Activities of Secretary-General in Ethiopia, 9 July

United Nations Secretary-General António Guterres arrived in Addis Ababa early on Monday morning, 9 July, to attend the second annual United Nations-African Union conference.

The Chairperson of the African Union Commission, Moussa Faki Mahamat, and the Secretary-General co-chaired a joint meeting of the Commission and senior officials from the United Nations.

The Secretary-General reiterated his pledge to reinforce the United Nations-African Union partnership based on the principles of solidarity and mutual respect, in conformity with the Charter of the United Nations.

Mr. Guterres said that the United Nations could not afford to fail in Africa.  He underscored that the United Nations and the African Union are working together to implement the United Nations Agenda 2030 and the African Union’s Agenda 2063.

They also jointly reviewed a number of regional situations where both organizations are involved in peacekeeping or mediation efforts.

A communiqué was issued following this meeting.  (See Press Release SG/2244.)

Following a working lunch, the Secretary-General and Mr. Mahamat addressed a special meeting of the African Union Peace and Security Council.

The Secretary-General underscored to the Peace and Security Council that the African Union is the United Nations closest partner.  He told the representatives that he is encouraged by the important measures taken to further strengthen the strategic partnership between the two organizations.

In speaking to the press afterwards, the Secretary-General said that the recent visit by the Ethiopian Prime Minister to Eritrea and its success and the recent decisions by the Intergovernmental Authority on Development on South Sudan give hope that the African continent is moving in the right direction.  He said the evident political will by the Ethiopian and Eritrean Governments to resolve their problems was very good news.

Before leaving Addis Ababa for New York, the Secretary-General had a working dinner with Ethiopia’s Prime Minister, Abiy Ahmed.