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The last few months have certainly had their challenges! Aside from the human toll, the Covid-19 pandemic continues to buffet the African Union Member States economically, socially, and politically, eroding hard-won development gains and the area UNOAU focuses on the most, namely peace and security on the continent. We have seen threats to the stability of already vulnerable regions, such as the Sahel and the Horn of Africa, compounding the challenges faced by countries going through transitions, slowing progress on cross-border issues and affecting timelines and preparations for elections. Yet, throughout these unprecedented times, UNOAU has continued to work closely with the African Union Commission in supporting capacity building and the implementation of AU priority projects in line with the Joint Framework on Peace and Security. Read more

Quarterly Features

AU Commissioner for Political Affairs, Peace and Security takes Oath and pledges to promote good governance, peace and stability

The AU Commissioner for Political Affairs, Peace and Security (AU-PAPS), Ambassador Bankole Adeoye, took his oath of office at a ceremony presided over by the Chairperson of the Commission, Moussa Faki Mahamat on 15 March. Speaking after the ceremony, Commissioner Bankole outlined his five strategic pillars to reinvigorate good governance, peace, stability, security and human rights across Africa, in tandem with the Regional Economic Communities/Regional Mechanisms (RECs/RMs) and under the aegis of African Heads of State and Government.

Underlining the urgency for conflict prevention and mediation, Commissioner Bankole stressed on the need to promote “open, democratic and inclusive societies to empower resilient communities, improve lives, socio-economic development and human security.” He reiterated his plan to implement the new African Union Political Affairs, Peace and Security (AU-PAPS) structure, promote democracy, enhance inclusive and smart partnerships and strengthen capacities in peace operations and in the fight against terrorism and violent extremism. Read more

NEW PODCAST SERIES: She Stands for Peace - four episodes available

A newly launched podcast, "She Stands for Peace", explores the state of the Women, Peace and Security Agenda in Africa. The first four episodes are now available and they feature a series of dialogues with key actors including policymakers, donors and grassroots peacebuilders. The podcast aims to explore the central question; "20 years after the UNSCR 1325 was passed, how far have we come?". These first four podcasts are on partnerships, financing, mediation and localizing peace. Have a listen here

UNOAU’s on-going work on the women, peace and security agenda in Africa

The year 2020 marked the twentieth anniversary of the groundbreaking UN Security Council Resolution 1325 on women, peace and security. To commemorate the anniversary, UNOAU in collaboration with several departments and offices at the African Union Commission (AUC) organized a series of virtual events that brought together a variety of stakeholders in December 2020.

The first virtual event was a high-level dialogue titled, “Advancing the Women, Peace and Security (WPS) Agenda: Political leadership, partnerships and concrete action Beyond 2020”. It brought together over 100 participants who actively engaged in dialogue that assessed past achievements on the agenda and looked further into its future with women at the forefront. Read more

AU Peace and Security Council convenes a meeting on the unified role of the African Group (A3) in the UN Security Council

The African Union Peace and Security Council (AUPSC) held its meeting (session 983) on the unified role of the African Group (A3) in the United Nations Security Council (UNSC) on 4 March.

At the opening session, the participants commended the A3 for the continued cohesion in representing Africa’s interests. The participants expressed appreciation for the monthly coordination meetings between the incoming Chairs of the two Councils, which are facilitated by the AUPSC Secretariat and UNOAU, as well as the monthly briefings to the A3 provided by the UN Secretariat and the AU Permanent Observer Mission in New York. A communique was issued after the meeting. Read more

UN-AU Partnership in Action

UNOAU holds annual retreat

UNOAU held its annual retreat in virtual format on 25 March 2021. The retreat aimed to provide an opportunity for the Office to outline its priorities for the year ahead and to reflect on recent developments that have impacted on the UN-AU partnership in peace and security. The retreat took place just over a week after the new leadership of the AU Commission (AUC) took office, hence also provided an opportunity to discuss and align the priorities of the Office to those expressed by the new AUC leadership. Read more

Fourteenth UN-AU Annual Consultative Meeting on Prevention and Management of Conflicts (Desk-to-Desk) held virtually

The Fourteenth Annual United Nations – African Union (UN-AU) Consultative Meeting on Prevention and Management of Conflicts (Desk-to-Desk/D2D) was convened virtually from 10 to 12 March with 160 officers participating from the UN Secretariat, the AU Commission and the Regional Economic Communities/Regional Mechanisms (RECs/RMs). The purpose of the meeting was to provide a platform for collective multi-stakeholder deliberations on existing and emerging peace and security threats in Africa, and the responses required in that regard. The topics discussed included: 1) Unconstitutional change of government, popular uprisings and political transitions; (2) Election-related crises in Africa - AU and UN support to Member States; (3) Preventing violent extremism and countering terrorism; and (4) PSOs and ad hoc security arrangements. The agenda also included a brief session on the “Review of the Partnership”. Read more

UNOAU coordinates engagements to support AU Member States in Mine Action

Every year on April 4, International Mine Awareness Day is commemorated around the world. This year’s theme is ‘Perseverance, Partnership and Progress’, read SRSG Tetteh’s statement to mark the day here

In the first week of February, UNOAU coordinated engagements between Mine Action counterparts from the AU Defense and Security Division (AU DSD) and the non-profit organization, the HALO Trust, to facilitate support towards Small Arms and Light Weapons (SALW) and Weapons and Ammunition Management (WAM) capacity enhancement for AU Member States. Read more

UNOAU provides technical support to Generic Police Pre-Deployment Training for ECOWAS

At the request of the African Union Commission (AUC), UNOAU continued to provide technical support and advice to the ongoing Training of Trainers (TOT) Generic Police Pre-Deployment Training (PPDT) course for the ECOWAS at the Kofi Annan International Peacekeeping Training Center in Accra, Ghana. This course was scheduled for 14-28 March and brought together twenty-four (24) serving and practicing Police officers from Burkina Faso, Congo, Cameroon, Egypt, Gambia, Ghana, Liberia, Mali, Niger, Nigeria, Senegal, Sierra Leone and Togo. Read more

Assessment of Nigeria-10 Formed Police Unit conducted

An assessment of the Nigeria-10 Formed Police Unit (FPU) that is due to rotate in March 2021 to the African Union Mission in Somalia (AMISOM), was conducted from 14-18 February. UNOAU participated in the assessment as part of an inspecting team that comprised of AU Officers from Police Planning, Police Operations, Military Medical Planning as well as the AMISOM Police FPU expert. Read more

Police Strategic Support Group holds Virtual Planning Workshop

Aiming to discuss roster processes, annexes of the draft Standing Operating Procedure (SOP) on AU Police Roster System for Professional Police Staff (PPS), Individual Police Officers (IPOs) and Formed Police Units (FPUs), the Police Strategic Support Group (PSSG) Virtual Planning Workshop Number 1/2021 was held on 11 February. Read more

UNOAU attends Global Focal Point for the Rule of Law Webinar

UNOAU participated in a webinar for the Global Focal Point (GFP) for Rule of Law. The webinar was held on 10 February with an objective to connect rule of law practitioners in the field and at Headquarters, provide an overview of the GFP’s current structure, and outline the support that the GFP could provide to enhance collaboration among its partners. This was the first of five webinars planned to be held this year. Read more

What lies ahead

In 2021, UNOAU’s sections continue to collaborate with the African Union towards effective peacebuilding and creating the conditions to promote sustainable development. UNOAU works in close partnership with AU departments and offices in line with UNOAU’s mandate and the UN-AU Partnership in Peace and Security Framework of 2017. Read brief highlights of forthcoming collaborations here

Communiques

Communique on Somalia issued after the (session 978)

Communique on the Central African Republic (session 979)

Communique on Elections in Africa (session 982)

Communique on Sustainable Peace in Africa: Climate Change and Silencing the Guns (session 984)

Communique on Peacekeeping Operations in Africa: Emerging Challenges and Critical Lessons for Sustainable Peacekeeping Operations (session 986)

Communique on the Fourteenth Annual Conference on the Implementation of the UN-AU Strategic Partnership

UNOAU in pictures

SRSG Tetteh (front row right) joined Addis Ababa based women Ambassadors from EU member states and UN women leaders to mark this year’s International Women’s Day at the UN Conference Center (Economic Commission for Africa)