Addis Ababa, May 13, 2026 (FMC) — The African Union and the United Nations have reaffirmed their commitment to strengthening cooperation across peace and security, sustainable development, human rights, and global governance reform following the 10th AU–UN Annual Conference in Addis Ababa.
In a joint communiqué, AU Commission Chairperson Mahmoud Ali Youssouf and UN Secretary-General António Guterres described the partnership as central to advancing peace, security, and the implementation of Agenda 2063 and the 2030 Agenda, while expressing concern over escalating conflicts, humanitarian crises, inequality, climate change, and weakening respect for international law.
Both sides emphasized the need for coordinated global action and stronger institutional cooperation, while reviewing progress in implementing joint frameworks on peace and security, sustainable development, and human rights.
On peace and security, they underscored the importance of political solutions and called for predictable and sustainable financing for AU-led peace support operations, including through UN Security Council Resolution 2719.
The communiqué highlighted ongoing crises in the Great Lakes region, Sudan, the Horn of Africa, and the Sahel, reaffirming support for mediation efforts, political dialogue, and coordinated regional responses.
On Sudan, they called for prioritizing civilian interests and advancing an inclusive inter-Sudanese dialogue through the Quintet mechanism. On the Horn of Africa, they stressed full implementation of the Pretoria Cessation of Hostilities Agreement and expressed concern over rising tensions in the region.
The two sides also reaffirmed cooperation on sustainable development, financing for development, digital transformation, energy transition, and regional integration, while calling for reforms of the international financial architecture to address debt, financing gaps, and illicit financial flows.
They further emphasized the centrality of human rights in peacebuilding and development and welcomed progress in strengthening accountability frameworks within AU peace support operations.
The conference also underscored Africa’s 2026 theme on sustainable water and sanitation, with commitments to enhance cooperation on climate-resilient infrastructure and early warning systems.
At the conclusion, both leaders signed a declaration reaffirming the AU–UN cooperation frameworks and agreed to strengthen joint implementation mechanisms, describing the partnership as a model of effective multilateralism.
The next AU–UN Annual Conference will be held in New York in 2027.