On 21 October 2026, the African Union Peace and Security Council (AU PSC) and the United Nations Peacebuilding Commission (PBC) held their Ninth Annual Consultative Meeting at UN Headquarters in New York. The meeting, held under the theme “Advancing synergies and regional approaches in support of nationally owned peacebuilding priorities in Africa,” focused on strengthening cooperation to advance conflict prevention and sustainable peace across the continent.
The meeting was co-chaired by Omar Hilale, Chair of the PBC, and Churchill Ewumbue-Monono, Chairperson of the AU PSC. Briefings were delivered byBankole Adeoye, AU Commissioner for Political Affairs, Peace and Security; Parfait Onanga-Anyanga, Special Representative of the Secretary-General to the AU; Martin Kimani, Assistant Secretary-General for Africa; and Elizabeth Spehar, Assistant Secretary-General for Peacebuilding and Peace Support. Representatives of 21 PBC members and nine AU PSC members contributed to the discussions.
Member States emphasized the importance of strengthening cooperation between the two bodies, advancing regional approaches to conflict prevention and peacebuilding, and improving coordination on financing and partnerships. They also underscored the need to ensure national ownership of peacebuilding processes and translate commitments from previous consultations and the 2025 Peacebuilding Architecture Review into concrete action.
A key outcome of the meeting was the adoption of a joint communiqué outlining practical steps to strengthen cooperation and follow-up between annual consultations. These include regular exchanges of information, expertise and lessons learned between the two Secretariats, as well as closer cooperation in the Central African Republic, West Africa and the Sahel, the Lake Chad Basin, and the Great Lakes region.
The communiqué also calls for stronger coordination between the AU Department of Political Affairs, Peace and Security and the UN Peacebuilding and Peace Support Office, alongside opportunities for joint engagement, including field visits, with the consent of the countries concerned. It further provides for periodic updates on implementation and greater coherence among peacebuilding financing mechanisms, including the UN Peacebuilding Fund, the AU Peace Fund and the African Development Bank.
The consultation reaffirmed the commitment of the AU and the UN to deepening their strategic partnership and supporting nationally led efforts to prevent conflict and sustain peace across Africa. The two bodies agreed to convene their next annual consultation in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, in 2027.
View the adopted Joint Communiqué here.
Watch the full meeting here.
