ADDIS ABABA, Ethiopia, March 22, 2016/APO (African Press Organization)/ —
The Peace and Security Council of the African Union (AU), at its 582nd meeting held on 14 March 2016, was briefed by the AU Commissioner for Peace and Security, Ambassador Smail Chergui on the AU Peace Fund, as well as by the AU High Representative for the Peace Fund, Dr. Donald Kaberuka, on his activities.
Council took note of the comprehensive briefing given by the AU High Representative for the Peace Fund, in particular, his consultations with key partners with regard to the AU’s proposals that AU-led peace support operations be financed from United Nations (UN) assessed contributions, since these missions are undertaken within the framework of the UN Charter, in which the UN Security Council has primary responsibility for the maintenance of international peace and security, while the role of regional arrangements is also recognized.
Council congratulated Dr. Kaberuka on his appointment as the AU High Representative for the Peace Fund, tasked with assisting the AU to meet its financial commitments to peace and security, develop a roadmap for sustainable funding for AU-led peace support operations, mobilize funds to the Peace Fund and to also act as an important interlocutor with international partners on the proposal that UN assessed contributions be provided to finance AU-led peace support operations. Encouraging him to persevere in discharging his responsibilities, Council pledged its full support to his efforts.
Council underscored the imperative need for all Member States to extend their full cooperation to Dr. Kaberuka, in order to ensure the success of his efforts. In this context, Council recalled decision Assembly/AU/Dec. 561(XXXIV) on alternative sources of funding, adopted at the 25th Ordinary Session of the Assembly of the Union, held from 14 to 15 June 2015, in Johannesburg, South Africa, regarding the need for Member States to enhance ownership of the budget of the Union by financing 100% of the operating budget, 75% of the programme budget, and 25% of the peace and security budget, to be phased in incrementally over a five-year period. In this respect, Council urged all Member States to fully honour their commitments.
Underlining the close linkages between peace, security and development, Council strongly appealed to all Member States to extend their full support to Dr. Kaberuka during the course of his consultations at the highest level within Africa, as part of the overall African efforts to silence the guns by 2020.
Council called on the UN to respond positively to its call for financing of AU-led peace support operations from UN assessed contributions, and urged African members of the UN Security Council to promote this agenda vigorously.
Council looked forward to the finalization of the AU Peace Fund roadmap, which would include modalities for the realization of the AU’s contribution of 25% of the cost of AU-led peace support operations, and its submission to the Assembly of the Union at its next Ordinary Session in June-July 2016, before submission to the 71st UN General Assembly in September 2016.
Council agreed to remain actively seized of the matter.
