Security Council, African Union agree to bolster cooperation

16 May - Members of the United Nations Security Council today held talks with their African Union (AU) counterpart in the Ethiopian capital, Addis Ababa, agreeing to enhance cooperation, especially in the prevention and resolution of conflicts, peacekeeping and peace building.

During today's consultative meeting, a follow-up to two previous gatherings in 2007 and 2008, the Security Council and the AU's Peace and Security Council (PSC) “agreed to pursue their consultations on ways and means to strengthen their cooperation and partnership,” according to a communiqué issued after the talks.

They reaffirmed their commitment to enhancing collaboration in areas including the promotion of human rights, democracy and the rule of law in Africa.

Among topics discussed by members of the Security Council and the PSC were the situations in Somalia and Sudan relations between Sudan and Chad and unconstitutional changes in African governments.

The meeting at AU Headquarters today is part of the Security Council members' week-long trip to Africa, which will also take them to Rwanda, the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) and Liberia.

The Ambassadors of France, Uganda, the United Kingdom and the United States will lead or co-lead the different segments of the trip, which wraps up on 21 May.

Last June, the 15-member body visited Djibouti, Sudan, Chad, DRC and Côte d'Ivoire last June during a 10-day trip to the continent.