Africa is facing unprecedented security challenges that require stronger conflict prevention efforts to sustain peace and stability, according to the UN Special Representative to the African Union (AU), Parfait Onanga-Anyanga.
Onanga-Anyanga made this known at a UN Security Council meeting focused on Africa’s growing conflicts and the ongoing cooperation between the UN and the AU.
He cautioned that military action alone could not resolve the continent’s crises, stressing that “peace and security in Africa demand a proactive preventative approach.”
The envoy expressed concern over the number and complexity of conflicts across the continent, which he said were worsened by “weak or ineffective state authority, violent extremism conducive to terrorism, and inequitable management of natural resources.”
He added that organised crime, climate change, food insecurity, and the denial of basic human rights were also fuelling instability in several regions.
Conflicts in the Horn of Africa, Sudan, South Sudan, and the Great Lakes region—including the Democratic Republic of the Congo—have led to massive displacement and deepening humanitarian crises.
“No military solution whatsoever can resolve the underlying causes of conflict in the DRC or elsewhere in Africa,” Onanga-Anyanga said, urging the Council to use its influence to promote peaceful settlements.
He identified climate change as a conflict multiplier and highlighted the severe challenges faced by women and girls in war-affected areas.
Representing the AU, Ambassador Mohamed Edrees told the Council that “Africa is facing an unprecedented wave of threats to its security,” adding that stronger collaborative solutions were needed to achieve long-term stability.
Onanga-Anyanga acknowledged progress made through UN-AU cooperation, especially in supporting credible elections across the continent, but stressed that deeper consensus was now vital.
“The strong and enduring partnership between the United Nations and the African Union, as well as with other regional organisations, constitutes the foundation of effective and networked multilateralism,” he said.
He added that the partnership was essential to address Africa’s complex and interconnected threats to peace, security, development, and human rights.
In December 2023, the UN Security Council adopted Resolution 2719 to strengthen cooperation between the UN and AU.
Martha Pobee, UN Assistant Secretary-General for Africa, said the resolution was designed “to address a longstanding gap in the African Union’s peace and security architecture” and to ensure a more coordinated global response to armed conflicts on the continent.
She said ongoing efforts aimed to align collaboration between both institutions with a clear strategic vision and operational effectiveness.
(NAN)