On 8 June 2026, the African Union Department of Political Affairs, Peace and Security, the United Nations Office to the African Union, the Institute for Security Studies and the Institute for Peace and Security Studies concluded the Joint Commemoration of the International Day of United Nations Peacekeepers at the African Union Commission in Addis Ababa.
Held under the theme “Invest in Peace,” the commemoration paid tribute to the service, professionalism and sacrifice of United Nations and African Union peacekeepers. The ceremony included a photo exhibition, a minute of silence, wreath laying in honour of fallen peacekeepers, keynote remarks and a panel discussion with youths from universities and peace and security practitioners.
This year’s theme highlights that, at a time when United Nations peace operations face reduced resources, they remain among the most effective tools available to the international community to respond to conflict, support political solutions, prevent escalation, protect civilians, monitor ceasefires, enable humanitarian assistance, clear landmines and advance peace.
In her remarks, Ms. Patience Chiradza, Director of Governance and Conflict Prevention within the AU Department of Political Affairs, Peace and Security, read by Mr. Eustace Chiwombe, paid tribute to the women and men serving under the flag of peace, recognizing their role in protecting civilians, supporting political transitions and accompanying communities recover from conflict. She honoured the memory of United Nations peacekeepers and African Union Peace Support Operations personnel who lost their lives in the pursuit of peace, security and human dignity, and reaffirmed the importance of prevention, education, stronger peacebuilding efforts and deeper cooperation between the African Union and the United Nations in building a future where peace is sustained, inclusive and shared by all.
In his keynote address, Parfait Onanga-Anyanga, Special Representative of the Secretary-General to the African Union and Head of UNOAU, emphasized that investing in peace also requires investing in innovation, modern capabilities and data driven solutions. He noted the importance of leveraging technology, including artificial intelligence, drones and predictive analytics, to strengthen situational awareness, improve early warning, enhance mission effectiveness and better protect civilians. He also underscored the need to use digital tools to counter hate speech and misinformation, which can fuel violence and undermine peace efforts.
SRSG Onanga-Anyanga further highlighted that peace operations cannot succeed in isolation, stressing the importance of deeper collaboration among the United Nations, the African Union, regional organizations and local communities. He called for strengthened strategic partnership between the United Nations and the African Union in planning, financing and rapid deployment, including through the full operationalization of Security Council resolution 2719.
In his remarks, Dr. Paul-Simon Handy, Regional Director and Representative to the African Union of the Institute for Security Studies, emphasized the need to rethink practical measures to strengthen the safety and security of peacekeepers serving in fragile and hostile environments. He also underscored the importance of ensuring timely and adequate support and compensation for the families of peacekeepers who lost their lives in the line of duty, noting that honouring their sacrifice must be matched by concrete action to better protect those serving on the frontlines of peace.
The panel discussion provided an opportunity for the youth from universities and peace and security practitioners to exchange views on the future of peace operations in Africa and the importance of investing in prevention, partnerships, sustainable financing, inclusive peacebuilding, women’s participation and youth leadership.
The accompanying photo exhibition, on display from 29 May to 8 June 2026 on the Ground Floor of the Mwalimu Julius Nyerere Peace and Security Building at the African Union Commission, showcased images from United Nations and African Union peace operations, highlighting the dedication, service and sacrifice of peacekeepers serving in Africa and beyond.
