Parfait Onanga-Anyanga, the United Nations Special Representative to the African Union, informed ambassadors in New York that the coordination between the two organizations is especially significant in addressing present obstacles.

He stated that the situation of conflicts in Africa is changing and becoming more complicated and difficult to solve.

He mentioned the document regarding the collaboration between the United Nations and the African Union in promoting peace, acknowledging that the increase in political violence, terrorism, and extremism in Africa has revealed significant flaws in governance.

The increase in the number of military takeovers, particularly in the Sahel region, has intensified issues of instability, violations of human rights, and humanitarian emergencies. Additionally, Sudan is currently facing a devastating conflict. The Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) is also struggling with security and humanitarian issues as they prepare for elections.

Empowering AU

Mr. Onanga-Anyanga, who also heads the UN Office to the AU, further noted that empowering AU-led peace support operations would in turn strengthen the authority of the Security Council and its responsibilities as outlined in the UN Charter.

He emphasized the significance of collaborating with the AU on a global scale in order to strengthen capabilities for tackling the intricate and ever-changing challenges to peace and security in Africa.

He stated that by using the established systems of the African Governance Architecture and the African Peace and Security Architecture, all possible solutions to conflicts can be efficiently aided and reinforced to achieve peace.

Joint visits

The combination of work between the UN Security Council and the AU Peace and Security Council, specifically through joint visits and coordination meetings, is considered crucial in managing complicated situations in conflicts, promoting prevention and mitigation efforts, and improving strategic coordination.

Mr. Onanga-Anyanga stated that these visits could aid in developing a shared understanding of the intricate dynamics involved in conflict situations, examining prevention strategies, and implementing mitigation measures when necessary. He also mentioned that these visits offer a chance to communicate unified messages.

Source: news.un.org