African Union Peacekeepers Should Receive Same Support, Uphold Similar Standards

as United Nations Counterparts, Secretary-General Tells Security Council Debate

Following are UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon’s remarks to the Security Council debate on peace and security in Africa, in New York today, 22 October:

This is an important opportunity to follow up on last year’s discussions on how to strengthen the partnership between the United Nations and the African Union and, in particular, to enhance the African Union’s peacekeeping capacity.

The work of regional organizations under Chapter VIII of the Charter is indispensable.  The development of the African peace and security architecture is critical to an effective long-term approach to conflict prevention and resolution.  It requires the sustained support of the international community.

The African Union and Africa’s subregional organizations have made great efforts to prevent, mediate and resolve conflicts on the continent.  Often, its personnel have paid the highest price.  This year alone, the African Union has lost 15 peacekeepers in Somalia.  In addition, 44 peacekeepers from African troop contributors have given their lives this year to peacekeeping around the globe.

Last year’s debate, and the report of the African Union-United Nations Panel chaired by former Prime Minister Romano Prodi of Italy, detailed the challenges the African Union faces in undertaking peacekeeping operations authorized by the United Nations.  The report before you today provides an update on the work of the United Nations to support the African Union in overcoming these obstacles.

In the past few years, the United Nations and the African Union have entered into a broad range of partnerships — from early warning and conflict prevention to peacekeeping and peacebuilding.  These partnerships have deepened cooperation between this Council and the African Union Peace and Security Council, and between the United Nations Secretariat and the African Union Commission.

In this regard, I would like to express my deep appreciation to the President of the African Union, President [Bingu wa] Mutharika of Malawi, and the leaders of African States, for their commitment to peace and security, and to working closely with the United Nations.  I thank, too, the Chairperson of the African Union Commission, Jean Ping, and the African Union Commissioner for Peace and Security, Ramtane Lamamra, for contributing so much to developing close cooperation between our organizations.

As we all know, these relationships have yet to reach their full potential.  In July, the United Nations established its Office to the African Union in Addis Ababa.  Assistant Secretary-General [Zachary] Muburi-Muita, who is with us today, took up his post there last month.  We hope this Office will facilitate a consistent, coherent and strategic approach to the UN’s work with the African Union.

In September, I inaugurated the first meeting of the United Nations-African Union Joint Task Force on Peace and Security.  The Task Force is meant to engage our organizations at the highest levels in exploring ways to enhance our responsiveness so we can prevent conflicts rather than simply respond to crises.

We are also conducting a comprehensive review of the first triennial of the 10-year capacity-building programme for the African Union.  I will be reporting to the current session of the General Assembly with recommendations for further strengthening the programme’s management, cooperation, coordination and monitoring.

Building capacity is only part of the picture.  The African Union continues to face difficulties in securing the necessary resources to support its peacekeeping undertakings.  Darfur and Somalia illustrate this clearly.  We need to find a solution that will provide predictable, sustainable and flexible resources to the African Union when it undertakes peacekeeping operations authorized by this Council under Chapter VIII of the Charter.

African Union peacekeeping operations should receive the same support as all United Nations peacekeepers, including reimbursement.  By the same token, African Union peacekeepers should uphold the same professional standards as United Nations personnel.  This is why, for example, the United Nations Secretariat has been working with the African Union to define guidelines and strengthen capacity on protecting civilians and minimizing civilian casualties.

Let me stress again the great importance I attach to the partnership between the African Union and the United Nations.  In the months ahead, I will submit a report that will help to define a strategic vision for United Nations-African Union cooperation on peace and security.

Our partnership has achieved much to date and has great potential for the future.  Let us all work together towards effective mechanisms for a long-term approach to conflict prevention and resolution, and a reliable system for peacekeeping under the Charter.

Let us find our way towards a model that works for Africa and that can, in turn, bring lessons and applications for our cooperation with other regional organizations.

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For information media • not an official record