Statement by the Permanent Representative of Brazil to the United Nations, Ambassador Sérgio França Danese, on the Cooperation between the UN and regional and subregional organizations - October 12th, 2023

Dear Colleagues,

I would like to thank Special Representative Parfait Onanga-Anyanga, Ambassador Fatima Kyari Mohammed, Permanent Observer of the African Union to the United Nations, and Mr. Dersso for their important briefings. Their interventions have shed light on different angles of the cooperation between the United Nations and the African Union. This enriches our discussions and perceptions on this important topic on the Security Council’s agenda.

Brazil welcomes with appreciation the Secretary-General’s report on strengthening the partnership between the United Nations and the African Union on peace and security in Africa (S/2023/629).

As this session takes place in the aftermath of the joint consultative meeting between the African Union Peace and Security Council and the Security Council of the United Nations, this is an opportunity to take stock on the discussions held in Addis Ababa last week. I would like to express my gratitude to the Republic of the Congo and its Permanent Representative to the African Union, Ambassador Daniel Owassa, for co-chairing that meeting. The exchanges between both Councils helped to promote mutual understanding on issues crucial to the maintenance of peace and security in Africa.

I thank our African colleagues in Addis Ababa for their warm welcome and their willingness to engage in a fruitful dialogue, as reflected in the joint communiqué we were able to approve at the end of the meeting. We are indeed particularly satisfied with the adoption of that document. I commend all Security Council and Peace and Security Council members for the display of flexibility that enabled us to achieve this noteworthy outcome. I invite all delegations to visit this document.

Colleagues,

The complexity of the current African security challenges demands innovative solutions. This is even more evident in a context in which the prevalent model of peacekeeping operations is under severe criticism. The increasing role of the African Union and subregional organizations must be adequately supported. Brazil is ready to engage positively in the discussions on how to guarantee the necessary resources for African Union-led peace operations. We support arrangements that maximize the expertise that both the United Nations and the African Union have displayed in several fields.

The strengthened role of the African Union should not amount to a weakening presence of the United Nations. The assistance provided by United Nations regional offices and agencies is essential on many fronts. The Secretary-General’s report highlights the extensive activities and programmes carried out by the United Nations, the African Union and subregional organizations to promote conflict prevention, mediation, capacity-building, electoral support and humanitarian assistance. We should also aim to strengthen the role of the United Nations' Peacebuilding Commission in supporting those activities and programmes. This cooperation must continue and be strengthened, especially in the cases of Mali and the Democratic Republic of the Congo, where the United Nations Multidimensional Integrated Stabilization Mission in Mali (MINUSMA) and the United Nations Organization Stabilization Mission in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (MONUSCO) are, respectively, withdrawing and transitioning. Those processes must be carried forward in an orderly and secure manner, with the full engagement of both Governments.

Colleagues,

We have many times called attention to the nexus between security and sustainable development. In the African case, that link is evident. The security situations in the Sahel, the Sudan, Somalia and the Democratic Republic of the Congo illustrate this. The lack of economic and social prospects, especially for youth, creates breeding grounds for violent extremism conducive to terrorism and intercommunal violence. Also, the disproportionate impact of conflicts on women and girls through conflict-related sexual violence leads to their social and economic alienation. The persistent disregard for development and inclusivity inevitably results in divided societies prone to conflict.

The United Nations and the African Union should continue to work together to reduce poverty and inequality in Africa. The implementation of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development is an important step in this direction. The United Nations support for Agenda 2063 is also key, always respecting African countries’ ownership of their development and institutional processes. Brazil hopes that the United Nations-African Union partnership evolves in a way that promotes stability on the continent, by increasingly valuing African solutions to problems that, although taking place in Africa, affect all of us.

Thank you.