From 12 to 14 November, the Military Staff Committees of the United Nations and the African Union have undertaken three days of engagement and discussion, demonstrating their unwavering commitment to closer collaboration in the achievement of their shared goal of peace and security.
This visit to the United Nations in New York by members of the African Union’s Military Staff Committee builds on the inaugural in-person meeting of the committees conducted in the African Union Headquarters in Addis Ababa in October 2023 and will continue through virtual and in-person engagements as the cooperation between the committees in their shared pursuit of peace and security continues to grow in strength and depth.
More work is required, and will be undertaken, but the Military Committees agree discussions on the sharing of lessons from peace operations, mutual secretariat support for peace operations and collaboration between the committees has further strengthened the relationship between the international organisations. The Committees stand ready to undertake any tasks that would be given by their respective Councils.
The Participants underscored the importance of establishing a "Joint Statement Memorandum of Understanding" to signify their mutual intention to collaborate, outlining the key areas of cooperation, roles and responsibilities of each party, and a commitment to regular communication and progress evaluation. This collaboration will be reflected in respective programmes of work.