On 25 April, the Permanent Representative of Switzerland to the UN and incoming President of the UNSC for the month of May, Pascale Baeriswyl, and the Ambassador of Uganda to Ethiopia and the AU, incoming Chair of the AUPSC, Rebecca Amuge Otengo, met within the context of the monthly informal meeting of the incoming President/Chairperson of the respective Councils.

Ambassador Otengo briefed about the planned activities of the AUPSC for the month of May, including: the 6th Annual Joint Informal Retreat of the AUPSC and the European Union Political and Security Committee (EUPSC) (2 May) to be followed by the 14th annual Joint Consultative Meeting (3 May) in Brussels, Belgium, which will cover issues of the Sahel, Great Lakes region, Horn of Africa, Central Africa, among others. In addition, the AUPSC will hold a briefing by the AU Panel of the Wise following the former’s mission to Chad; an open session on Humanitarian action in Africa, which will cover issues of climate change, counter terrorism and violent extremism, refugees and displacements and food security and human rights and international humanitarian law compliance, with a view to creating synergies to address challenges faced; and a Ministerial meeting to discuss financing of PSOs in Africa, among others.

On her part, Ambassador Baeriswyl highlighted the three planned signature events, namely on: the future of building trust which will highlight the role and contribution of modern technologies in peacebuilding; a Presidential debate on Protection of Civilians; and the celebration of International Day of Peacekeepers and future of peacekeeping. It was noted that the developments in Sudan would feature prominently in the Council’s deliberations during the month of May.

UNOAU works with the AU Peace and Security Council Secretariat to coordinate the monthly meeting of the principals of the two councils, UNSC and AUPSC.