On 6 July, the SRSG to the AU and Head of UNOAU, Parfait Onanga-Ayanga met with the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent (IFRC) Governing Board Oversight Group represented by IFRC Chief Executive, Michael Adamson; the IFRC Vice-President, Natia Loladze; the Chair of the Audit and Risk Committee, Kate Forbes; the Under Secretary-General for National Society Development and Operations Coordination, Xavier Castellanos; and the Head of the IFRC Permanent Representation to the AU and International Organizations in Ethiopia, Itonde Kakoma. The aim of the meeting was to discuss the possible lessons learned from the IFRC organizations’ preparedness and response to the war in Ukraine and to exchange views on how to prepare for the future within the context of multi-country crises.

The SRSG to the AU and Head of UNOAU, Parfait Onanga-Ayanga​​​​​​​ briefed the Oversight Board on current political and security dynamics in Africa, including the increasingly challenged notion of statehood in several African countries and the ongoing conflict in Sudan. He noted the importance of organizations such as the IFRC, particularly in situations where political solutions to crises manifestly fail and welcomed the IFRC’s focus on local communities’ response.

The SRSG also underscored the risks posed by climate change, unconstitutional changes of government, governance deficits and youth unemployment, subsequently leading to migration, radicalization and violent extremism, highlighting that the current global system is not adequately adapted to the current challenges facing Africa. The meeting further discussed the relationship between IFRC member organizations and the UN, underscoring the need for closer coordination to create an environment that includes grassroots voices, fosters unity, and facilitates ‘nation-building’ efforts.