On 10 April, the United Nations Office to the African Union (UNOAU) facilitated an informal meeting between the Chairperson of the AU PSC for April, Ambassador of Uganda to Ethiopia and Permanent Representative to the AU, H.E. Rebecca Amuge Otengo, and the President of the UN Security Council for April, Permanent Representative of France to the United Nations, H.E. Jérôme Bonnafont to share information on the programmes of work of the respective Councils and on related other matters of mutual interest.

In her briefing, Ambassador Rebecca Amuge Otengo provided a rationale for each planned activity, including the dedicated session on the 31st commemoration of genocide against the Tutsi in Rwanda. She also briefed about a planned AUSSOM TCCs’ Ministerial meeting and Summit to be hosted by Uganda on 24 and 25 April, and that the outcomes would inform the AU PSC Session on the situation in Somalia/AUSSOM due on 29 April. The Ambassador appealed for the support of the Security Council and France for Africa, stressing the need for sustained solidarity with Africa.

Ambassador Jerome Bonnafont expressed France’s continued political, economic, and socio-cultural support for Africa. He briefed on the Security Council sessions held and the upcoming meetings. Ambassador Bonnafont commended the planned TCCs’ Summit in Uganda and highlighted the need to strengthen the capacities of peacekeeping missions and to enhance protection for peacekeepers and humanitarian actors. Both Ambassadors reiterated the importance of monthly informal meetings between the UNSC President and the AU PSC Chairperson as they offer opportunities for strengthening collaboration and synergies.