SRSG Hanna Tetteh continues to engage with representatives of the African Union Peace and Security Council (AU PSC) here in Addis Ababa.

Today, she met with H.E. Ambassador George S. W. Patten of Liberia to Ethiopia. SRSG Tetteh briefed Ambassador Patten on efforts being undertaken to enhance relations between the United Nations and its counterpart, the African Union in line with the Joint UN-AU Joint Framework on Peace and Security (2017). She added that this Framework helps strengthen the United Nations’ support to its partner, the African Union in the latter’s push for ‘Africa’s solutions to Africa’s problems’ approach. Improving liaison between the United Nations and the African Union helps better articulate Africa’s position on matters of peace and security and streamlines support from the United Nations with UNOAU spearheading the UN – AU partnership as regards matters of peace and security.

Ambassador Patten on his part also agreed on the need to build a better understanding between the two Organizations on ‘Africa’s needs’ and commended the Secretary-General and African Union Chairperson’s initiatives for growing the partnership between the African Union and the United Nations. He noted that given a sizeable number of conflicts are in the African continent, financial support from the United Nations is paramount as it provides required ‘enablers for peacekeepers’; this within a context where African countries contribute by providing troops for peacekeeping and peacebuilding interventions. Ambassador Patten welcomed and congratulated SRSG Tetteh on her appointment to UNOAU adding that her presence will ‘cement the relationship’ between the African Union and the United Nations on peace and security, and other issues related to the African continent.

SRSG Tetteh has also met with the ambassadors of the Republic of Congo, Nigeria and Sierra Leone on the same.