Senior United Nations and African Union officials have called for tighter coordination and faster, more decisive action to address a widening web of conflicts and extremist threats across the continent, arguing that only a “networked multilateralism” can meet today’s complex security challenges.
Parfait Onanga-Anyanga, the UN Special Representative to the African Union, said the “strong and enduring partnership” between the UN, the AU and regional organizations underpins effective responses that link peace, security, development and human rights. That approach, he argued, is essential as threats become “complex, evolving, and interconnected,” with Africa often bearing the heaviest burden.
Echoing that view, Mohamed Fathi Ahmed Edrees, the AU’s Permanent Observer to the UN, warned that Africa faces “an unprecedented web of security threats,” listing flashpoints from Libya and the Sahel to the Lake Chad Basin and West Africa. He urged renewed determination to secure a ceasefire and political pathway in Sudan, prevent escalation in the East and Horn of Africa, and sustain efforts to stabilize the Democratic Republic of the Congo and the wider Great Lakes region. He also called for continued support to Mozambique’s campaign against violent extremists in the north.
“Any hesitation or failure to take decisive, urgent action will affect the effectiveness of our two Councils and institutions,” Edrees said, cautioning that inaction could carry “far-reaching consequences for global peace and security.” He urged both organizations to “capitalize on the strengths and resilience” of their institutions to create the conditions for stability, development and growth.
Martha Ama Akyaa Pobee, the UN Assistant Secretary-General for Africa, linked the push for efficiency and impact to UN Security Council resolution 2719, adopted in 2023 to enable predictable financing for AU-led peace support operations under UN authority. “As we reflect on the future of peace operations and seek efficiencies, it becomes even more evident that resolution 2719 meets the moment,” she said, arguing it helps make peace operations “relevant to contemporary challenges.”
Pobee nonetheless cautioned that turning policy into results will require sustained political alignment among the UN, the AU, regional economic communities and other stakeholders. “Shared understanding and realistic expectations are key to successful partnerships,” she said, noting the variety of mandates and memberships across multilateral bodies.
The appeals come amid overlapping crises—state fragility, insurgencies, coups, and climate-driven shocks—that have strained national capacities and regional mechanisms alike. Officials say the path forward hinges on coordinated diplomacy, predictable resources for African-led missions, and integrated strategies that pair security efforts with governance reforms and economic support.
