The UN and African Union should shift from reactive crisis management to proactive conflict prevention, according to speakers at a Security Council meeting. The UK pledged £25 million to strengthen the partnership, while calls grew for permanent African representation in the Security Council.
The United Nations and African Union must transform their partnership from reactive crisis management to proactive conflict prevention, according to officials at a Security Council meeting on October 6, 2026. The discussion, held ahead of the 20th annual joint consultative meetings, emphasized the need for predictable financing,
“ownership” of peace operations, and stronger early-warning mechanisms.
Shift from Reactivity to Proactive Engagement
Parfait Onanga-Anyanga, Special Representative of the UN Secretary-General to the African Union, stressed that the scale and complexity of today's challenges demand a stronger partnership; one that anticipates crises, addresses the pressures that sustain them and converts shared commitment into prompt, predictable and accountable action.
This call for a partnership by design
rather than cooperation by circumstance
was echoed by multiple Council members.
Zinurine Abiodu Alghali, Senior Advisor to the Security Council’s African members, noted that the UN-AU partnership had established instruments it did not have a year ago
since their last meeting.
The African Union is leading the efforts of the Quintet, alongside the United Nations, the League of Arab States, IGAD [Intergovernmental Authority on Development] and European Union, according to Miragenews.
UK provides funding to stabilize Horn of Africa
Through its £25 million African Union Partnership Programme, the UK supports AU mediation and the UNDP-AUC African Facility to Support Inclusive Transitions. The country also provided £16.5 million in direct support to AUSSOM (African Union Mission in Somalia) and an additional £8.5 million to the UN trust fund, enabling logistical support for Somali security forces. The funding highlights the UK's contribution to stabilizing the Horn of Africa.
The UK’s representative also stated, We look forward to welcoming the AU Peace and Security Council to New York later this month.
This follows the 20th annual joint consultative meetings between the UN and AU, which aim to strengthen coordination on peace and security issues.
Officials coordinate efforts to address regional conflicts
Officials highlighted the importance of addressing regional conflicts through coordinated efforts. In Somalia, AU forces have worked alongside the UN to advance stability, while the Quintet—comprising the AU, UN, Arab League, IGAD, and EU—supports a Sudanese-led political process. The Democratic Republic of the Congo’s delegate called for integrating natural resource management into prevention frameworks, stating, Africa's natural wealth must finance development for its people and not conflict.
Financing and follow-up determine UN-AU partnership effectiveness
While the Security Council affirmed the importance of the UN-AU partnership, challenges remain. The effectiveness of resolution 2719 (2023) depends on predictable financing
and measurable follow-up on previous decisions,
as noted by the UN’s Onanga-Anyanga. The upcoming joint consultative meetings will be critical in translating these commitments into actionable strategies.