AUPSC holds its 1151st session on ‘One Year of ATMIS: Progress, Challenges, Funding’

28 April 2023 | The AUPSC convened its 1151st session to address ‘One Year of ATMIS: Progress, Challenges, Funding’. The Permanent Representative of the Republic of Tunisia to the AU and Chairperson of the AUPSC for the month of April, Abdelhamid Gharbi, delivered opening remarks, followed by statements by the AUC Commissioner for Political Affairs, Peace and Security (PAPS), Bankole Adeoye; the SRSG to the AU and Head of UNOAU; and the Head of the EU Delegation to the AU, Ambassador Birgitte Markussen. The Representative of the Federal Government of Somalia and the Representative of IGAD could not be present. The AU Special Representatives of the Chairperson of the Commission (SRCC) to Somalia and Head of ATMIS, Ambassador Mohamed El-Amine Souef, also attended the session. Read full article here. 

Summit of the Troops Contributing Countries to ATMIS and the Federal Republic of Somalia

27 April 2023 | ATMIS TCCs held a summit in Kampala, Uganda, where they, inter alia, agreed on the procedures for the drawdown of 2,000 ATMIS Troops planned for June, in accordance with the UNSC Resolution 2670 (2022). The summit also underlined the need for a joint assessment of the drawdown of 3,000 ATMIS Troops, urging for a quick commencement of preparations and joint assessment cognizant of the security situation in Somalia. Read full communique here. 

AU PSC convened a Ministerial session on the Libyan reconciliation process

18 April 2023 | The African Union Peace and Security Council (AUPSC) convened its 1149th session virtually at the Ministerial level to discuss the Libya national reconciliation process. The session was chaired by H.E. Nabil Ammar, Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Tunisia and Chairperson of the Peace and Security Council for the month of April. The PSC was briefed by the Political Affairs, Peace and Security (PAPS) Commissioner Bankole Adeoye, the Foreign Minister of Congo H.E. Jean-Claude Gakosso, the Foreign Minister of Libya H.E. Najla El Mangoush and Professor Abdoulaye Bathily, the Special Representative of the Secretary-General (SRSG) for Libya and Head of the United Nations Support Mission in Libya (UNSMIL). Read more details here. 

AUPSC issues communiqué adopted at its 1149th meeting on the situation in Sudan

16 April 2023 | The AUPSC issued a communiqué adopted at its 1149th meeting, held on 16 April, on the situation in Sudan. The communiqué notes with grave concern and alarm the deadly clashes between the SAF and the RSF, strongly condemning the ongoing armed confrontation between the two sides throughout Sudan. It calls for an immediate and unconditional ceasefire by the two parties and strongly rejects any external interference that could complicate the situation in Sudan. The communiqué further decides that the AUPSC shall undertake a Field Mission to Sudan in order to engage with all Sudanese stakeholders on the situation in the country. It also requests, within the framework of the AU, IGAD and UN Trilateral Mechanism on Sudan’s political transition, the Chairperson of the Commission to continue the consultations with the UN Secretary-General and  IGAD Executive Secretary towards a consolidated response by the international community.

AUC Chairperson issues statement on the developing situation in Sudan

15 April 2023 | The AUC Chairperson, Moussa Faki Mahamat, issued a statement noting that he was following with deep concern the developments in the Republic of Sudan, encouraging the political parties, civilians, and military to find a consensual solution to the crisis created by the October 25 coup and its harmful consequences. Read full statement here.

AUC issues press release on experience-sharing roundtable dialogue on the implementation and development of YPS National Action Plans

14 April 2023 | The AU Commission (AUC) issued a press release on the experience-sharing roundtable dialogue on the implementation and development of Youth, Peace and Security (YPS) National Action Plans (NAPs). The meeting, which took place at AU headquarters from 12 to 13 April, was organized by the Political Affairs, Peace and Security (PAPS) Department of the AUC and aimed at promoting the development and implementation of NAPs on YPS. The discussions brought together representatives from member states that have adopted NAPs, member states that have officially begun the process of developing NAPs, and member states that have expressed strong interest and are committed to following suit.  Read full article here.

AUC issues press release on AUC Awards for Civil Society Organizations championing Peace, Human Rights, Gender Equality and Women Empowerment

12 April 2023 | The AUC, through the Youth for Peace Africa and the Gender Peace and Security Programmes of the PAPS Department, launched an Award Ceremony at the AU Headquarters, to recognize and celebrate the vital contributions of youth and women in promoting peace, human rights, gender equality and empowerment. Read the full article here.