for Africa’s development. With respect to the reform of the Security Council, China supports making special arrangements in order to address Africa’s aspirations as a matter of priority. Agenda 2063 of the African Union has set out Africa’s vision for modernization and the continent’s willingness to work with the United Nations and other multilateral organizations to address the most pressing challenges facing humankind, such as security threats, poverty, hunger, disease, gender inequality, climate change and development. China will continue to actively support the United Nations and the Security Council in strengthening cooperation with the AU. We remain committed to advancing hand in hand with Africa along its path to modernization. At the Beijing Summit of the Forum on China-Africa Cooperation, held last month, Chinese and African leaders elevated the overall characterization of China-Africa relations to an all-weather community with a shared future for the new era. Standing at that new historical starting point, China stands ready to work with African countries to implement the outcome of the Summit and launch the 10 partnership actions for modernization to deepen China-Africa cooperation and jointly march towards a peaceful, secure and prosperous future.

I thank Special Representative of the Secretary-General Onanga-Anyanga, Permanent Observer of the African Union (AU) to the United Nations, Ambassador Mohammed and Assistant Secretary-General Pobee for their insightful briefings. The partnership between the United Nations and the African Union has been growing stronger over the years in maintaining international peace and security, with regular meetings and briefings by senior officials of the respective organizations to the AU Peace and Security Council and the Security Council. However, considering the complexity and multilayered challenges that the continent faces, more should be done to improve that partnership. Today, I want to highlight three points. First, further coordination and cooperation among the United Nations, the AU, regional economic communities, regional mechanisms and international partners are essential. Japan welcomes the ongoing efforts, such as the initiative to develop new mechanisms for strategic coordination within the context of the African Union-United Nations Framework for the Implementation of Agenda 2063 and the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, in addition to other coordinating initiatives in the Sudan, South Sudan, the Great Lakes region and Libya, as illustrated in the Secretary-General’s report (S/2024/629). Japan advocates for such cooperation to be strengthened. It also appreciates the facilitating and coordinating role of the three African members of the Security Council on issues of particular interest to Africa in the Council. On that note, Japan reaffirms its strong support for the Common African Position on Security Council reform. Furthermore, we voted in favour of resolution 2719 (2023), which addresses the perennial challenge of enhancing the predictability, sustainability and flexibility of financing for AU-led peace support operations. We look forward to having a frank discussion on its implementation with our AU Peace and Security counterparts during the informal joint seminar to be held later this month. One of the points Japan highlighted throughout the negotiation process in considering any specific authorization of AU-led peace support operations was the prioritization of conflict prevention and the peaceful settlement of disputes. That brings me to my second point, namely, conflict prevention. Once a conflict occurs, its impact is devastating, and the political, social, economic and humanitarian costs are high. As the name of the Ad Hoc Working Group of the Security Council on Conflict Prevention and Resolution in Africa denotes, conflict prevention should take centre stage in the regular exchanges and cooperation initiatives of both organizations. Especially now that the Pact for the Future (General Assembly resolution 79/1) has been adopted by consensus, reaffirming our commitment to preventative diplomacy and recognizing the importance of partnerships between the United Nations and regional and subregional organizations to prevent and resolve conflicts, more can and should be done. Conflict prevention should be incorporated into discussions at all levels and all forums within and outside the United Nations, including the Peacebuilding Commission, the AU, subregional mechanisms and regional and international financial institutions, in order to implement preventive measures on the ground. The same goes for thematic issues, such as women and peace and security; youth, peace and security; human rights; the rule of law; security sector reform; and sustainable development. Thirdly, we must recognize the impact of climate change on peace and security in Africa. As shown in recent catastrophic droughts and floods that hit the continent, the adverse effects of climate change amplify existing security risks. That, in turn, could fuel violence, including between farmers and herders, and could also increase recruitment by terrorist or violent extremist groups. Cooperation between the United Nations and the AU on those issues has been deepening, and the AU member States are developing the common African position on climate change, peace and security, which Japan welcomes. It is high time for the Security Council to incorporate climate, peace and security in our deliberations and to deepen dialogue and enhance partnership between the United Nations, the AU and regional frameworks.

We are grateful to the Assistant Secretary- General, Ms. Martha Pobee, the Special Representative of the Secretary-General, Mr. Parfait Onanga-Anyanga, and the Permanent Observer of the African Union (AU) to the United Nations, Ms. Fatima Kyari Mohammed, for their briefings. The Russian Federation welcomes the comprehensive strengthening of the strategic partnership between the United Nations and the African Union. Given the spread of drivers of instability and of armed conflicts in Africa, well-coordinated and effective efforts by the two organizations are of paramount importance for millions of people. At the forefront of cooperation between the United Nations and the AU are efforts to enhance the existing partnership on responding to threats to peace and security on the African continent. Over the past few years, a great deal has been achieved. African countries, with the support of the United Nations and the international community, have taken comprehensive measures to optimize crisis management tools, including prevention and response, preventive diplomacy and mediation, good offices and confidence-building measures. Africans have proven in practice that their readiness and capability to use those mechanisms to fight crises on their soil, where they have a better grasp of the situation, enjoy greater public trust and have greater operational potential. The collective task of the United Nations Member States is to fully support these efforts without imposing on national Governments any recipes divorced from reality and local specifics. We believe it is critical to continue our work so as to strengthen the partnership between the Security Council and the AU Peace and Security Council. The partnership is underpinned by the recognition that the Security Council bears primary responsibility for the maintenance of peace and security, as well as an understanding of how the efforts of the United Nations and the African Union complement one another, harnessing their comparative advantages of each on the basis of the Charter of the United Nations. We share the pan-African organization’s desire to make the dialogue between the Councils more concrete and livelier and to align their agendas on African issues. We believe that greater consideration of African interests could be enhanced by democratizing the penholdership within the Security Council, including through a more active involvement of the three African members of the Security Council (A3) in drafting documents on the relevant territorial files where the tone is currently set by external actors. That redistribution would help us to avoid situations where a former colonial Power directs the work on crafting products regarding peoples it used to exploit. Equally flagrant situations occur when such penholders are in charge of sanction dossiers, especially when those countries add illegal unilateral restrictions to sanctions. Russia’s principled position against restrictive measures taken in order to circumvent the Security Council is well known to all. Our assessment indicates that many of the Security Council sanctions regimes currently in force are at odds with the actual situation and thwart the plans of national Governments to engage in State-building or to establish effective armed forces and security structures. We remain convinced that this mechanism should be used to facilitate the work of the countries of the region. We recall that the African Union has repeatedly stated its position in favour of lifting restrictions, including unilateral restrictions, on African States. As a permanent member of the Security Council, we urge our colleagues to develop clear and realistic mandates for United Nations peacekeeping operations and special political missions. We underscore the need to ensure painstaking control over their implementation. When adopting mandate resolutions and Council decisions on issues of peace and security in Africa, we regularly coordinate our efforts with the A3. The AU’s consolidated position was fully considered when determining our approach in the context of recent discussions regarding the parameters for transforming the African Union Transition Mission in Somalia and the provision of United Nations assistance to the Southern African Development Community forces in the eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo. We are convinced that the AU can do better on this front. The deployment of the new AU Support and Stabilization Mission in Somalia (AUSSOM) will be an important milestone in the history of African peacekeeping. AUSSOM will continue to stabilize the situation in Somalia and the region, where Al-Shabaab still poses a serious threat. Unfortunately, despite the imminent launch of AUSSOM, the problem of funding the Mission has yet to be resolved. A key step in the development of African peacebuilding should be the practical implementation of the great potential represented by the framework resolution 2719 (2023). The key ingredients for success in that regard are consensus among the Africans themselves, especially in the region, the support of the Council and the unambiguous consent of the States on whose territory those forces are to operate. It is important that Africans have sufficient political space to define the practical parameters for countering threats, whatever forms of funding they receive from external actors. They should also be able to act independently and without being subjected to behind-the-scenes pressure from Western, extraregional Powers, which tend to pursue their own national interests. We stand convinced that strengthening the AU’s potential through cooperation with United Nations bodies is the key to success in ensuring stability in Africa. Peace and security in Africa are important not only for Africans, but also for the sustainable development of all continents and peoples. We look forward to meaningful and effective cooperation with our African counterparts during the upcoming joint activities between the two Councils in October.

At the outset, I wish to thank the briefers for their comprehensive contributions. The African Union (AU), subregional organizations in Africa and African countries have a key role in addressing peace and security challenges on the continent and globally. However, the interconnectedness of today’s security environment calls for our cooperation and united response. We strongly believe that strengthening partnerships between the United Nations and the AU can open new avenues to utilize our collective resources and expertise when looking for sustainable solutions to regional crises. We therefore welcome the organization of the ninth joint informal seminar and the eighteenth Annual Joint Consultative Meeting between members of the Security Council and the AU Peace and Security Council that will take place later this month. Such regular meetings serve as an important platform to discuss key challenges to peace and security in Africa, including the impacts of climate change on peace and security, the implementation of the women and peace and security and the youth, peace and security agendas and the continuous threat of terrorism, as well as to discuss the critical situations in the Sudan, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, the Great Lakes, the Sahel and Somalia. I am also happy to note that at the beginning of September, the Slovenian presidency of the Security Council also held a fruitful exchange with Ambassador Churchill Ewumbue-Monono of Cameroon, Chairperson of the AU Peace and Security Council, on the Councils’ respective programmes of work. In the Sudan, the unprecedented scale of forced displacement, the preventable hunger crisis and the threat of another genocide in Darfur call for our collective efforts to reach a ceasefire and stop this human-made humanitarian catastrophe. We continue to stand behind the mediation efforts of the Secretary- General’s Personal Envoy, Mr. Ramtane Lamamra, and his engagement with regional partners, including the AU and the Intergovernmental Authority on Development. Furthermore, as recently as this Monday, the Council was briefed (see S/PV.9736) on the continued deadly activities carried out by armed groups in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, leading to a high number of civilian casualties, massive displacement and widespread sexual and gender-based violence. That is another situation that demands our full attention and where regional processes call for our support and cooperation. The adoption of resolution 2746 (2024), authorizing the support of the United Nations Organization Stabilization Mission in the Democratic Republic of the Congo to the Southern African Development Community Mission in the Democratic Republic of Congo is an important step in that regard. We have also seen an example of regional leadership in paving the way towards peace. We therefore once again commend President Lourenço of Angola for his mediation efforts through the Luanda process. The joint United Nations-AU efforts in Somalia have provided invaluable support to the Somali security forces in their fight against Al-Shabaab. As we move forward, it is important to ensure that these security gains are preserved. We therefore stand ready to engage constructively in our upcoming discussions on the modalities for the follow-on mission to the African Union Transition Mission in Somalia. Climate-induced challenges worsen the fragile security situations in regions such as the Sahel and the Horn of Africa, where droughts, desertification and floods exacerbate existing vulnerabilities. They fuel conflicts over diminishing natural resources, exacerbate food insecurity and displace entire communities. We need a common and comprehensive response in order to tackle these challenges effectively. We therefore welcome the United Nations-AU partnership on climate, peace and security and the efforts to develop the common African position on climate change, peace and security. Adopting framework resolution 2719 (2023), on predictable financing of African Union-led peace support operations is a significant milestone in our efforts to further strengthen the strategic partnership between the United Nations and the AU in maintaining peace and security and to enhance local ownership of managing conflicts on the continent. We welcome the work of the United Nations and the AU in setting up the joint AU-United Nations road map to determine the way forward for the implementation of the resolution. We call for swift preparation of the groundwork and for continuous coordination, cooperation and information exchange between the United Nations and the AU in unpacking the resolution. In today’s interconnected world, we cannot achieve global peace and security without ensuring peace and security in Africa. Sustainable peace calls for an inclusive approach. We continue to advocate the full, equal, meaningful and safe participation of women in all our joint efforts to prevent and resolve conflicts and tackle their root causes. Only by working together can we silence the guns and fulfil our promise of leaving no one behind.

I thank Special Representative Onanga-Anyanga, Ambassador Mohammed and Assistant Secretary-General Pobee for their briefings today. I will make three points. First, the United Kingdom welcomes the leadership of the African Union (AU) in championing multilateralism and supporting stability and prosperity across Africa. We praise the AU’s work driving and sustaining peace and security on the continent and its focus on putting women and youth at the centre of peacemaking, peacekeeping and peacebuilding. We welcome African leadership in the Security Council and have long supported permanent African representation. Secondly, we reaffirm our support for the deepening cooperation and partnership between the United Nations and the AU to advance our shared objectives. That is especially evident in Somalia. We express our gratitude to the AU and troop-contributing countries who, with the coordination and input of the United Nations Support Office in Somalia, have worked tirelessly to improve security in Somalia through the African Union Transition Mission in Somalia (ATMIS). We look forward to receiving the proposals by the United Nations and AU, in consultation with Somalia and international stakeholders, finalizing the mission design for the successor of ATMIS, in line with resolution 2748 (2024). It is imperative that the final mission be financially viable and deliverable and that it support Somalia’s efforts to eventually assume full responsibility for and ownership of its security. Thirdly, we welcome the work of the joint United Nations-AU task force to prepare the implementation of resolution 2719 (2023), including in the critical areas of joint planning and decision-making, financing and budgeting, human rights compliance and the protection of civilians. Sustained close collaboration between the United Nations and the AU will be essential to ensure the success of resolution 2719 (2023). We encourage Member States to continue to support the AU in developing their frameworks. We look forward to receiving the joint road map, including a realistic assessment of needs and time frames, and we welcome the Council being kept updated on progress. In conclusion, the United Kingdom looks forward to further collaboration, cooperation and partnership between the United Nations and the AU. That will be vital to help silence the guns and tackle the greatest challenges and conflicts on the continent. We look forward to the consultations between the Security Council and the AU Peace and Security Council later this month.

Today I would like to highlight the importance that Ecuador attaches to the cooperation between the United Nations and the African Union (AU) in preventing conflict and promoting peace, development, human rights and the rule of law. The two organizations, united by common values and objectives, are natural partners, as explicitly underscored by the three informative briefings that we heard, for which I am grateful. Strengthening Africa’s voice in multilateral forums is crucial. The inclusion of African sherpas in the Group of 20 framework ensures that Africa’s needs and interests are directly heard. The African Union’s determination to silence the guns in Africa in the framework of Agenda 2063 deserves the full support of the international community. Ecuador, as President of the Security Council, decisively supported Gabon, Ghana and Mozambique  — the three African members of the Security Council  — last year in the adoption of the historic resolution 2719 (2023), which is an important step towards crystallizing the principle of African solutions to African problems. That resolution provides an opportunity to strengthen the African Union’s capacity to maintain the high standards required for the protection of civilians by observing international humanitarian law and human rights and preventing and responding to sexual exploitation and abuse, among others. It is necessary to operationalize resolution 2719 (2023) in its full scope and content. The adopted Pact for the Future (General Assembly resolution 79/1) reaffirms the interlinkages among the three pillars of the United Nations — peace and security, sustainable development and human rights  — and consequently, their achievement which is linked to prevention as a key component for peaceful societies. The Peacebuilding Commission (PBC) stresses the need to ensure comprehensive and coordinated approaches to peacebuilding, with prevention and national ownership as central pillars. That approach, which addresses the root causes of conflicts, is the right one, and that is why several African countries have taken advantage of the space provided by the PBC to share experiences, realities and best practices. The support of regional organizations is also key. The Economic Community of West African States, the Intergovernmental Authority on Development and the Southern African Development Community, just to mention a few, have implemented specific peacebuilding initiatives in their member countries, as is the case with regard to the conflict in the Sudan, the increasing insecurity in the Sahel and the elusive peace in the Democratic Republic of the Congo. We support the joint efforts undertaken by those subregional organizations with the African Union. It is necessary to continue strengthening their capacities to integrate prevention and improve early warning and mediation tools. In conclusion, I would like to underscore the cooperation and unity work undertaken by the three African members of the Security Council plus one to strengthen the strategic alliance and cooperation between the United Nations and the African Union Peace and Security Council. Ecuador is committed to increasing closer cooperation between the United Nations and the African Union to address security challenges and promote lasting and sustainable development in Africa.

I would like to thank Special Representative of the Secretary-General to the African Union and Head of the United Nations Office to the African Union Mr. Parfait Onanga-Anyanga, Ambassador Fatima Kyari Mohammed and Ms. Pobee for their briefings. First of all, I would like to underline the progress made since the most recent meeting of the Security Council on cooperation between the United Nations and the African Union (see S/PV.9435). A year ago, in this very Chamber, we called for greater cooperation between the two organizations to meet the challenges of peace and security. Our joint efforts, spearheaded by Ghana, Mozambique and Gabon, enabled us to adopt, in 2023, resolution 2719 (2023), which today provides a unique framework for the implementation of African peace operations, with the support of the United Nations. That is an important achievement, which France has supported at the highest level for many years. Today we must maintain our mobilization so that African peace operations can be implemented. I welcome the work that the United Nations and the African Union are currently undertaking to that end, as mentioned in previous statements. France stands ready to assist in this work and its tributaries. It will be important for the first implementation of resolution 2719 (2023) to be in line with the spirit of the resolution in order to avoid any hasty or inappropriate use, which could put the future of that model at risk. Cooperation between the United Nations and the African Union in the area of peace and security is the result of the complementary nature of the two organizations, in accordance with Chapter VIII of the Charter of the United Nations and the Pact for the Future, recently adopted by consensus (General Assembly resolution 79/1). I commend the African Union’s role in preventing and settling crises on the continent, in the Sudan, South Sudan, Somalia, the Democratic Republic of the Congo or Libya. That complementarity enables us to adapt to the state of the threat, jointly with the continent’s subregional organizations. Last July, Sierra Leone and France worked to authorize the United Nations Organization Stabilization Mission in the Democratic Republic of the Congo’s support to Southern African Development Community troops deployed in the eastern part of the Democratic Republic of the Congo. The unanimous adoption of resolution 2746 (2024) illustrates the Council’s consensus on that approach. The strengthening of cooperation between the United Nations and the African Union should help us to work towards greater representation of the African continent within the Council, including among the permanent members. France’s position is clear, historic and constant, as the President of the French Republic recalled at the General Assembly last week (see A/79/ PV.9). Africa can be the catalyst for that reform. We are listening to our partners so that concrete negotiations can begin without delay on a draft resolution. Finally, France looks forward to continuing the discussions on the partnership between the United Nations and the African Union as part of the consultations between the Security Council and the African Union Peace and Security Council to be held in New York on 17 and 18 October.

I thank Special Representative of the Secretary-General Onanga-Anyanga, Ambassador Mohammed and Assistant Secretary-General Pobee for their briefings. As we reconvene after last week’s Summit of the Future, we find ourselves at the right juncture to collectively commit to deepening strategic and institutional cooperation between the United Nations and the African Union (AU). Advancing peace in Africa requires a comprehensive and multidisciplinary approach, underpinned by the intrinsic link between peace and security, development and human rights. The Joint United Nations-AU Framework for Enhanced Partnership in Peace and Security underscores those shared objectives. Malta welcomes recent efforts in accelerating that partnership, including through the Joint Task Force on Peace and Security and, more recently, the Joint Framework on Human Rights. We commend the provision of technical and advisory support by the United Nations Office to the African Union (UNOAU) on advancing women’s role in peace processes and decision-making. That support is most notable to the AU’s high-level mission to the Democratic Republic of the Congo, to FemWise-Africa and the Panel of the Wise’s activities in Senegal, and for the participation of Sudanese women. We are encouraged that such initiatives to advance resolution 1325 (2000) are reinforced and broadened to other context-specific situations. During Malta’s presidency last April, we complemented those efforts by highlighting the exceptional work carried out by women mediators in the Great Lakes region, in collaboration with the AU. Our discussions highlighted women’s role as foremost promoters of peace and reconciliation despite the barriers they continue to face. We also welcome the increased United Nations-AU partnership on advancing the protection of children in armed conflict. That includes technical support from the United Nations to the AU on mainstreaming child protection in early warning and mediation, as well as developing a youth-led continental outreach campaign on the misuse of social media and other related risks for conflict-affected children. In the same vein, we acknowledge the AU’s efforts in ensuring the meaningful participation of young persons in peace and security efforts. That includes the adoption of the Continental Framework for Youth, Peace and Security. The Security Council can also help to empower African youth by mainstreaming youth considerations in peacekeeping mandates. Malta reiterates the importance of addressing climate-related peace and security risks, especially in Africa. As a threat multiplier, climate change manifests itself in many forms  — from increasing competition over natural resources to deepening food, water and energy insecurities, as well as other socioeconomic vulnerabilities. The development of the common African position on climate, peace and security is an effective tool in enhancing a shared understanding of the phenomenon. In parallel, it ensures that adaptation, mitigation and resilience take on a conflict-sensitive dimension. Malta strongly supports those initiatives. We greatly value the continuous engagement between the UNOAU and the AU, and regional economic mechanisms, such as the Economic Community of West African States, the Economic Community of Central African States, the Intergovernmental Authority on Development (IGAD) and the Southern African Development Community. We also welcome the trilateral cooperation that exists with the European Union (EU) to discuss issues of common interest and concern. Those regional engagements foster greater coherence, particularly on shared challenges. Such coordination is evident in Somalia, as the United Nations system and long-standing partners, such as the EU, have been providing support to the African Union Transition Mission in Somalia and the Somali security forces for the broader security transition. We also welcome Personal Envoy Lamamra’s close engagement with the joint AU-IGAD High-Level Panel on the Sudan, and other partners, to ensure that his good offices with the warring parties are closely coordinated. Additionally, we look forward to receiving the joint road map that will outline the way forward for the implementation of resolution 2719 (2023). To conclude, the upcoming joint Security Council- AU Peace and Security Council consultative meeting should serve as an opportunity to forge further momentum and convergence. The complementarity of regional configurations to peace and security in Africa warrants our continued and steadfast attention, in the interest of present and future generations.

I shall now make a statement in my capacity as the representative of Switzerland. I join my colleagues in thanking the briefers for their enlightening contributions. At the Summit of the Future, Monicah Malith, a young South Sudanese woman, made a poignant appeal to us to shape a future based on cooperation, understanding and common goals. Her words resonate powerfully, reminding us that the future of this world is in the hands of its youth, because by 2050, 40 per cent of the world’s young people will be living on the African continent. It is therefore young Africans who will play a key role in shaping the whole world’s future. They embody hope and commitment. It is therefore essential to give them the means to act and fully involve them in peace and development processes. Cooperation between the United Nations and the African Union (AU) is a fundamental pillar of peace and development in the world in general, and in Africa in particular. That partnership has grown stronger over the years, but today’s challenges call for even closer collaboration — particularly in the field of prevention and peacebuilding. I wish to highlight three points for tangible implementation of the vision of the New Agenda for Peace. First, as we all know, conflict prevention is more crucial than ever. Crises on the African continent are often the result of interconnected factors — poor governance, political marginalization, inequality, security challenges, lack of respect for human rights, climate change and others. Faced with this complexity, the United Nations and the AU must strengthen their preventive diplomacy and invest in early warning mechanisms, in particular in relation to rising inter-State tensions. The AU has a number of tools for preventive diplomacy, such as the Panel of the Wise and the African Youth Ambassadors for Peace, which are already doing essential work and could do even more with the necessary support. Secondly, regarding climate change, Switzerland welcomes the AU’s work to develop a common African position on climate change, peace and security. Indeed, climate change poses an existential threat to peace and security in Africa. Prolonged droughts, devastating floods and land degradation exacerbate tensions and conflicts. We must therefore take urgent, coordinated action to mitigate the effects of climate change and strengthen the resilience of African communities. With that in mind, Switzerland supports the United Nations Office to the African Union, as we have heard, in the field of climate, peace and security. A regional and cross-border approach is essential to address the security risks associated with climate change and would enable the AU to maintain a leading role in this field. Thirdly, in connection with institutions and networks, we must strengthen synergies between our institutions and networks. Existing tools and mechanisms, such as the Network of African Women in Conflict Prevention and Mediation — FemWise — and the African Women Leaders Network, have immense potential. By sharing best practices and strengthening collaboration, for example between the subsidiary bodies and informal expert groups, we can increase our impact. The AU’s role in managing the continent’s current and emerging security challenges is essential. To fulfil their mandates, peace operations must be able to rely on predictable, sustainable and flexible funding. Switzerland welcomes the creation of the United Nations- African Union Joint Task Force on Peace and Security for the implementation of resolution 2719 (2023). That cooperation is essential for operational readiness. The regular updates that we receive from the Secretariat are most welcome. We look forward to the finalization and adoption of the joint road map and the dedicated report on the operationalization of the resolution. In the meantime, the Security Council will discuss progress made in implementing the resolution with the Peace and Security Council of the African Union at their annual exchange in mid-October. In conclusion, Africa, with its youth, economic potential and natural resources, is a continent of the future. To foster that potential, we must act together, with determination and solidarity. By investing in young people, strengthening cooperation between the United Nations and the AU and addressing common challenges, we can all build a more peaceful, just and prosperous continent. The forthcoming retreat with the AU Peace and Security Council in two weeks’ time will be a unique opportunity to delve deeper into the topics mentioned in the Chamber today. I now resume my functions as President of the Council. There are no more names inscribed on the list of speakers.