ECOWAS and AU Collaborate on Africa Peace Support Missions

The ECOWAS Commission's department for Political Affairs, Peacekeeping, and Security recently hosted a delegation from the African Union, UN Human Rights, and the EU delegation to the AU for strategic talks aimed at operationalizing the Africa Peace Support Missions. The focus of the meeting was on integrating and implementing the African Union Accountability and Compliance Framework (AUCF) into peacekeeping missions across the region to ensure seamless operations without human rights violations.

Dr. Abdul-Fatau Musa, ECOWAS Commissioner for Political Affairs, expressed gratitude for the delegation during his welcoming address, emphasizing ECOWAS's commitment to accountability and compliance with human rights standards. He highlighted the importance of maintaining the highest standards of conduct and integrity in peace support operations and the development of policies like the Conduct and Discipline Policy Framework to support these efforts.

Ambassador Bankole Adeoye, AU Commissioner for Political Affairs, stressed the paramount importance of human rights in fostering compliance and accountability, particularly in addressing terrorism effectively. He highlighted the AU's plan to extend the compliance framework to all regional bodies, starting with ECOWAS, to strengthen international cooperation and contribute to a conflict-free Africa.

H.E. Ms. Ilze Brands Kehris, United Nations Assistant Secretary-General for Human Rights, emphasized the global challenges in peacekeeping efforts and the importance of partnerships in implementing compliance measures. She highlighted the agreement between the AU and UN on human rights, complementing the efforts of the AUCF.

H.E. Ambassador Nino Perez, Head of the EU delegation to the AU, reiterated the EU's commitment to the AUCF, noting the significant financial support the EU has provided to peacekeeping missions across Africa. The technical and strategic sessions between the organizations continued with the participation of experts from all four organizations on April 23rd.