On 16 September, the United Nations Office to the African Union (UNOAU) participated in a Director-level meeting between the UN Secretariat and the African Union Commission’s (AUC) Department of Political Affairs, Peace and Security (PAPS). The meeting brought together key stakeholders, including the four African regional divisions of the UN Department of Political and Peacebuilding Affairs (DPPA) and Department of Peace Operations (DPO), the two AUC PAPS Directorates, and representatives from the Regional Economic Communities (RECs) and Regional Mechanisms.

The primary objective was to revitalize the strategic consultation and coordination mechanisms between the AU and UN in the areas of peace and security. This effort complements other statutory meetings of partnership frameworks, such as the Joint Taskforce (JTF) and the Annual Conference. Participants agreed to hold quarterly meetings in this format, including sessions before JTF meetings, and to convene smaller, thematic or country-specific discussions as needed. Additionally, they proposed to meet in person at least once annually, subject to available funding.

Discussions during the meeting particularly focused on key regional issues, including the situations in Sudan, the Sahel, and Libya. Both organizations emphasized the importance of strengthening collaboration on these and other critical topics to enhance peace and security efforts across Africa.