AU, UN reaffirm commitment to peace, development at 10th annual conference

Africa

ADDIS ABABA, Ethiopia (NPA) — The African Union (AU) and the United Nations (UN) have reaffirmed their commitment to strengthening cooperation on peace, security, human rights and sustainable development across Africa amid rising global and continental challenges.

This formed part of the resolutions reached at the 10th African Union–United Nations Annual Conference held on Tuesday at the AU Headquarters in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia.

The conference was convened by the Chairperson of the African Union Commission, Mahmoud Ali Youssouf, and the Secretary-General of the United Nations, António Guterres.

In a joint communiqué issued after the meeting, both leaders described the AU–UN partnership as a strategic pillar for advancing peace, security, sustainable development, Agenda 2063 and the UN 2030 Agenda.

They expressed concern over increasing armed conflicts, humanitarian crises, poverty, climate change and disregard for international law across different parts of the world and Africa.

The AU and UN reviewed progress in implementing three major cooperation frameworks covering peace and security, sustainable development and human rights.

They welcomed improvements in institutional cooperation and coordination through mechanisms such as the High-Level Strategic Dialogue and the College-to-College platform.

The two organisations also welcomed the adoption of United Nations General Assembly Resolution 79/329, describing it as a step toward strengthening Africa’s role within the UN system.

On peace and security, both sides underscored the importance of political solutions to conflicts and called for predictable and sustainable financing for AU-led peace support operations.

They discussed security challenges in the Great Lakes region, the Horn of Africa and the Sahel, while reaffirming support for sovereignty, territorial integrity and peaceful dialogue among African states.

Regarding the crisis in eastern Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), the AU and UN called for an urgent and lasting ceasefire through mediation efforts led by the African Union and other international partners.

The leaders agreed to strengthen support for ongoing mediation initiatives led by Togolese President Faure Gnassingbé as well as the Doha and Washington peace processes.

On Sudan, the organisations welcomed recent appeals by Sudanese civilian groups for de-escalation and an end to the conflict.

They urged parties involved in the crisis to prioritise the interests of the Sudanese people and commit to inclusive dialogue aimed at achieving a political solution.

The AU and UN also pledged closer coordination under the Quintet framework to prevent the conflict from spreading across the region.

In the Horn of Africa, both organisations called for full implementation of the Pretoria Agreement and expressed concern over rising interstate tensions within the region.

On the Sahel, the AU and UN reiterated the need for a comprehensive strategy to combat violent extremism and terrorism.

They condemned the deadly terrorist attacks carried out in Mali on April 25, 2026, and expressed condolences to victims and affected communities.

The leaders further expressed concern over the impact of the ongoing Middle East conflict on African economies, including disruptions to energy supply, food security, trade and inflation.

They agreed to raise the issue in global forums such as the G20 and G7.

On sustainable development, the AU and UN welcomed progress achieved through joint programmes aimed at implementing Agenda 2063 and the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).

They highlighted the establishment of a joint roadmap and digital dashboard designed to monitor implementation and track development progress across Africa.

The communiqué also called for reforms of the global financial system to better reflect the needs of developing countries, especially African nations facing debt burdens and financing gaps.

The two organisations stressed the importance of infrastructure development, energy transition, digital transformation, youth employment, women’s economic empowerment and the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) in driving inclusive growth.

On human rights, the AU and UN reaffirmed the role of human rights in conflict prevention and sustainable peacebuilding.

They welcomed the adoption of the AU Convention on Ending Violence against Women and Girls and called for stronger accountability and compliance mechanisms in AU peace support operations.

The organisations also pledged stronger collaboration on migration governance, healthcare, humanitarian response and the fight against illicit drug trafficking across the continent.

The conference concluded with the signing of a declaration reaffirming the AU–UN strategic partnership frameworks and commitment to joint implementation across all areas of cooperation.

The AU Commission Chairperson also paid tribute to Guterres ahead of the conclusion of his tenure as UN Secretary-General, praising his support for Africa, multilateralism and global governance reforms.

Both leaders agreed that the 11th AU–UN Annual Conference would be held in New York in 2027.