The African Union (AU) and the United Nations (UN) held their Eighth Annual Conference in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, reaffirming their commitment to deepening cooperation on key global and regional challenges.
The high-level meeting was co-chaired by African Union Commission Chairperson Moussa Faki Mahamat and UN Secretary-General António Guterres.
In a joint communiqué released after the conference, both leaders highlighted the importance of addressing pressing issues such as peace and security, sustainable development, and climate resilience across the African continent.
The conference comes at a crucial time, as Africa faces growing challenges from conflicts, economic instability, and the adverse impacts of climate change.
Moussa Faki Mahamat and António Guterres emphasised the need for stronger multilateral action to promote peace building efforts in conflict-ridden areas, particularly in regions like the Sahel, the Horn of Africa, and the Great Lakes.
They also highlighted the importance of accelerating sustainable development initiatives, in line with the African Union’s Agenda 2063 and the UN’s Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).
The communiqué pointed to the ongoing humanitarian crises in several African nations, stressing the need for increased collaboration between the AU and UN to address displacement, food insecurity, and health challenges.
Both organisations reiterated their dedication to advancing women’s participation in peace processes and supporting the continent’s youth in driving social and economic change.
The African Union-United Nations Annual Conference, established to strengthen ties between the two organisations, continues to be a platform for dialogue on shared priorities, with both leaders committing to enhancing coordination in the coming year.