Parfait Onanga-Anyanga addressed the UN Security Council on the key challenges facing Africa and the importance of UN-AU cooperation. He highlighted ongoing concerns about the number and complexity of conflicts across the continent, which are often exacerbated by weak state authority, violent extremism, inequitable natural resource management, organized crime, climate change, acute food insecurity, and violations of fundamental human rights. Regions such as the Horn of Africa, Sudan, South Sudan, and the Great Lakes—including the Democratic Republic of the Congo—have experienced widespread displacement and multiple humanitarian crises. Onanga-Anyanga emphasized that no military solution alone can resolve these conflicts and called for continued Council efforts to facilitate peaceful settlements.
He also stressed that climate change acts as a conflict multiplier and noted the disproportionate challenges faced by women and girls in conflict-affected areas. Ambassador Mohamed Fathi Ahmed Edrees of the African Union echoed concerns about an unprecedented wave of security threats across Africa and highlighted the need for solutions to achieve stability. Despite these challenges, Onanga-Anyanga underscored the progress made through UN-AU collaboration, particularly in supporting free, fair, and credible elections in countries like Botswana, Ghana, Mauritius, and Malawi. He noted that fostering consensus and maintaining strong multilateral partnerships is essential to address the continent’s interconnected threats to peace, security, development, and human rights.
In response to armed conflicts, the UN Security Council adopted Resolution 2719 in December 2023 to enhance cooperation with the African Union and strengthen its peace and security architecture. Martha Pobee, UN Assistant Secretary-General for Africa, explained that the resolution addresses long-standing gaps in AU capacity to respond to conflicts with international support. Implementation has progressed across four workstreams, including joint planning for AU-led peace support operations, finalized mission support planning, development of financial rules for AU-led missions, and improvements in compliance and civilian protection. These measures aim to ensure that UN-AU collaboration is both strategically sound and operationally effective, incorporating gender-responsive policies and strengthened accountability mechanisms.
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