Interaction with Regional and other International Organisations
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Members of the Security Council and AU Peace and Security Council held a joint consultative meeting on 21 May in Addis Ababa. (These annual consultations alternate between the UN and the AU’s headquarters.) On the agenda were crisis situations, Libya,...
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This Special Research Report responds to a growing interest in how to improve the joint efforts of both the UN Security Council and the AU Peace and Security Council to prevent and end violent conflicts in Africa. For almost six years SCR has been analysing these efforts in country-specific situations and at the thematic level. But with the tenth anniversary of the AU inauguration just over a year away it seemed clear that the relationship still had many problems and was very far away from realising its potential for being an effective partnership. In an effort to provide some detailed analytical tools for the parties, this report represents the beginning of an ongoing and detailed engagement by SCR on this issue. The preliminary conclusions from this report suggest that most of the necessary institutional steps are already in place, but given the resource constraints in the UN and even more so in the AU, it is a mistake to expect the secretariats to bring about a real partnership. Leadership by the member states of both Councils will be key and engagement needs to go beyond the brief and often symbolic visits to Addis Ababa and New York. Investment of more time and member state energy will be essential. A number of possible options in this regard are identified in this report. Other possibilities including the role of the subregional bodies will be examined in future reports.
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In February the OSCE chairperson-in-office, Lithuanian Foreign Minister Audronius Ažubalis, is expected to brief the Council on the activities of the OSCE. He will provide an overview of priorities and plans for its 2011 chairmanship of the organisation. No Council decision is expected.
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In July Council members will hold fourth annual consultations with the AU Peace and Security Council. All 15 members of the AU Council, as well as AU Commissioner of Peace and Security Ramtane Lamamra are expected to be invited to participate.
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On 5 February the OSCE Chairperson-in-Office Kazakhstan’s Foreign Minister Kanat Saudabayev is scheduled to brief the Council in an open meeting. He is expected to provide an overview of Kazakhstan’s priorities and plans for its 2010 chairmanship of the organisation.
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On 13 January the Council will hold a debate at the initiative of China on the relationship between the UN and regional and subregional organisations. In its concept paper China emphasises the pre-eminence of the Security Council in matters pertaining to the maintenance of international peace and security.
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On 18 March the Council will consider the report of the joint AU-UN panel set up by the Secretary-General to review options for supporting AU peacekeeping operations.
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On 29 January the Council will hold a private meeting on Maintenance of International Peace and Security: Respect for International Humanitarian Law. This item was added to the Council’s programme of work by the French presidency, acting on an idea by French Foreign Minister Bernard Kouchner. The initiative was conceived
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On 17 April, the Council is expected to hold an open debate (possibly with high-level representation) combining two thematic issues on its agenda: UN cooperation with regional organisations; andconflict prevention.
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On 6 November, the Council is scheduled to hold an open debate on the role of regional and subregional organisations in maintaining peace and security. The debate, which will be chaired by Indonesia's Minister of Foreign Affairs, Dr. N. Hassan Wirajuda, will be held at the country's initiative in its capacity as Council president for November.
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On 28 March the Council will hold an open debate on the relationship between the United Nations and regional organisations, in particular the African Union, in the maintenance of international peace and security. The debate, which is to be chaired by the Foreign Minister of South Africa, Nkosazana Dlamini Zuma, is the country's initiative in its capacity as Council president for March.
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The Council is expected to adopt a presidential statement following the 20 September open debate on challenges of cooperation between the United Nations and regional organisations and other intergovernmental bodies in maintaining peace and security.
