Statement by Archie Young, UK Ambassador to the General
Assembly, at the UN Security Council meeting on Cooperation
between the UN and the African Union.
As we have heard today, over more than two decades, the UN and
the African Union have played important and
mutually complementary roles tackling challenges across
Africa. This includes working on conflict resolution,
peacebuilding, sustainable development and addressing
humanitarian need.
To build on this, we see three areas for enhanced complementary
cooperation, which take us from the big picture to the
mission-specific: namely broad multilateral cooperation, peace
and security, and Somalia.
First, on broad multilateral cooperation: the United Kingdom
welcomes the continued collaboration between the UN and the
African Union in promoting multilateralism, and advancing peace,
good governance and prosperity across Africa.
As we proceed with the Secretary-General's UN80 reform agenda, we
continue to encourage greater coordination between the AU and UN
so that they deliver their vital work in ways that reflect their
comparative advantages.
Second, on peace and security: we welcome the progress made in
recent years towards strengthening the peace and security
partnership between the AU and UN. We look forward to the
consultations between the UN Security Council and the AU Peace
and Security Council next week.
Continued coordination between the AU and UN on peace and
security is critical to bringing sustainable ends to conflicts
and addressing security challenges across the continent,
including in Sudan, Eastern DRC, and Somalia.
We also note the progress made through the adoption of Security
Council resolution 2719 in 2023 on support to AU-led peace
operations.
We encourage continued work between the UN and the AU
to ensure the institutional and operational readiness of the 2719
framework. These preparations will ensure an important tool for
supporting peace and security in Africa is ready if the Security
Council mandates it in future.
Third, focusing in on the specific context in Somalia and region:
we express our gratitude to the AU and African troop contributing
countries who, with UN support, have worked tirelessly to advance
security and stability in Somalia and the wider region through
AUSSOM, with backing from the UN Support Office.
The United Kingdom was proud to co-host the AUSSOM funding
conference during UNGA High-Level Week, jointly with the UN, the
AU Commission and the Federal Government of Somalia, at which we
announced our $22 million financial commitment. We urge other
member states to step up in providing financial support to ensure
the mission is financially stable.
To close, the United Kingdom welcomes the sustained cooperation
between the AU and the UN in tackling the continent's most
complex conflicts and challenges and to build a more peaceful and
secure future for Africa.
