Declaração do Presidente da Comissão de Consolidação da Paz (PBC), Embaixador Sérgio França Danese, em debate aberto do Conselho de Segurança sobre manutenção da paz internacional e da segurança e o fortalecimento do papel dos Estados Africanos na abordagem da segurança global e dos desafios do desenvolvimento - 23 de maio de 2024 (texto em inglês)

Briefing by the Chair of the Peacebuilding Commission to the Security Council 
Open Debate under the agenda item “Maintenance of International Peace and Security”

Strengthening the role of the African State in addressing global security and development challenges
May 23rd, 2024

Thank you, Mr. President.

On behalf of the Peacebuilding Commission, I thank Mozambique for the invitation to brief the Security Council. Today’s discussion is indeed welcome, given the long-standing engagement of several African countries with the PBC.

1. The PBC is fully committed to partnering with Africa in promoting sustained peace in countries that voluntarily come to the Commission for assistance in their peacebuilding processes. In working with them, the PBC supports identifying and addressing context-specific root causes and drivers of conflict, and provides assistance in this regard, by convening all relevant actors within and outside the United Nations, as appropriate. Institution building, electoral processes, rule of law, transitional justice, the women, peace and security agenda, the youth, peace and security agenda, disarmament, demobilization and reintegration, and security sector reform are among the main pillars of our work to build solid foundations for sustaining peace. Additionally, the Peacebuilding Fund continues to support peacebuilding activities in Africa.
2. These are only starting points for normalizing states in transition and post-conflict situations. The investment in sustainable development is crucial to long-term social cohesion and stability and must be undertaken in tandem with other initiatives. There can be no sustainable development without peace and no peace without sustainable development.
3. This is all the more important given the proportion of young people in Africa's rapidly growing population. As highlighted in the concept note for this debate, Africa's demographic surge offers a wealth of opportunities for robust, sustainable, and inclusive growth. Inclusive economic growth is important for this young population to realize its full potential.

Mr. President,

1. The African continent has made impressive progress in institutionalizing its regional policies through the African Union and sub-regional organizations and regional economic communities. During the 6th Informal Annual Joint Consultative Meeting between the African Union Peace and Security Council and the Peacebuilding Commission in November 2023, we discussed ways to strengthen cooperation between the two bodies taking into account comparative advantages and complementarities in peacebuilding and sustaining peace in support of national priorities and the activities of regional organizations in Africa. We both underscored the importance of supporting specific AU's peacebuilding and sustaining peace efforts, including the implementation of the African Union Policy on Post-Conflict Reconstruction and Development (PCRD).  
2. Such support is essential to ensure that African countries are able to build foundation for sustainable peace according to their specific needs and priorities, based on national ownership. Investing in infrastructure for peace is key to achieving stable, prosperous and just societies and to preventing the devastating human tragedy and socio-economic costs associated with conflict.
3. African problems must be solved with African solutions. Yet partnerships are fundamental. Financial institutions should expand cooperation in peacebuilding and sustaining peace efforts in Africa, including in conflict prevention. The PBC hopes to assist by connecting countries in need of financial support, with the IFIs and other potential partners. We also hope that the implementation of resolution 78/257 on financing for peacebuilding will expand the possibilities for supporting initiatives in Africa through the Peacebuilding Fund.
4. The Commission is of the view that efforts must be made to ensure coherence and complementarity between peacebuilding, peacekeeping missions and counter-terrorism operations, taking into account the Secretary-General’s proposals in his policy brief “A New Agenda for Peace”. In this regard, the implementation of Security Council resolution 2719 to support AU-led peace operations with UN assessed contributions provides an opportunity to promote closer cooperation between the UN and the African Union.
5. The PBC stands ready to offer its expertise in laying the groundwork for transitions and durable solutions, including through addressing root causes of conflict, and to engage with African countries on their path to stability and prosperity. Finally, we reaffirm the importance of reinforced implementation of the Joint UN–AU Framework for Enhanced Partnership in Peace and Security, particularly with regards to Preventing and Mediating Conflict and Sustaining Peace; Responding to Conflict; and Addressing Root Causes, as well as the AU-UN Framework for the Implementation of Agenda 2063 and the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development.

Thank you.