Joint Communiqué of the Ninth African Union-United Nations Annual Conference

Document Type

Date

Nov 13, 2025

Body

Venue: New York, USA Date: 13 November 2025

1. On 12 November 2025, the Secretary-General of the United Nations, António Guterres and the Chairperson of the African Union Commission, Mahmoud Ali Youssouf, convened the Ninth African Union-United Nations Annual Conference at the United Nations Headquarters in New York. They noted with concern the current state of peace and security globally, including armed conflicts, poverty, climate and humanitarian crises, and in some cases profound disregard for international law and the shared principles of the two organizations. 

2. The Secretary-General and the Chairperson discussed the three joint African Union-United Nations frameworks on peace and security, development and human rights. They welcomed the progress made in their implementation thus far. They reiterated the interlinkages among the three frameworks and the importance of the continued close collaboration between the African Union and the United Nations in these areas. 

3. The Secretary-General and the Chairperson underscored the primacy of political solutions and the need to strengthen the capacities of both organizations in preventive diplomacy, conflict management and mediation. The Annual Conference emphasized the imperative to prioritize good offices missions and further strengthen collaboration and coordination between African Union and United Nations Special Representatives and Envoys deployed in various parts of the continent. 

4. The African Union-United Nations Annual Conference expressed grave concern about the deteriorating security situation in the Sahel and called on urgent collective efforts to address the rapid expansion of terrorism in the region. The Annual Conference reiterated their condemnation of unconstitutional changes of government and called for the timely and peaceful return to constitutional order in affected countries. The Annual Conference recognized the importance of dialogue and collaboration between affected States and sub-regional, continental, and global organizations in addressing the political, peace, security, development and human rights challenges. 

5. On Mali, the meeting expressed concern over the disruption of vital supply routes by al-Qaeda-affiliated Jama’at Nusrat al-Islam wal-Muslimin (JNIM) linking Bamako to ports in Senegal, Mauritania, and Côte d’Ivoire, causing severe shortages of fuel, food, and essential goods, with widespread power cuts and soaring prices.  

The Annual Conference agreed that the rapidly deteriorating situation requires the African Union and the United Nations to work together to explore all avenues— diplomatic, humanitarian, and security—to avert a more complex multifaceted crisis and prevent the unnecessary suffering of the people in Mali and the region. 

6. On Madagascar, the meeting underlined that coordination between the African Union, the Southern Africa Development Cooperation and the United Nations is to support transition authorities to restore constitutional order and promote reconciliation in Madagascar. Drawing lessons from the past, particular attention should be given to helping the Malagasy stakeholders address the underlying causes of the recurring political and institutional instability in Madagascar. The wave of youth movements challenging the inability of governments to provide for the basic needs of the population should concern and encourage the African Union and the United Nations to better support national efforts to improve governance and economic inclusion. 

7. On the Great Lakes region, the African Union-United Nations Annual Conference welcomed the Peace Agreement between the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) and Rwanda signed in Washington DC on 27 June 2025, the Doha Declaration of Principles between the Government of the DRC and the Alliance Fleuve Congo / Mouvement du 23 Mars (AFC/M23) signed on 19 July 2025 and the Agreement establishing a Ceasefire Oversight and Verification Mechanism signed on 14 October 2025, and called on all parties to abide by their commitments. The Annual Conference commended the efforts of the African Union appointed Mediator President Faure Gnassingbé and the EAC–SADC Panel of Co-Facilitators while expressing concerns that diplomatic progress has yet to translate into tangible improvements in the security and humanitarian situation in the region. The Annual Conference underscored the need for close coordination and collaboration to ensure that ongoing peace initiatives remain complementary and mutually reinforcing, in pursuit of lasting peace, security, human rights and development in Eastern DRC and the wider Great Lakes region. 

8. The Annual Conference observed that geopolitical dynamics in the Horn of Africa are becoming increasingly fragile. It expressed concern about the tensions between Ethiopia and Eritrea, and noted the need for more coordinated preventive action by both organizations. The Annual Conference also called for the full implementation of the Cessation of Hostilities Agreement (CoHA-Pretoria Agreement) and for the signatory parties to use the established mechanisms to solve any disagreement. 

9. On Somalia, the Annual Conference reaffirmed that AUSSOM is essential for the stability of Somalia, the broader Horn of Africa region and the Red Sea. The meeting noted the 25 September High-level event co-hosted by the Federal Government of Somalia, the African Union, the United Nations and the United Kingdom. The Annual Conference deplored the continuing dire financial situation of AUSSOM and urged sustainable and predictable funding for the Mission. The importance of maintaining the operational effectiveness of the United Nations Support Office for Somalia (UNSOS) and its ability to deliver its mandate was also stressed, specifically its logistical support to AUSSOM and the Somali Security Forces, in line with Security Council resolution 2767 (2024). 

10. Regarding South Sudan, the United Nations and the African Union expressed their concern over the ongoing political deadlock and rising tensions in South Sudan and called on all parties to urgently re-engage in the implementation of the Revitalized Peace Agreement. Both organizations reaffirmed their joint commitment to support regional efforts, including those led by IGAD, towards achieving a durable and peaceful resolution of the crisis. They agreed to strengthen coordination within the AU-UN-IGAD trilateral mechanism to accompany the South Sudanese authorities in advancing peace consolidation and stability. 

11. On the Sudan, the African Union and the United Nations reiterated the calls on the warring parties for an immediate cessation of hostilities and stressed that dialogue is the only way to achieve the peace and unity that the people of Sudan demand. The African Union and the United Nations strongly condemned the atrocities committed against civilians, notably during the recent takeover of El Fasher by the Rapid Support Forces. These violations have been exacerbated by external interference and support to the parties. Both organizations reiterated their commitment to collaborate closely, including in the “Quartet” format, in efforts toward a swift and sustainable resolution to the conflict. 

12. With regard to Abyei, the meeting reaffirmed the commitment to enhanced coordination with the African Union, the AU High-Level Implementation Panel (AUHIP), and the Special Envoy of the Secretary-General, with a view to advancing reconciliation, community engagement, and the political peace process in Abyei. 

13. On Libya, the African Union-United Nations Annual Conference expressed its full support to the UN roadmap to enable the holding of national elections and an end to the transitional phase in Libya. It recognized the continued efforts of the African Union to promote national reconciliation. It welcomed the progress made in the signature of the Libyan National Peace and Reconciliation Charter by key political and military actors. It reaffirmed the importance of coordinated action by the international community, notably through the International Follow-up Committee on Libya and its working groups, to foster the Libyan-led and -owned political process. 

  14. The Secretary-General and the Chairperson reaffirmed the importance of predictable, adequate and sustainable financing for African Union-led peace support operations and underscored the need to advance the operationalization of Security Council resolution 2719 (2023), on a case-by-case basis. They emphasized the urgency of exploring options for its implementation in ongoing conflicts and crises. 

15. The Secretary-General and the Chairperson welcomed the convening of the fifth meeting of the African Union-United Nations High-Level Strategic Dialogue (HLSD) on Sustainable Development. The HLDS reaffirmed the AU-UN partnership as central to Africa’s transformation, setting a clear trajectory for coordinated results-oriented development efforts across the continent. It serves as a vital platform to enhance strategic coordination and mutual accountability, ensuring that UN support is aligned with the priorities of the African Union, particularly in the context of the Second Ten-Year Implementation Plan (STYIP) of Agenda 2063. In this regard, both parties called on the HLSD and the College-to-College mechanism to accelerate efforts to identify and strengthen United Nations entities’ contributions to STYIP, leveraging the priority matrices of African Union Commissioners as guiding tools, noting that investment in development has a dividend for inclusive growth and lasting peace. They further noted the need to ensure effective integration of Agenda 2063 and the 2030 Agenda into national frameworks, address implementation gaps through strengthened institutional coherence, country-led implementation, data-driven decision-making and financing. The Secretary-General and the Chairperson underscored youth and women’s empowerment as essential for accelerating progress across Africa. They welcomed the HLSD decision to prepare a joint roadmap ahead of the 2026 African Union Summit, strengthen the AWLN-UNDP Youth and Women Leadership Academy, and establish a new College-to-College on infrastructure, energy and digital transformation. 

16. The Annual Conference also emphasized the need to support African perspectives in global policy processes and conferences. In this regard, the Secretary-General and the Chairperson welcomed General Assembly resolution 79/263, which institutionalized the Africa Dialogue Series and its High-level Policy Dialogue as a unique and mandated platform to amplify the African Union’s Theme of the Year within the United Nations system.  

17. Looking ahead to 2026, the African Union-United Nations Annual Conference noted the thematic convergence between the African Union’s Theme of the Year— focused on “assuring sustainable water availability and safe sanitation systems”—and the United Nations Water Conference scheduled for December of the same year. Both parties committed to working together to ensure that the African Union Theme informs and enriches the United Nations Conference discussions, including through the African Dialogue Series and other collaborative initiatives. In particular, the Annual Conference highlighted the risks posed by the aggravating water crisis across the continent and called for greater collaboration between the African Union and the United Nations to overcome the crisis. The Annual Conference also looked forward to the outcome of the Ninth Session of the Africa Regional Platform and the High-Level Meeting on Disaster Risk Reduction, scheduled for 21-24 October in Namibia, and in this context called for the accelerated development of early warning systems, to attain the goal of universal coverage by 2027. 

18. The African Union-United Nations Annual Conference acknowledged that sustainable development financing can only be achieved through predictable resources. In this context, the Secretary-General and the Chairperson reaffirmed their shared commitment to supporting African countries in mobilizing sustainable financing, in particular through strengthening national capacities to identify deploying de-risking mechanisms. They further underscored the primacy of domestic resource mobilization as reaffirmed by the Fourth Financing for Development Conference and the Sevilla Commitment. They also stressed the urgent need to address Africa’s growing debt burden, which continues to constrain fiscal space and hinder progress towards sustainable development. Both parties agreed that sustainable development must be anchored in resilient national systems and supported by coordinated international action. 

19. In this context, the African Union-United Nations Annual Conference welcomed the operationalization of the African Credit Rating Agency (AfCRA), as a critical step to address biases, lower the "Africa premium" on borrowing costs, and spur African investment. The Secretary-General and the Chairperson called for international support for AfCRA to contribute to a more equitable global financial architecture. They both reiterated the call for strengthening access to development finance by African countries from the global financial system.  

20. The Secretary-General and the Chairperson commended the deepening AU-UN collaboration on digital public infrastructure and on the governance of artificial intelligence to ensure an inclusive digital transformation. They underscored the role of digital and emerging technologies in advancing development outcomes in key sectors, such as health access, smart agriculture, educational attainment and climate resilience. In this regard, they expressed support for the G20 AI for Africa Initiative and the Digital Transformation Strategy for Africa as pathways for positioning Africa as a leading global player in the digital economy. 

21.Recognizing the evolving global landscape, the African Union-United Nations Annual Conference emphasized the need to restore the developmental role of multilateralism and to reinforce Member States’ capacity to address structural challenges and mitigate external shocks. 

22. The Secretary-General and the Chairperson reaffirmed their commitment to advancing the Women, Peace and Security agenda as a cornerstone of inclusive and sustainable development in the world, especially Africa. They recognized the transformative potential of women’s leadership in catalyzing a virtuous cycle of change—one that promotes inclusive decision-making, efficient resource use, and improved public service delivery, ultimately contributing to peace, stability, and economic growth. 

23. In this context, the African Union-United Nations Annual Conference welcomed the adoption by the African Union of the Convention on Ending Violence against Women and Girls and recognized the significance of the 30th anniversary of the Beijing Declaration and the 25th anniversary of United Nations Security Council Resolution 1325 as key opportunities to advance a new approach to the Women, Peace and Security agenda that aligns with the vision of Agenda 2063 for people- driven development and durable peace. The Secretary-General and the Chairperson welcomed the role played by the African Women Leaders Network (AWLN). They further underscored the importance of advancing the Youth, Peace and Security agenda as part of their collective efforts to build inclusive, resilient and peaceful societies. 

24. The AUC Chairperson and the UN Secretary General underscored the need for climate action to generate resilience and promote climate adaptation. In this regard, they welcomed the Second Africa Climate Summit's Addis Ababa outcomes and the launch of the NDC Implementation Index as milestones in NDC 3.0 preparations, emphasizing AU-UN support for adaptation, mitigation, and just energy transitions via the Africa NDC Hub.  

25. The Secretary-General and the Chairperson also welcomed the ongoing elaboration of the Common African Position on Climate, Peace and Security. They underscored the importance of the Common African Position both as a means of underscoring the effects of climate change on Africa's peace, security, and development efforts, and as a means to strengthen Africa's calls for support in its sustainable financing of development. 

26. The Chairperson and Secretary-General agreed to convene the Tenth African Union – United Nations Annual Conference in 2026 in Addis Ababa at a mutually convenient date.

Press Release

Joint Communiqué of the Ninth African Union-United Nations Annual Conference

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Department Tags

Agenda 2063

Flagship Projects

Integrated High Speed Train Network

Connecting African capitals and commercial centers through a High-Speed Train Network; facilitating the movement of goods, factor services and people as well as reducing transport costs and relieving congestion of current and future systems through increased rail connectivity.

African Commodities Strategy

Transforming Africa from a raw materials supplier by enabling countries to add value, extract higher rents from commodities, integrate into global value chains promote diversification anchored in value addition and local content development.

African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA)

Accelerating intra-African trade and boosting Africa’s trading position in the global market by strengthening Africa’s common voice and policy space in global trade negotiations.

The African Passport & Free Movement of People

Removing restrictions on Africans’ ability to travel, work and live within their own continent by transforming restrictive laws and promoting visa free travel to enhance movement of all African citizens in all African countries.

Silencing the Guns by 2020

Ending all wars, civil conflicts, gender-based violence, violent conflicts and preventing genocide in the continent by 2020.

The Grand Inga Dam Project

Generating an estimated 43,200MW of power to support current regional power pools and their combined service to transform Africa from traditional to modern sources of energy and ensure access to clean and affordable electricity.

Single African Air-Transport Market

Promoting intra-regional connectivity between the capital cities of Africa by creating a single unified air transport market in Africa, as an impetus to the continent’s economic integration and growth agenda.

African Economic Forum

Multi-stakeholder meeting bringing together the Africa’s policy makers, private sector, academia and civil society to reflect on accelerating Africa’s socio- economic development and transformation by harnessing its vast resources.

African Financial Institutions

Accelerating integration and economic development through the establishment of organisations which will play a pivotal role in the mobilization of resources and management of the African financial sector.

The Pan African e-Network

Transforming Africa into an e-Society by implementing policies and strategies that lead to transformative e-applications and services in Africa such as broad band terrestrial infrastructure, cyber security and revolutionary bio and nanotechnology industries.

Africa Outer Space Strategy

Strengthening Africa’s use of outer space to bolster development in critical sectors such as agriculture, disaster management, remote sensing, climate forecast, banking and finance, defense and security.

African Virtual & e-University

Using ICT based programmes to increase access to tertiary and continuing education in Africa by reaching large numbers of students and professionals in multiple sites simultaneously.

Cyber Security

Incorporating emerging technologies in Africa’s development plans and ensuring these technologies are used for the benefit of African individuals, institutions and nation states by ensuring data protection and safety online.

Great African Museum

Preserving and promoting African cultural heritage by creating awareness of Africa’s vast, dynamic and diverse cultural artefacts and Africa’s continuing influence on world cultures in art, music, language, science, and so on.

Encyclopaedia Africana

Provide an authoritative resource on the authentic history of Africa and African life.

NOW

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References

Agenda 2063

Key Resources