ADDIS ABABA: The security councils of the United Nations (UN) and African Union (AU) on Thursday started talks on funding for peacekeeping missions by the pan-African body on the continent.
AU, the bloc of 55 African nations with a population of 1.4 billion people, has long struggled to finance peace operations, often relying on partners such as the European Union.
Bankole Adeoye, AU’s commissioner for political affairs, peace and security, launched the two-day meeting in Ethiopia’s capital city of Addis Ababa and urged for nations to address the issues of adequate, predictable, flexible and sustainable financing.
A draft resolution has been under talks between the two organisations since 2018, but has been delayed especially due to strife with the AU.
UN chief’s representative hopes for funding arrangement
Parfait Onanga-Anyanga, UN chief’s representative to the AU, expressed hope talks would lead to a new funding arrangement.
The secretary general has said in his new agenda for peace that contemporary threats, formidable challenges to security and peace on the continent need a new state of responses laid by partners, said Onanga-Anyanga, referring to Antonio UN chief Antonio Guterres plan published in July that sought to reform the way the United Nations operates in conflict-ridden zones.
Among the reservations raised by some UNSC members are the type of the operations that can be financed and the question of criminal liability in the event of abuse of the funds.
Sergio Franca Danese, Brazil’s ambassador to the UN and chair of the UNSC, said that PSC was an important partner as it gives a unique perspective on the security threats including the root causes of the conflicts in Africa.
The two councils are also due to discuss the security situation across Africa, particularly in conflict-hit Sudan, Somalia, and the Democratic Republic of Congo.
