Secretary-General Welcomes African Union Summit’s Decision Setting Out Steps towards Budgetary Self-reliance in Matters of Peace, Security

The following statement was issued today by UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon:

The Secretary-General welcomes the historic decision taken today by the Assembly of Heads of State and Government of the African Union, setting out concrete steps towards self-reliance, particularly in relation to the African Union’s peace and security budget.  He notes with interest the innovative funding arrangements aimed at providing the African Union, via the Peace Fund, with increased financial means to address the peace and security challenges facing the continent.

The Secretary-General commends the African Heads of State and Government, the leadership of the African Union, in particular Commission Chairperson Nkosazana Dlamini-Zuma, and the African Union High Representative for the Peace Fund, Donald Kaberuka, for their active engagement in fulfilling the commitment to finance 25 per cent of the African Union peace and security agenda well ahead of the initial objective of 2020.

Mindful that a strong partnership requires strong partners, the Secretary-General looks forward to the implementation of this additional step towards the further consolidation of the United Nations-African Union partnership.  He urges Member States to give urgent consideration to this initiative.