PRESS RELEASE : African Union peace support operations play an important role in delivering peace and security – UK statement at the UN Security Council [December 2023]

The press release issued by the Foreign Office on 21 December 2023.

Explanation of vote by Ambassador Barbara Woodward at the UN Security Council meeting on Africa.

Thank you, President.

And I want to start by appreciating the role and the work of Ghana, Gabon, and Mozambique working with the African Union Commission in seeking to develop a framework for UN support to future African Union-led operations. And I think it goes without saying that the UK recognises the important role that African Union peace support operations can play in delivering peace and security in Africa.

The UK voted in favour of today’s resolution which represents a significant breakthrough.

As we look ahead, we recognise that more work will be needed to ensure that any future African Union-led operation can access the sustainable and predictable financing that it needs. And that requires clarity on financial and logistical burden-sharing arrangements between the UN, the African Union and other contributors – beyond elements for which contributors would already expect to receive reimbursement.

We also want to ensure that the UN Security Council, given its mandate for international peace and security, is fully involved and consulted from the outset in the development of any peace support operation. This will help us work hand-in-hand with the AU PSC to design accountable, effective and efficient missions of the future.

We very much look forward to working with Council colleagues in the coming months to cement today’s achievement and to ensure we have a workable framework that enables African Union-led peace support operations to meet the peace and security challenges faced in Africa and helps to silence the guns.

I thank you.