Joint Communiqué by UN Security Council and AU Peace & Security Council

1. Recalling that the United Nations Security Council (UNSC) has the primary responsibility for the maintenance of international peace and security;

2. Recalling the provisions of Chapter VIII of the United Nations (UN) Charter on the relationship with regional arrangements;

3. Recalling the mandate of the African Union Peace and Security Council (AU PSC) with regard to the maintenance of peace and security in Africa, as provided for in the relevant provisions of the Protocol Relating to the establishment of the Peace and Security Council (PSC) of the African Union (AU);

4. Recalling the Presidential Statements and decisions of the UNSC and AU PSC on the relationship between the two bodies;

5. Recognising the contribution made by the AU, Regional Economic Communities and the UN in promoting peace in Africa;

6. Underlining the importance of support for the operationalization of the African Peace and Security Architecture and in this context encouraging the implementation of the 10-year programme for capacity building between the UN Secretariat and the AU Commission;

7. At our joint meeting here today, we commit ourselves to the development of a stronger and more structured relationship between the UNSC and the AU PSC, inter alia on conflict prevention, management and resolution, peacekeeping and peacebuilding, including Post Conflict Reconstruction and Development, as well as sharing of information on conflict situations on the agendas of the two bodies.

8. We express our support for the strengthening of AU capacity within the Commission in all relevant areas, such as planning and logistics, and in particular the establishment of a well-resourced peacekeeping capability, as well as in the fields of conflict prevention, management and resolution.

9. We attach particular importance to the development of the African Standby Force.

10. We agree to consider, including on the basis of the forthcoming report from the UN Secretary-General, the modalities for supporting and improving in a sustained way the resource base and capacity of the AU. In doing so, we will bear in mind that in taking initiatives for the promotion of peace and security in Africa in terms of Chapter VIII of the UN Charter the AU is also acting on behalf of the international community, and we will examine the possibility of the financing of a peacekeeping operation undertaken by the AU or under its authority, as requested in the decision of the AU Assembly of Heads of State and Government (Assembly/AU/Dec.145(VIII)).

11. We agree to strengthen the relationship between all the relevant structures of the UNSC and AU PSC, including their subsidiary bodies.

12. We agree to hold joint meetings between the UNSC and the AU PSC, at least once a year, either in Addis Ababa or New York.

13. We express support for closer co-operation between the UN Secretariat and the AU Commission, particularly on conflict prevention, peacekeeping and peacebuilding.

14. We encourage the sharing of experiences on working methods between the two bodies.

15. We encourage close consultations between the AU and the UNSC as decisions are being prepared on issues affecting peace and security in Africa.

16. To further our relationship we will consider how best to improve the effectiveness of AU and UN peace efforts in Africa and how to strengthen coordination between the AU and the UN. We look forward to further joint consideration at our next meeting.

Addis Ababa
16th June 2007