On 18 June, UNOAU participated in the high-level dialogue “Peace on an Empty Stomach?” co-convened by the Institute for Peace and Security Studies (IPSS), and the World Food Programme (WFP) at the WFP Conference Room in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia. The event followed up on AUPSC Communiqué 1083, which called for integrated responses to food insecurity, conflict, and climate risks. It was opened by Dr. Fana Gebresenbet, Director of IPSS, and Dr. Hameed Nuru, Director of WFP’s AU Global Office. In their opening remarks, both underscored the urgency of translating AU and UN policy commitments on food insecurity and conflict into coordinated action, especially in fragile contexts such as the Horn of Africa.

In its remarks, UNOAU emphasized the need to integrate food security into security, defence, and peacebuilding strategies at all levels. In addition to the AU PSC Communique 1083, UN Security Council Resolution 2417 was highlighted as an important point of reference within the UN system regarding conflict and food insecurity, emphasizing that the resolution is also binding for African Member States, who are part of the UN.

Ambassador Churchill Ewumbue Monono, Permanent Representative of Cameroon to the AU, underscored the need for robust AU PSC engagement, calling for stronger data use and collaboration between the Departments of Agriculture, Rural Development, Blue Economy and Sustainable Environment and the Department of Political Affairs, Peace and Security. PSC Members including Permanent representatives from the DRC, Sierra Leone, Côte d’Ivoire, Botswana, Somalia and Nigeria, emphasized the importance of operationalizing Communiqué 1083 and UNSC Resolution 2417, and proposed deeper integration of food, climate and security linkages in AU policy and programming.

The discussion reaffirmed the importance of cross-departmental collaboration within the AUC, including through the mandate of the AU Special Envoy on Climate, Peace and Security. Participants called for better use of early warning/anticipatory tools such as climate-informed hunger maps and integration of hydro-meteorological indicators in CEWS. The upcoming UN Food Systems Summit Stocktaking Moment (July 2025, Addis Ababa) was flagged as a key opportunity to mobilize political will, financing, and multilateral coordination to respond to climate-induced food insecurity across Africa. UNOAU will continue to support the AU and partners in analysis, institutional dialogue, and strategic partnerships.