The 14^th 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”.

The discussions were guided by the overall cooperation led by the UN Secretary-General and the AUC Chairperson, as well as the vision enshrined in the Joint UN-AU Framework for Enhanced Partnership in Peace and Security, and the AU-UN Framework for the Implementation of Agenda 2063 and the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development.