SRSG to the AU and Head of UNOAU attends 11th Annual High-Level Seminars on Peace and Security in Africa in Oran, Algeria
From 1 to 2 December, SRSG Parfait Onanga-Anyanga attended the 11th Annual High-Level Seminar on Peace and Security in Africa held in Oran, Algeria. The meeting, convened annually by the AU Peace and Security Council (AUPSC), aims to ensure coordination with the incoming A3 members on peace and security issues across the continent, as well as related matters of interest to Africa — particularly those on the Agenda of the UN Security Council (UNSC).
It also addresses the African common positions on those issues and outlines the expectations of the AU regarding the A3's mandate. The meeting was chaired by Djibouti, which holds the AUPSC presidency for the month of December, and was represented at the seminar by its Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation, Mahmoud Ali Youssouf, who is also a candidate for the AUC Chairpersonship. As is customary, in addition to the AUPSC Member States, the ‘A3 plus’, and the group of friends, consisting of Switzerland, Denmark, and Norway, were also present. The UN delegation was headed by USG Lacroix and included UNOAU and the Security Council Affairs Division.
Recurring themes discussed throughout the seminar included the implementation of UNSC Resolution 2719, the transition from ATMIS to AUSSOM, UNSC reform, opportunities for Africa in the implementation of the Pact for the Future, and strengthening cooperation between the UNSC and the AUPSC, including between the A3 and the AUPSC.