Morocco Co-Chairs UN–African Union Meeting to Strengthen Peacebuilding and Conflict Prevention

New York, The Gulf Observer: Morocco’s Permanent Representative to the United Nations, Omar Hilale, co-chaired the ninth annual consultative meeting between the United Nations Peacebuilding Commission (PBC) and the African Union (AU) Peace and Security Council (PSC) in New York on Wednesday, reaffirming the importance of enhanced cooperation in promoting peace, security and conflict prevention across Africa.

Hilale, who chairs the UN Peacebuilding Commission, co-chaired the meeting alongside Churchill Ewumbue-Monono, Cameroon’s Permanent Representative to the African Union and current chair of the AU Peace and Security Council.

The meeting highlighted Morocco’s contribution to strengthening coordination between the United Nations and the African Union, as the country serves on the AU Peace and Security Council while holding the chairmanship of the UN Peacebuilding Commission.

In his opening remarks, Hilale welcomed progress achieved since the eighth annual consultative meeting, held in Addis Ababa in November 2025, particularly in financial contributions and institutional coordination. He urged participants to build on these achievements and translate consultations into concrete measures with tangible outcomes.

Held under the theme “Advancing Synergies and Regional Approaches in Support of National Peacebuilding Priorities in Africa,” the meeting focused on strengthening joint efforts to address conflict risks and support sustainable peace across the continent.

Hilale presented proposals to improve the implementation of jointly agreed commitments, including preparing a concise record of decisions and establishing indicative timelines for their implementation. He also called for the secretariats of both organizations to regularly report on progress.

Emphasizing the need for practical and targeted cooperation, the PBC chair proposed coordinated initiatives in specific regions, particularly West Africa and the Great Lakes region, where joint efforts could produce tangible results at the request of the countries concerned.

On peacebuilding financing, Hilale stressed the importance of closer coordination among the UN Peacebuilding Fund, the institutional capacity-building component of the African Union Peace Fund, the African Development Bank and other development partners. He noted that improved alignment among these financing mechanisms would help ensure that resources respond more effectively to priorities identified by the countries themselves.

Hilale underscored that the proposals were guided by three fundamental principles: national ownership of peacebuilding processes, support from regional organizations and the inclusive participation of women, girls and young people.

Participants discussed ways in which the United Nations and the African Union could assist member states in developing national conflict prevention strategies and strengthening their resilience to emerging security challenges.

The discussions also examined how the Peacebuilding Commission could use its advisory, advocacy and resource mobilization capacities to support the African Union and broaden its network of partners. Other key issues included political transitions, sustainable peacebuilding financing and the AU’s Post-Conflict Reconstruction and Development (PCRD) policy.

The meeting concluded with the adoption of a joint statement outlining further steps to strengthen cooperation between the two bodies and advance lasting peace through African-led initiatives.

Among the participants were Bankole Adeoye, African Union Commissioner for Political Affairs, Peace and Security; Parfait Onanga-Anyanga, the UN Secretary-General’s Special Representative and Head of the United Nations Office to the African Union; Martin Kimani, the newly appointed UN Under-Secretary-General for Africa in the Departments of Political and Peacebuilding Affairs and Peace Operations; and Elizabeth Spehar, UN Assistant Secretary-General for Peacebuilding Support.

The meeting reaffirmed the shared commitment of the United Nations and the African Union to strengthening regional partnerships, mobilizing resources and supporting nationally led initiatives to prevent conflicts and consolidate sustainable peace throughout Africa.