Statement [Made on Behalf of the Security Council, 28 Oct. 2021, in Connection with the Council's Consideration of the Item Entitled "Cooperation Between the United Nations and Regional and Subregional Organizations in Maintaining International Peace and Security"]

S/PRST/2021/21View PDF

Who adopted this document and its mandates?

A Presidential Statement of the Security Council, under agenda item 100 Cooperation between the United Nations and regional and subregional organizations in maintaining international peace and security, published in 2021.

What subjects does this mandate have?

5 subjects

Africa Cooperation Between Organizations Regional Cooperation Regional Security War Prevention

What’s in this document?

36 paragraphs

On 28 October 2021, in connection with the Council’s consideration of the item entitled “Cooperation between the United Nations and regional and subregional organizations in maintaining international peace and security”, in accordance with the procedure agreed in light of the extraordinary circumstances caused by the COVID-19 pandemic and set out in S/2020/372, the President of the Security Council issued the following statement on behalf of the Council:

“The Security Council recalls its previous relevant resolutions and statements of its President on the importance of advancing effective partnerships between the United Nations and regional organizations and subregional organisations, in particular the African Union, in addressing the complex security challenges in accordance with the Charter of the United Nations and the relevant statutes of the regional organizations.

“The Security Council reiterates its primary responsibility under the Charter for the maintenance of international peace and security, and recalls that cooperation with regional and sub-regional organizations in matters relating to the maintenance of international peace and security and consistent with Chapter VIII of the Charter of the United Nations can improve collective security.

“The Security Council commends the role of the United Nations Office to the African Union (UNOAU) and the African Union Permanent Observer Mission to the United Nations (AUOM) in strengthening the partnership between the UN and the AU.

“The Security Council commends the progress made in the UN-AU partnership and stresses that it should further develop into a systematic, operational, and strategic partnership rooted in shared values and a strong commitment to international cooperation adapted to the complex security challenges facing the continent.

“The Security Council reaffirms the importance of supporting the African Union Agenda 2063, as a strategic vision and an action plan for ensuring a positive socioeconomic transformation in Africa by 2063 and acknowledges the emphasis in Agenda 2063 of peace and security as critical enablers for sustainable development and underscores the need to redouble efforts on conflict prevention, mediation, stabilization, transition, and peacebuilding efforts. Following the first year of the Decade for Action to deliver the Sustainable Development Goals, the Security Council calls for all stakeholders to coordinate and intensify their efforts towards the realization of the objectives outlined in the UN 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development and the AU Agenda 2063: The Africa We Want, and reaffirm the importance of aligning international support with Africa’s own priorities to contribute to the enabling of durable peace on the continent.

“The Security Council welcomes the African Union’s determination to rid Africa of conflicts and create conditions favorable for inclusive growth, sustainable development, and integration of the continent recalling its resolution S/RES/2457 (2019) on Silencing the Guns in Africa, takes note of the decisions of the 14th Extraordinary Assembly of the Africa Union which, inter alia, extended the implementation of the AU Master Roadmap of Practical Steps to Silence the Guns in Africa by a period of ten years until 2030, including the commemoration and conduct of the Africa Amnesty Month for the surrender of illegally owned weapons and arms.

“The Security Council commends the African Member States that have organized peaceful elections and democratic transitions and encourages countries to prioritise processes that promote inclusive, broad-based and meaningful national dialogue, as well as socio-economic and political inclusivity as a way to attain the AU ambition of silencing the guns by 2030.

“The Security Council reiterates its concern regarding the evolving threats to peace, security, and stability in parts of Africa posed by among others, protracted armed conflicts, proliferation and illicit trafficking of small arms and light weapons, terrorism and violent extremism conducive to terrorism, transnational organized crime and trafficking, illicit exploitation of natural resources, maritime insecurity, unconstitutional change of government, as well as regarding factors such as economic and social disparities, pandemics or epidemics such as COVID-19 and Ebola outbreaks. The Security Council remains determined to enhance the effectiveness of the overall effort to respond to the threats to international peace and security on a global level in accordance with the Charter of the United Nations and other obligations of States under the international law.

“The Security Council recognizes the negative impact and unprecedented extent of the COVID-19 pandemic that have caused severe socioeconomic, humanitarian, political and security repercussions including in Africa, and commends the progress and efforts made by Member States, as well as ACT-A, including the global COVAX facility and other relevant initiatives to promote access to safe and effective COVID-19 vaccines, and calls upon vaccine producing countries especially developed economies and the private sector to translate their commitment into actions in order to facilitate expedited access by Africa to vaccines including by encouraging voluntary technology transfer on mutually agreed terms, on the example of the WHO mRNA production hub in South Africa. The Security Council further recognizes and commends the important role played by the AU through the Africa Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (Africa CDC) in strengthening the capacity of national health institutions and mitigating the multifaceted impacts of the pandemic, including through the African Vaccine Acquisition Trust (AVAT) and encourages International Financial Institutions to coordinate with COVAX and AVAT on accelerating disbursal of committed resources to facilitate the continent’s access to funding while emphasizing the role of extensive immunization against COVID-19 as a global public good for health.

“The Security Council commends the efforts of the African Union to further strengthen its capacity, including through the advancement of the African Peace and Security Architecture (APSA), and underscores the importance of further consolidation of the UN-AU cooperation through partnership in the different components of the APSA, including on early warning, preventive diplomacy, mediation, peacekeeping, peacebuilding, electoral assistance, promotion and protection of human rights, international humanitarian law and the rule of law, protection of civilians including women and children, and the prevention of and response to sexual violence in conflict and post conflict situations, post-conflict recovery and reconstruction.

“The Security Council recalls the need for inclusive and effective disarmament, demobilization and reintegration processes (DDR), including those relating to the release and reintegration of children formerly associated with armed forces or armed groups, with the involvement of affected individuals and local communities, while respecting the need to fight against impunity, and encourages greater efforts at national and local levels to make such reintegration sustainable, timely, appropriate and gender-responsive.

“The Security Council notes that the African Union is implementing an institutional reform agenda, aimed at promoting efficiency and effectiveness of the continent’s responses to its peace, security and development needs. It welcomes the decision of the AU to “fully implement the African Peace and Security Architecture (APSA) and the African Governance Architecture (AGA), which guide Member States, as well as the Regional Economic Communities and Regional Mechanisms (RECs/RMs) in their efforts to consolidate governance; prevent, manage and resolve conflicts; and undertake post-conflict stabilization, reconstruction and development.

“The Security Council acknowledges the efforts of the African Union to address the root causes of conflicts, including through the African Charter on Democracy, Elections and Governance of the African Union, the African Peer Review Mechanism, the Continental Early Warning System, the AU Post-Conflict Reconstruction and Development Policy (PCRD), and similar instruments and mechanisms. The Council also notes the valuable contribution of mediation capacities, such as the Council of Elders and the Panel of the Wise with its subsidiary mechanism FemWise, and of regional and sub-regional organizations, to ensuring the coherence, synergy and collective effectiveness of their efforts.

“The Security Council reaffirms the importance of further strengthening cooperation and developing an effective partnership with the African Union underpinned by mutual consultations between the Security Council and the African Union Peace and Security Council in their respective decision-making processes and common strategies for a holistic response to conflict, as appropriate, based on respective comparative advantage, transparency, and accountability to address common security challenges in Africa in accordance with the Charter of the United Nations, including Chapter VIII and the purposes and principles.

“The Security Council underscores the need for strengthening and leveraging collaboration between the United Nations, African Union and Regional Economic Communities/Regional Mechanisms (RECs/RMs) for conflict prevention, management and resolution, through consultations and joint action across the conflict cycle, from conflict prevention to peace-making, sustaining peace to peacebuilding, and welcomes all efforts made to strengthen and broaden collaboration and to ensure flexibility and effectiveness in responding to the evolving threats to international peace and security.

“The Security Council recognizes the existing partnerships established among regional and subregional organizations, including those from different continents. The Security Council, in this regard, encourages regional and subregional organizations to make full use of their comparative advantage of proximity and existing mechanisms for the promotion of confidence building and dialogue, and to strengthen their cooperation, dialogue and capacities to improve their readiness for providing necessary assistance to their member states, in accordance with the Charter of the United Nations and respective arrangements between each regional organization and its members, in efforts to prevent and peacefully resolve conflicts.

“The Security Council encourages continued development and application of mechanisms for peaceful settlement of disputes through regional and subregional arrangements, provided that their activities are - consistent with the purposes and principles of the United Nations, in accordance with Chapter VIII of the Charter. The Council reiterates its support for the efforts of all relevant sub-regional organizations and mechanisms for conflict prevention and resolution, in particular the Arab Maghreb Union (AMU), the Common Market for Eastern and Southern Africa (COMESA), the Community of Sahel-Saharan States (CEN-SAD), the East African Community (EAC), the Economic Community of the Central African States (ECCAS), the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS), the Intergovernmental Authority for Development (IGAD), and the Southern African Development Community (SADC), as well as the International Conference on the Great Lakes region(ICGLR).

“The Security Council welcomes the ongoing discussions on the division of roles and responsibilities between the African Union and the African Regional Economic Communities (RECs)/Regional Mechanisms (RMs) and notes that the collaboration and complementarity of efforts will contribute to enhanced efficiency, and effectiveness of measures in the promotion of peace and security on the continent.

“The Security Council further commends the efforts by the African Union, REC/RMs and African Members States to fully operationalize the multi-dimensional African Standby Force, and the support of international partners in this regard. The Security Council notes the AU is considering the establishment of a capacity within the African Standby Force as a further effort in combatting terrorism in Africa.

“The Security Council, reiterates that regional organizations have the responsibility to secure human, financial, logistical and other resources for their organizations, including through contributions by their members, welcomes the valuable financial support provided by partners in this regard, and underscores the need for strengthening coordination amongst Member States, RECs/RMs, donor communities, development partners and the international community in redoubling efforts to address existing and potential root causes of conflict, as well as to identify, initiate and promote post-conflict projects aimed at stabilization, reconstruction, socio-economic development and peacebuilding.

“The Security Council welcomes the continuing important efforts and enhanced role of the African Union, sub-regional organizations and regional mechanisms in peace operations in accordance with Security Council resolutions and decisions, paying tribute in this regard to the courage and sacrifice of those serving with African-led peace operations and underscores the need for support for such missions to facilitate timely, effective and orderly security transition in order to consolidate peace and development gains, reduce the risk of relapse into conflict and insurgency, and help set countries on a path towards achieving durable peace and sustainable development.

“The Security Council commends the increased contribution of the African Union to international peace support operations and commends the unique partnership between the United Nations and the African Union such as in the establishment and operation of the recently concluded African Union-United Nations Hybrid Operation in Darfur (UNAMID).

“The Security Council takes note of the large number of peacekeeping operations on the African continent and the substantial contribution of troop and police-contributing countries, and noting the efforts undertaken by the Secretary-General to mobilize all partners and stakeholders in support of more effective peacekeeping through his initiatives “Action for Peacekeeping (A4P)” and Action for Peacekeeping Plus (A4P+), and in this regard also express grave concern at the security threats and targeted attacks against peacekeepers, and underscores the importance of safety and security of peacekeepers, and the need for the Secretary-General and Troop-and Police-Contributing Countries and Member States to work together to ensure that all peacekeepers in the field are capable and equipped effectively to implement their mandate.

“The Security Council recognizes that one major constraint facing the African Union in effectively carrying out the mandates of maintaining regional peace and security is securing predictable, sustainable and flexible resources, and recognizes that ad hoc and unpredictable financing arrangements for African Union led peace support operations authorized by the Security Council and consistent with Chapter VIII of the Charter may impact the effectiveness of these peace support operations, and encourages further dialogue on options for addressing this issue.

“The Security Council reaffirmed the indispensable role of women in peacekeeping operations and welcomes the efforts to incentivize greater numbers of women in troops, police and civilians deployed in the United Nations peacekeeping operations, and efforts to review the obstacles preventing women’s recruitment and professional advancement in Africa.

“The Security Council expresses deep concern about the serious and continuous allegations of sexual exploitation and abuse by United Nations peacekeepers and non-United Nations forces authorized under a Security Council mandate, including military, civilian and police personnel, and underscoring that sexual exploitation and abuse, among other crimes and forms of serious misconduct, by any such personnel is unacceptable, and commending the troop- and police-contributing countries that have taken steps to prevent, investigate and hold accountable their personnel for acts of sexual exploitation and abuse. The Security Council reaffirms its support for the United Nations zero-tolerance policy on all forms of sexual exploitation and abuse and urges all troop- and police-contributing countries to redouble their efforts to take the steps necessary to vet and train their personnel and conduct investigations of allegations of sexual exploitation and abuse by their personnel and take appropriate steps to hold accountable those responsible.

“The Security Council commends the efforts of African Member States, the African Union and RECs/RMs, with the valuable support of the United Nations and other international partners, in post-conflict transition and underscores the importance of further strengthening the relationship and complementarity between peace operations and peacebuilding activities.

“The Security Council recalling its resolution S/RES/2282 (2016) and S/RES/2413 (2018) underscores the imperativeness of greater coordination between the UN and AU in peacebuilding activities and commends AU for progress on the implementation of the AU Post-Conflict Reconstruction and Development (PCRD) policy, the operationalization of the AU-PCRD Centre in Cairo, and the development of a Common African Position on the UN Peacebuilding Architecture (2020) that underlines Africa’s role as an important stakeholder in international peacebuilding efforts including call for enhanced efforts to implement Agenda 2063 including its flagship programme of Silencing the Guns in Africa.

“The Security Council further recognizes the need for greater coordination between UN and AU in peacebuilding, including through practical means for enabling local ownership, closer collaboration on operational and programmatic engagements, enhancing national and continental African capacities for planning and implementation of programs and projects, and addressing context-specific cross border challenges and sub-regional dimensions of peacebuilding. The Security Council takes note of AU peacebuilding priorities, among others, on conflict prevention, managing transitions, effective governance through inclusion and responsive institutions, financing for peacebuilding, socioeconomic transformation and sustainable development, transitional justice, women and youth in peacebuilding, as well as prevention and combating terrorism and violent extremism conducive to terrorism.

“The Security Council underscores the importance and progress made in the implementation of the Women, Peace and Security Agenda in Africa. It emphasises the essential role of women in prevention, mediation and resolution of conflicts, in peacebuilding and in post-conflict situations, and stresses the importance of their full, equal and meaningful participation, and involvement in processes and bodies for the maintenance and promotion of peace and security, as recognised in Security Council resolution 1325 (2000). It further encourages Members States, United Nations and the African Union to strengthen regional frameworks and national Action Plans in this regard.

“The Security Council recalling that Africa has the world’s youngest population, reaffirms the important role of youth in the prevention and resolution of conflicts and in peacebuilding as well as in post-conflict situations on the continent and encourages the United Nations and the African Union to further engage the youth in their activities and to promote the implementation of the Youth, peace and security agenda.

“The Security Council recognizes the increasing threat posed to peace and security in Africa by terrorism and violent extremism conducive to terrorism, especially in the most affected regions of the Sahel, the Lake Chad Basin and the Horn of Africa. The Security Council emphasizes that the presence of terrorism and violent extremism conducive to terrorism may exacerbate conflicts, and contribute to undermining affected States, specifically their security, stability, governance, social and economic development. The Security Council underlines the importance of prompt and effective implementation of its resolutions related to the fight against terrorism, all sanctions measures against designated individuals, groups, undertakings and entities associated with ISIL (Dae’sh), Al-Qaida and their affiliates and reaffirms the importance of addressing the underlying conditions conducive to the spread of terrorism and violent extremism conducive to terrorism in Africa, including by ensuring national recovery and reconstruction, enhancing good governance, and facilitating socioeconomic development in Africa including through job creation, promotion of entrepreneurship, and providing social services such as education and health for the promotion of the well-being of their people.

“The Security Council commends the efforts and progress made by African countries, the African Union, and sub-regional organizations, in countering terrorism and violent extremism conducive to terrorism, within the framework of the African Peace and Security Architecture (APSA) and in accordance with Chapter VIII of the Charter of the United Nations and commends the important contribution of security initiatives in Africa, including the G5 Sahel Joint Force, the Multinational Joint Task Force (MNJTF) in the Lake Chad Basin, the SADC Mission in Mozambique (SAMIM), and the African Union Mission in Somalia (AMISOM). The Security Council stresses that UN institutions should work closely with the African Union, and African sub-regional organisations and arrangements, as well as Member States of the region, in a coordinated and coherent manner, in developing and further implementing national and regional strategies and plans of action to counter terrorism and prevent violent extremism conducive to terrorism upon request, in full compliance with obligations under international law.

“The Security Council recognizes the importance of enhancing international and regional cooperation to address threats to maritime safety and security and recognizes the persistent threats in Africa’s maritime domain including piracy, terrorism, trafficking of drugs and other illicit goods, the smuggling of migrants and human trafficking and welcomes the efforts by AU, RECs and RMs in addressing the situation, through among others, the 2050 Africa's Integrated Maritime Strategy (2050 AIM Strategy), the African Charter on Maritime Security, Safety and Development in Africa, and encourages bilateral and multilateral partners to provide support to Africa, upon request and where able, in terms of funds, technology, training and equipment to fight against maritime threats.

“The Security Council recognizes the adverse effects of climate change, ecological changes and natural disasters, among other factors, on the stability of a number of African Union member states, including through drought, desertification, land degradation, and food insecurity, and emphasizes the need for adequate risk assessment and risk management strategies by the respective governments and United Nations relating to these factors.”

Who adopted this document and its mandates?

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