AU, UN Express Readiness to Further Deepen Collaboration

Addis Ababa July 10/2018 African Union Commission Chairperson, Moussa Faki Mahamat, and the United Nations Secretary-General António Guterres welcomed the strong collaboration between the AU and the UN, and expressed their commitment to further deepen the strategic partnership between the two organizations. The Chairperson and the Secretary-General convened the second AU- UN Annual Conference at the AU Headquarters in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia yesterday. They underscored the importance of multilateral organizations and multilateral ism, as instrument for effective international governance and addressing global issues. AU and the UN, based on the principles of complementary , comparative advantage, burden-sharing and collective responsibility to respond early, coherently and decisively to prevent, manage, and resolve conflicts, undertook to enhance collaboration, cooperation and coordination in the search for sustainable solutions to ongoing and future challenges. Expressing deep concern over the evolving uncertainties in the international order, the rifts in international relations and the negative impact on the state of global peace and security, the conference noted the need to adhere to established international norms, principles, and rules. Guterres and Mahamat called for further strengthening of a comprehensive, integrated and coordinated approach to conflict prevention by addressing the root causes of conflicts, strengthening political processes and respect for rule of law as well as the promotion of sustainable and inclusive development. After reviewing challenges to peace, security and development on the continent, including in Burundi, the Central African Republic, the Lake Chad Basin, The Comoros, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Madagascar, Mali and the Sahel, Somalia, and South Sudan the conference agreed to jointly increase their support, in close cooperation for the peace, security, development and stabilization initiatives in these countries. Both leaders urged for robust action by the international community, to alleviate the humanitarian crises, risks and vulnerability in the affected communities. Furthermore, they commended the efforts to harmonize political stances of both organizations in countries where peacekeeping missions are deployed.The Chairperson and the Secretary-General renewed their commitment towards predictable, sustainable and flexible financing for AU-led Peace Support Operations (PSOs) authorized by the UN Security Council.