On 24 April, UNOAU participated in a briefing of the Group of Friends of the AU-UN Partnership held at the African Union Commission. The meeting was co-chaired by Ambassador Hope Tumukunde of Rwanda and Ambassador Stian Christensen of Norway. The themes of the meeting were a Briefing on the Outcomes of the 36th Ordinary Session of the Assembly (AU Summit), as well as the UN Secretary-General’s Report on Sustainable Financing of AU-led PSOs.

Ambassador Bankole Adeoye, AU Commissioner for Political Affairs, Peace and Security, briefed that the AUC submitted 13 reports to the AU Summit that took place in February 2023. The Summit emphasized the importance of multilateralism and working closely with the UN; and emphasised that the AU is moving toward robust and collective responses in addressing conflict on the continent, including funding within its abilities. In this regard, the Peace Fund (crisis response fund) made $2 million available to the East African Community Regional Force operating in eastern DRC, and $2 million were made available for ATMIS. The Commissioner emphasized, however, that the international community should render financial support for PSOs, citing serious financial shortfalls in this regard. The Commissioner also underscored that the AU Summit paid tribute to the parties to the conflict in Ethiopia for signing a peace agreement in November 2022, and he asked partners to continue to support Ethiopia in peace efforts, especially with reference to DDR. He referred to the Secretary-General’s report on PSO financing and reminded that the Common Position paper on financing of PSOs was endorsed at the Summit, expressing optimism that the Secretary-General’s report will be informative for the UN Security Council, and result in a tangible way forward to sustainable and predictable financing for UNSC mandated African Union-led PSOs. He also expressed concern about the conflict and political impasse in Sudan, and the need to scale-up support for initiatives to address the ongoing crisis.

The Deputy Head of UNOAU and Director for Political Affairs, Gerald Mitchell, briefed that the upcoming Secretary-General’s Report on Sustainable Financing of African Union-led Peace Support Operations was in the process of finalization; and that the Secretary-General remains committed to securing a durable solution to addressing financial challenges facing AU PSOs, through seeking sustainable and predictable funding, including through UN assessed contributions. He referred to the Secretary-General’s statement to the UN General Assembly on 6 February, recognizing the need for a new generation of peace enforcement missions led by regional forces, with UNSC mandates and under Chapter VIII of the UN Charter, and with guaranteed and predictable funding. He also acknowledged the useful consultations undertaken with the AUC in preparation of the Secretary-General’s report, noting that the AU had underscored the evolving nature of peace and security challenges on the continent and the shift towards the need for peace enforcement operations.