The Chairperson of the African Union Commission, M. Mahmoud Ali Youssouf, the Secretary-General of the United Nations, M. António Guterres, and the President of the French Republic, M. Emmanuel Macron held informal consultations on 13 May 2026 at the African Union headquarters in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia.

Discussions focused on several African and international issues of mutual interest, on which the three leaders noted a strong convergence of views.

They reaffirmed their commitment to multilateralism as an indispensable framework for seeking common solutions to contemporary challenges related to peace and security, sustainable development, climate change and global economic vulnerabilities. They also emphasised the importance of more representative and inclusive international governance, particularly within the United Nations Security Council, and recognised the need for African representation in line with the spirit of the Ezulwini Consensus and the Sirte Declaration.

The three leaders reaffirmed the centrality of African solutions to the crises affecting the continent, as well as the importance of a balanced partnership between the African Union and the United Nations. They emphasised the need to strengthen coordination of international support to African efforts in conflict prevention, mediation and peace support operations.

In this context, they reaffirmed their commitment to United Nations Security Council Resolution 2719 (2023), which they identified as a landmark development in the partnership between the African Union and the United Nations on peace and security. They emphasised the importance of its effective implementation in order to ensure more predictable, sustainable and flexible funding for African peace support operations, without prejudice to the Security Council’s primary responsibility for the maintenance of international peace and security in accordance with the United Nations Charter. They also agreed to support the organisation of simulation exercises designed to test the practical arrangements for implementing Resolution 2719.

The discussions also provided an opportunity to address the prospects for international mobilisation in support of African priorities regarding peace, resilience and development. In this regard, the three leaders agreed to work towards organising an international conference to mobilise private-sector resources for the African Union Peace Fund, that would take place in Paris before the end of 2026.

On the situation in the Middle East, the three leaders reaffirmed their commitment to the principles enshrined in the United Nations Charter, in particular respect for the sovereignty and territorial integrity of states and the peaceful settlement of disputes.

They expressed their concern at the economic, energy and food repercussions of the conflict on the African continent, particularly regarding the supply of hydrocarbons and fertilisers, with potentially significant consequences for food security, macroeconomic stability and social stability in the most vulnerable African countries.

They called for strengthened international solidarity with Africa in order to mitigate the impact of this external shock on the continent’s food security. In this regard, they agreed to explore the establishment, under African leadership, of concrete emergency measures aimed at safeguarding the food security of vulnerable African States in the face of disruptions affecting global fertiliser markets. In this context, France indicated that this issue would also be addressed during the discussions on the global economic situation at the G7 Summit to be held in Évian on 15, 16 and 17 June 2026.

The Chairperson of the African Union Commission, the Secretary-General of the United Nations and the President of the French Republic reaffirmed their commitment to promote collective, solidarity-based and sustainable responses to the challenges of peace, security and development affecting the African continent and the international system.
 

For media inquiries, please contact:

Mr. Nuur Mohamud Sheekh I Spokesperson of the AUC Chairperson I African Union Commission I Email: SheekhN@AfricanUnion.org | Addis Ababa, Ethiopia