Secretary-General Welcomes New African Union Commission Structure as Strong Message of Membership’s Commitment to Accountable, Effective Leadership

The following statement was issued today by the Spokesman for UN Secretary-General António Guterres:

The Secretary-General commends the African Union and particularly the Chairperson of the African Union, President Paul Kagame, and the Chairperson of the African Union Commission, Moussa Faki Mahamat, for the progress achieved on the institutional reform of the continental organization adopted at the Eleventh Extraordinary Summit of the African Union Assembly of Heads of State and Government, held in Addis Ababa on 17 and 18 November.

The decisions of the African Union Assembly of Heads of States and Governments on the new structure of the Commission and on the selection of its senior leadership send a strong message of the commitment of its membership to underpin the work of the Union with accountable and effective leadership.

The Secretary-General also welcomes the further operationalization of the African Union Peace Fund and the appointment of its Board of Trustees to facilitate flexible, predictable and sustainable financing of the African Union peace and security activities.

The Secretary-General reiterates the commitment of the United Nations to support the African Union Commission in these efforts.