The African Union and the United Nations have signed a new agreement aiming to strengthen their strategic partnership to advance peace and security, human rights, and sustainable development in Africa.
The agreement was reached on the sidelines of the 10th African Union–United Nations Annual Conference held at the AU Headquarters in Addis Ababa, the capital of Ethiopia, co-chaired by AU Commission Chairperson Mahmoud Ali Youssouf and UN Secretary-General António Guterres.
The conference underscored the importance of political solutions and sustainable financing for AU-led peace support operations, including implementation of UN Security Council Resolution 2719.
The conference discussed ongoing crises in the Great Lakes region, Horn of Africa, Sahel, and Sudan, calling for intensified diplomatic efforts and respect for sovereignty and territorial integrity.
With regard to the eastern Democratic Republic of Congo, both institutions emphasised the urgency of a lasting ceasefire and pledged support for AU-led mediation efforts, alongside regional and international initiatives in Doha and Washington.
Regarding Sudan, the two sides called for an inclusive inter-Sudanese dialogue and coordinated international action to end the conflict and prevent regional spillover.
In the Horn of Africa, they stressed full implementation of peace agreements and warned against rising interstate tensions.
The AU and UN also warned that global instability, including conflicts in the Middle East, is worsening food insecurity, fuel prices, inflation, and debt pressures across Africa.
They agreed to raise these concerns in global forums such as the G20 and G7, stressing the need for coordinated international responses.
Both institutions welcomed progress in aligning Agenda 2063 with the 2030 Agenda, including new digital tools to track implementation and strengthen cooperation.
They called for urgent reform of the international financial system to address Africa’s development needs, including high borrowing costs, debt vulnerabilities, and illicit financial flows.
MG/as/APA