UN‑AU Calls for Strengthened Partnership Amid Escalating African Conflicts

In a Security Council address, UN Special Representative Parfait Onanga‑Anyanga urged a deeper partnership between the United Nations and the African Union to confront Africa’s growing security challenges. He highlighted the surge in lethal violence, civilian casualties, and the fragility of state institutions across the continent. Three priority areas were identified: the evolving conflict landscape, cross‑cutting drivers of instability, and the practical delivery of AU‑UN cooperation in peace‑security operations. Onanga‑Anyanga underscored the need for inclusive approaches that place women and youth at the centre of prevention and peacebuilding, and noted the role of climate change as a risk multiplier. He cited ongoing mediation efforts in the Horn of Africa, Great Lakes, and Sahel, stressing the importance of predictable funding, African ownership, and partner support to address root causes of instability.