Discurso do Representante Permanente, Embaixador Sérgio França Danese, como Presidente da Comissão de Manutenção da Paz das Nações Unidas, em reunião consultiva do Conselho de Paz e Segurança da União Africana e da Comissão de Manutenção da Paz das Nações Unidas - 15 de outubro de 2024 (texto em inglês)

Statement by the Permanent Representative of Brazil to the United Nations, Ambassador Sérgio França Danese, as Chair of the Peacebuilding Comission, at the 7TH Annual Consultative Meeting of the African Union Peace and Security Council and the United Nations Peacebuilding Commission
October 15th,2024

Esteemed members of the African Union Peace and Security Council and PBC colleagues,

It is a privilege to address you today and have the opportunity to, once more, engage with our colleagues from Addis Ababa.

Our gathering reflects a shared commitment to fostering peace and security in Africa, recognizing that the cooperation between the United Nations and the African Union is vital for addressing the complex challenges we face. Together, we can work to strengthen peacebuilding and consolidating peace efforts across the continent, ensuring that sustainable solutions emerge from our joint initiatives.

Over the years, we have witnessed significant achievements in peacebuilding across Africa. From the successful implementation of peace agreements to the strengthening of local governance structures, these successes have laid the groundwork for lasting stability. In the PBC, we often refer to the successful cases of Liberia, Sierra Leone, and the Gambia. These countries overcame institutional and social challenges, in partnership with the Commission, setting examples of fruitful cooperation. Those examples may be followed by other countries facing the same problems, either in Africa or in other regions.

However, we must also confront the challenges that persist. Conflict remains deeply rooted in many regions, exacerbated by socioeconomic inequalities, political instability, and geopolitical divides. Addressing these issues requires a comprehensive approach, integrating peacebuilding and conflict prevention with sustainable development, human rights frameworks, food security, institutional strengthening and public security and an efficient Justice for the whole citizenship.

A critical component of our peacebuilding efforts is financing. While we have made strides in mobilizing resources, notably through the Peacebuilding Fund and the recent approval of 50 million dollars annually from UN assessed contributions, the gap between funding needs and available resources remains significant. We must advocate for innovative financing mechanisms that can support national strategies in peacebuilding and conflict prevention.

By prioritizing investment in peacebuilding, sustaining peace and prevention, we can create the conditions necessary for sustainable development and long-term peace. In this sense, international financial institutions and regional banks, such as the African Development Bank, must engage more consistently with the PBC and with the AU PSC. Those are political bodies, with political strength and authority. They that must be able to support countries with a strong and coherent peacebuilding or conflict prevention strategy when they seek concessional financing and technical assistance from international financial and development institutions.

And as we consider the transitions of peacekeeping missions, it is essential to integrate peacebuilding strategies into these processes. Transitioning from peacekeeping to sustainable peace requires a deliberate and coordinated effort. With the adoption of Security Council resolution 2719, future African Union Peace Support Operations should factor in the need to promote peacebuilding strategies for all their phases.
In this regard, I would like to underscore once more the role of local stakeholders, notably women and youth. Their meaningful and safe participation is crucial in ensuring that peace is not only achieved but also maintained. We must promote inclusive dialogue and capacity-building to empower communities to take ownership of their peace processes.

It is also imperative to reinforce the importance of aligning our efforts with the African Union's Agenda 2063 and of supporting the AU peacebuilding efforts, including the implementation of the African Union Policy on Post-Conflict Reconstruction and Development (PCRD).
These frameworks emphasize the need for a peaceful and secure Africa, and our collaboration with the AU must reflect these priorities. By harmonizing our strategies, we can amplify our impact and create a cohesive response to the challenges facing the continent.
So, let us reaffirm our commitment to deepening the partnership between the United Nations and the African Union. In 2024, the PBC decided that the AU should have a standing invitation to attend the Commission’s meetings, aiming at making the interaction with the AU observer mission more constant, more intense and more structured.

Together, we can overcome challenges, leverage achievements, and ensure that peacebuilding, sustaining peace and conflict prevention are at the heart of our collective efforts. It is through our united action that we will pave the way for durable solutions and a more peaceful, and prosperous Africa.
Thank you.