Security Council resolution 2719 (2023) [on consideration of requests from the African Union Peace and Security Council to access UN assessed contributions for African Union-led peace support operations]
Symbol: S/RES/2719 (2023)
Date: 2023-12-21
Status: adopted
Agenda: S/78 [100] AFRICA--REGIONAL SECURITY
S/78 [9] REGIONAL ORGANIZATIONS--UN
S/ X Cooperation between the United Nations and regional and subregional organizations in maintaining international peace and security.
Subjects: African Union|UN > Budget|African Union. Peace and Security Council|UN. Security Council|WAR PREVENTION|REGIONAL COOPERATION|COOPERATION BETWEEN ORGANIZATIONS|REGIONAL SECURITY|AFRICA|PEACEKEEPING OPERATIONS|FINANCING|BUDGET CONTRIBUTIONS
Votes in favour: 15
Votes against: 0
Abstentions: 0
Voting record:
country: ALBANIA
vote: yes
country: BRAZIL
vote: yes
country: CHINA
vote: yes
country: ECUADOR
vote: yes
country: FRANCE
vote: yes
country: GABON
vote: yes
country: GHANA
vote: yes
country: JAPAN
vote: yes
country: MALTA
vote: yes
country: MOZAMBIQUE
vote: yes
country: RUSSIAN FEDERATION
vote: yes
country: SWITZERLAND
vote: yes
country: UNITED ARAB EMIRATES
vote: yes
country: UNITED KINGDOM
vote: yes
country: UNITED STATES
vote: yes

               United Nations                                                                   S/RES/2719 (2023)
               Security Council                                                  Distr.: General
                                                                                 21 December 2023




               Resolution 2719 (2023)
               Adopted by the Security Council at its 9518th meeting, on
               21 December 2023

                    The Security Council,
                     Recalling the purposes and principles of the Charter of the United Nations and
               reaffirming the Security Council’s primary responsibility for the maintenance of
               international peace and security in accordance with article 24 of the Charter,
                      Also recalling Chapter VIII of the Charter of the United Nations on regional
               arrangements and its competence under article 53 (1) of the Charter to where
               appropriate, utilize such regional arrangements or agencies for enforcement action
               under its authority consistent with the purposes and principles of the Charter as well
               as its oversight role under article 54 of the Charter, recognising that cooperation with
               regional and sub-regional organisations in matters relating to the maintenance of
               international peace and security can improve collective security and acknowledging
               the mandate of the African Union Peace and Security Council for the promotion of
               peace, security and stability in Africa pursuant to the Protocol Relating to the
               Establishment of the Peace and Security Council of the African Union,
                     Mindful of all its previous relevant resolutions and statements by its President,
               especially resolutions 2320 (2016) and 2378 (2017) as well as Presidential Statement
               S/PRST/2022/6 which underscored the importance of developing effective
               partnerships between the United Nations and regional organisations, in particular the
               African Union, and also recalling Security Council resolution 2457 (2019) on
               silencing the guns as well as the acceleration of progress in the realisation of Agenda
               2063 and the 2030 Sustainable Development Goals,
                    Recalling the signing on 19 April 2017 of the Joint United Nations-African
               Union Framework for Enhanced Partnership in Peace and Security on the African
               continent, and also recalling the Joint Declaration signed by the Secretary-General of
               the United Nations and the Chairperson of the African Union Commission on
               6 December 2018, which outlined the guiding principles underpinning the
               cooperation and collaboration between the two organisations in responding to conflict
               and crises in Africa and may continue to inform the partnership between the African
               Union and the United Nations in meeting peace and security challenges together,
               which has enhanced consultations between the African Union Peace and Security
               Council and the United Nations Security Council,
                    Welcoming the Secretary-General’s 29 April 2023 (S/2023/303) report on the
               Implementation of Security Council resolutions 2320 (2016) and 2378 (2017) and



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                 considerations related to the financing of African Union peace support operations
                 authorized by the Security Council as requested in the statement by the President of
                 the Security Council on 31 August 2022, and noting the African Union Consensus
                 Paper on Predictable, Adequate and Sustainable Financing for African Union Peace
                 and Security Activities adopted by the 36th ordinary session of the Assembly of the
                 African Union held on 18–19 February 2023,
                       Noting the ongoing efforts of the African Union and its sub-regional
                 organisations to strengthen the implementation of the framework of the African Peace
                 and Security Architecture to undertake peace support operations on the continent,
                 including peace enforcement, consistent with the relevant provisions of Chapter VIII
                 of the Charter of the United Nations, and reaffirming, in this context, the significant
                 contributions being made by African Union peace support operations in maintaining
                 regional and continental peace, in particular the comparative advantage, as “first
                 responders” with the political will in undertaking peace support operations, under the
                 effective and direct command and control of the African Union,
                       Recognising the changing nature of conflicts in Africa and the need to be able
                 to draw on a range of international responses and their complementarity to fit the
                 specific complex operating environments and evolving threats, including in some
                 environments the increasing use of asymmetric tactics by non-state armed groups,
                 terrorists and violent extremists, as well as the sophistication of violent extremism
                 conducive to terrorism, the deliberate targeting of peacekeepers, and the expanding
                 influence of transnational organised crime,
                       Reaffirming that States bear the primary responsibility for the prevention of
                 conflict and protection of civilians within their territories and further recognizing the
                 role that regional and subregional organizations play in this regard and that national
                 ownership and regional and subregional support is key to establishing sustainable
                 peace, and noting the important role of relevant stakeholders in preventing conflicts,
                 including countering violent extremism conducive to terrorism,
                       Noting the need to enhance and align the United Nations and African Union
                 efforts to support the national initiatives to address the security challenges of the
                 continent including through comprehensive solutions that respond to the root causes
                 and drivers of conflicts in Africa and underscoring the importance of the primacy of
                 politics and the need for coherent political strategies for African Union-led Peace
                 Support Operations authorised by the Security Council, and affirming that lasting
                 peace is not achieved nor sustained by military and technical engagements alone, but
                 through political solutions, and convinced that they should guide the design and
                 deployment of African Union-led Peace Support Operations,
                      Further underscoring the importance of a holistic approach to peace operations
                 deployed in Africa and underlying the centrality of the United Nations in
                 Peacekeeping Operations and the need to ensure coherence, coordination and
                 complementarity between African Union-led Peace Support Operations and United
                 Nations Peace Operations, in accordance with their respective mandates and avoid
                 duplication of efforts,
                       Noting also the progress made by the United Nations and the African Union in
                 the joint planning and management of African Union-led Peace Support Operations,
                 including in the areas of consultative evaluation, analysis, and assessment of African
                 Union missions as well as the conduct of joint assessments and technical missions,
                       Welcoming the substantial progress made by the African Union since 2017 to
                 strengthen its international humanitarian law, human rights and conduct and
                 discipline compliance frameworks with the support of the United Nations and partners
                 including the European Union and the African Union’s commitment to plan and


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           conduct its peace support operations in accordance with international human rights
           law and international humanitarian law, regional human rights instruments and
           applicable standards of conduct and discipline and underscoring the importance of a
           progressive implementation and evolution of the African Union’s adopted
           frameworks and its compliance in a manner that ensures the Security Council’s
           oversight of operations that it may authorize,
                 Also bearing in mind that promoting standards of compliance with international
           law, including, international humanitarian law and international human rights law,
           and conduct and discipline is an iterative and ongoing process requiring sustained
           support and dedicated resources including from partners,
                 Recognising the revitalisation of the African Union Peace Fund and the
           improvement of the Financial Rules and Regulations to support prudent management
           of resources and improved accountability, and welcoming the ambition to support
           African Union peace and security activities from the Fund, including Peace Support
           Operations,
                 Noting the significant contributions being made by the African Union,
           sub-regional organisations and its Member States, with the support of the United
           Nations and international partners, towards the maintenance of international peace
           and security on the continent and recognising the adverse impact that ad hoc,
           inadequate and unpredictable financing arrangements have had on African Union -led
           Peace Support Operations authorised by the Security Council under Chapter VIII of
           the Charter, and underlining the need to enhance the adequacy, predictability and
           sustainability of financing for African Union-led Peace Support Operations
           authorised by the Security Council and under the Security Council’s authority
           consistent with Chapter VIII of the UN Charter,
                 Recognising the various financing models presented by the Secretary-General
           in his report S/2017/454 on options for authorization and support for African Union
           peace support operations through which United Nations assessed contributions could
           be used to support African Union-led Peace Support Operations on a case-by-case
           basis, and stressing that any financing model to be used should be adequate,
           predictable and sustainable,
                 Acknowledging the existing efforts of the African Union and its Member States
           to share the burden of African Union-led Peace Support Operations authorised by the
           Security Council together with financing from United Nations assessed contributions,
           and determined to address the financing challenges identified with Africa Union-led
           Peace Support Operations and strengthen the strategic partnership between the United
           Nations and the African Union in support of the maintenance of international peace
           and security,
                 Also taking note of Communiqués adopted at the 1153rd and 1175th meetings
           of the African Union Peace and Security Council reiterating its commitment to further
           strengthen its partnership with the United Nations Security Council, for the
           maintenance of international peace and security, calling for the use of United Nations
           assessed contributions based on established parameters of the United Nations
           standards and building on existing practices to ensure access to adequate, predictable,
           and sustainable financing of African Union-led Peace Support Operations,
                 1.   Reaffirms its determination to take effective steps to further enhance the
           partnership between the United Nations and the African Union, in accordance with
           Chapter VIII of the Charter, including forging greater regional and national ownership
           and underscores the primary responsibility of the Security Council under the Charter
           for the maintenance of international peace and security, as well as the oversight



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                 responsibilities of the Security Council for African Union -led Peace Support
                 Operations authorized by the Security Council;
                       2.   Agrees to consider on a case-by-case basis, while aiming at early action
                 and rapid deployment to prevent violent conflict and its escalation, requests from the
                 African Union Peace and Security Council seeking authorisation from the United
                 Nations Security Council for African Union-led peace support operations under
                 chapters VII and VIII of the Charter to have access to United Nations assessed
                 contributions consistent with Article 17 of the Charter as well as the financial
                 regulations and rules of the United Nations, and under the direct, and effective
                 command and control of the African Union on the terms established in paragraphs 3
                 to 13 below;

                 Decision making and authorization
                      3.    Acknowledges that African Union-led peace support operations, including
                 peace enforcement can be deployed quickly to implement a clear, robust, and focused
                 mandate with a limited duration in time and an exit strategy defined from the outset,
                 and determines that the processes for mandate authorization will encompass the
                 following:
                      i.     The African Union Chairperson and the United Nations Secretary-General
                             will undertake consultations for the conduct of joint strategic assessment,
                             which shall include a detailed conflict analysis, a range of options for
                             response by the African Union Peace and Security Council and the United
                             Nations Security Council, including a draft Concept of Operations,
                             developed by the African Union in collaboration with the United Nations
                             and in consultations with the host country, and notify the United Nations
                             Security Council and the African Union Peace and Security Council,
                      ii.    A joint strategic assessment conducted through a consultative planning and
                             decision-making process undertaken by African Union Commission
                             Chairperson and the Secretary-General of the United Nations, and guided
                             by a joint African Union-United Nations planning as well as regular joint
                             review and reporting processes to ensure oversight by the Security Council
                             of all authorized operations that access United Nations assessed
                             contributions pursuant to its role and prerogatives as set out in Chapter
                             VIII of the Charter,
                      iii.   The decision of the African Union Peace and Security Council on the
                             report of the strategic assessment and draft Concept of Operations shall be
                             transmitted to the United Nations Security Council for consideration,
                      iv.    A consideration and decision by the United Nations Security Council on
                             whether to authorize the African Union-led Peace Support Operations with
                             assessed contributions,
                      v.     The mandates for African Union-led Peace Support Operations that access
                             United Nations assessed contributions will be expressly authorized by the
                             United Nations Security Council and guided by a coherent political
                             strategy that will be undertaken in partnership with the United Nations and
                             sub-regional organisations to support host countries i n their transition
                             from conflict to peace,
                      vi.    Following the United Nations Security Council authorization for an
                             African Union-led Peace Support Operations accessing United Nations
                             assessed contributions, the Secretary-General and the African Union
                             Commission Chairperson jointly develop the detailed planning documents,


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                      such as the mission and component-level concepts, including command
                      and control structure,

           Financial arrangements and procedures
                4.     Emphasizes that African Union-led Peace Support Operations authorized
           by the Security Council that access United Nations assessed contributions will
           comply with the Financial Regulations and Rules of the United Nations, standards for
           financial oversight, and accountability mechanisms, and reaffirms the established
           process for the preparation and presentation of reports by the Secretary -General
           containing proposals for the appropriation of resources and subsequent performance
           reports for consideration and approval by the General Assembly through the Advisory
           Committee on Administrative and Budgetary Questions and the Fifth Committee in
           accordance with the established peacekeeping budgetary process for United Nations
           assessed contributions and as appropriate, including information pertaining to the
           peace support operations budget;
                 5.   Also stresses that the logistical, financial, and other support extended to
           African Union-led Peace Support Operations will as appropriate, include costs and
           reimbursement of all categories of support as negotiated between the troop-police
           contributing country, the African Union, and the United Nations, under the
           Memorandum of Understanding according to the reimbursement framework covered
           by United Nations Peace Operations and as contained in the United Nations
           Contingent-Owned Equipment Manual, including the provision of personnel
           reimbursement to countries contributing personnel, as well as death and disability
           compensation and logistics support to the civilian component of the mission;
                6.    Determines that African Union-led peace support operations that are
           authorized by the Security Council will have access to funding from the United
           Nations assessed contributions not exceeding 75 percent of their annual budgets, with
           the remaining amount to be jointly mobilized by the African Union and United
           Nations from the international community as extra-budgetary resources and commits
           to consider all viable options in the event of significant shortfalls in resource
           mobilization;
                 7.   Determines that the support provided to African Union-led Peace Support
           Operations will be delivered in accordance with the Human Rights Due Diligence
           Policy on United Nations support to non-United Nations security forces and within
           the regulatory and administrative framework established by the United Nations
           General Assembly, and in this regard requests the Secretary-General to provide
           support to United Nations, as well as African Union entities to ensure implementation
           of the Human Rights Due Diligence Policy, with a focus on strengthening mitigation,
           compliance, and accountability measures and capabilities;
                8.    Determines that in authorizing, on a case-by-case basis, prospective
           African Union-led Peace Support Operations requiring logistical, financial and other
           support through the United Nations assessed contributions, the Security Council will
           decide on the most appropriate mission model, prioritizing the establishment of a
           United Nations Support Office, which enables the use of the fiduciary processes and
           reporting of the United Nations system or as may be necessary through any other
           mission model;
                 9.    Welcomes the commitment and ambition of the African Union,
           sub-regional organisations and its member states to contribute significantly within
           their available means to African Union-led Peace Support Operations to be
           determined on a case-by-case basis, in line with the principle of burden sharing, and
           further stresses this contribution will include the provision of military, police and
           civilian personnel, ensuring effective pre-deployment training and readiness of

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                 personnel, effective involvement in planning, situation analysis, assessment and
                 management for African Union-led Peace Support Operations that will be authorized
                 by the United Nations Security Council and have access to United Nations Assessed
                 Contributions;
                       10. Also welcomes the continued financial, technical, and logistical support
                 provided by all Member States and international partners in support of peace and
                 stability in Africa, and encourages Member States, international organizations, and
                 international financial institutions to sustain their support to Africa;

                 Compliance frameworks and other matters
                       11. Stresses the operational necessity for African Union-led Peace Support
                 Operations accessing United Nations assessed contributions to be planned and
                 conducted in compliance with the African Union Compliance Framework on
                 International Humanitarian Law, African Union Human Rights Compliance
                 Framework, International Human Rights Law, African Union Policy on Conduct and
                 Discipline for Peace Support Operations, African Union Policy on Prevention and
                 Response to Sexual Exploitation and Abuse, the Human Rights Due Diligence Policy
                 on United Nations Support to non-United Nations security forces, as well as align
                 with relevant United Nations frameworks and policies;
                       12. Emphasizes that African Union-led Peace Support Operations accessing
                 United Nations assessed contributions should ensure that the protection of civilians
                 is prioritized in the planning of African Union-led peace support operations, as well
                 as the Concept of Operations and rules of engagement and relevant policy and
                 guidance documents as appropriate;
                       13. Further emphasizes the importance of implementing resolution 1325
                 (2000) to ensure the full, equal, and meaningful participation of women, including as
                 appropriate, through the deployment of women as part of African Union-led Peace
                 Support Operations accessing United Nations assessed contributions, in all aspects of
                 these operation;
                      14. Emphasizes the need for the African Union and the United Nations to
                 enhance collaboration in operational support, planning, oversight, accountability,
                 compliance and decision-making, with a view to enhancing the autonomy and
                 ownership of the African Union’s own peace support operations;

                 Reporting and Monitoring
                       15. Requests the Secretary-General, in consultations with the Chairperson of
                 the African Union Commission, to submit a joint report to the United Nations Security
                 Council every 180 days (6 months) on the status of implementation of the mandate
                 that the United Nations Security Council authorizes for the conduct of any African
                 Union-led Peace Support Operations within the framework of this resolution,
                 including the state of compliance with paragraphs 3 to 13 above;
                      16. Also requests the Secretary-General to submit an annual report to the
                 Security Council on progress in the implementation of this framework resolution to
                 enable its alignment for greater effectiveness and also use the United Nations Security
                 Council and the African Union Peace and Security Council annual consultative
                 meeting to provide updates in this regard; and
                      17. Further decides to review the implementation of this resolution three (3)
                 years after its adoption and remain seized of the matter.




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