On 22 August, the SRSG to the African Union and Head of UNOAU, Parfait Onanga-Anyanga met with the President of the National Democratic Institute (NDI), Ambassador Derek Mitchell, to discuss the political and security situation in the Horn of Africa, as well as UN and AU support to governance and electoral processes on the continent.

The SRSG underscored the importance of promoting women and youth in democratic and electoral politics and conflict mediation. In the Horn of Africa, worries remain about the implementation of ongoing processes, as well as challenges in both Ethiopia and Sudan. The SRSG further underscored the importance of AU leadership and supporting AU capacity, both with respect to elections, and in conflict mediation and preventive diplomacy.

They both agreed to remain in contact on issues of mutual interest and concern, underscoring the importance of NDI’s assistance and capacitation in an African context on issues pertaining to elections, good governance and democratization more broadly.