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The PAPS Digital Repository collates, organizes, and shares outcomes related to Political Affairs, Peace and Security, produced by the African Union Commission and its affiliated organs.
Recent Submissions
Communiqué of the 1299th Meeting of the Peace and Security Council, held on 29 August 2025 on Briefing by the African Members of the United Nations Security Council (UNSC) Plus (A3+).
(2025-08-28) Peace and Security Council
At its 1299th meeting on 29 August 2025, the AU Peace and Security Council (PSC) heard a briefing from the African members of the UN Security Council (A3+) and reaffirmed their role in advancing African common positions. The PSC praised the A3+ for stronger cohesion and joint statements, their leadership as (co-)penholders on African files, and welcomed closer cooperation with CARICOM applauding Guyana and proposing that the “Plus” arrangement be institutionalized whenever a CARICOM state sits on the Council. It called for a tighter PSC-A3+ link, including clear guidance before and during UNSC deliberations, joint missions, an expert information-sharing platform, and for the A3+ to preserve and promote PSC decisions; PSC communiqués on UNSC items should be sent to the UN Secretary-General for circulation to the Council. The PSC urged full implementation of the Oran Process conclusions and the new coordination manual to keep A3+ positions aligned with PSC decisions. It established regular coordination-quarterly A3+ briefings to the PSC, monthly consultations with the PSC Troika, invitations to A3+ for relevant PSC sessions, and deeper expert-level work and encouraged UNSC resolutions to explicitly reference the A3+. The PSC also institutionalized an annual ambassador-level PSC A3+ consultative meeting, tasked the AU Observer Mission to the UN to synchronize monthly work programmes, called for monthly pre-mandate meetings between the PSC Chair and the UNSC Presidency, requested an A3+ chapter in the PSC Annual Report, noted the 12th Oran Seminar slated for December 2025 in Algiers, and decided to remain seized.
Provisional Programme of Work of the Peace and Security Council of the African Union for the Month of September 2025 Under the Chairship of the Republic of Angola
(African Union Commission, 2025-09-01) Peace and Security Council
The African Union Peace and Security Council’s provisional programme of work for September 2025, under Angola’s chairship, outlines a series of ambassadorial, ministerial, and heads of state and government (HoSG) level engagements. Key highlights include briefings on PSC activities for June–August (3 Sept), an open session on Amnesty Month (4 Sept), and preparations for joint AU-UN consultative meetings (15 Sept). The Council will also hold sessions on climate change and security (17 Sept), the situation in the Central African Republic (19 Sept), and the Sahel region (30 Sept). Major external events include the AU-CARICOM Summit (7 Sept), the Second Africa Climate Summit (8–10 Sept), and the UN General Assembly’s 80th Session High-Level Debate in New York (23–26 Sept). Special commemorations such as the Ethiopian New Year (11 Sept) and International Day of Peace (21 Sept) are noted, alongside a HoSG-level meeting in New York on conflict prevention and resolution in Africa (24 Sept).
Communiqué of the 1298th Meeting of the Peace and Security Council, Held on 27 August 2025, on the Briefing on the Continental Early Warning System: “Mapping Risks and Threats in Africa”.
(African Union Commission, 2025-08-27) Peace and Security Council
At its 1298th meeting on 27 August 2025, the AU Peace and Security Council (PSC) considered the Continental Early Warning System (CEWS) under the theme “Mapping Risks and Threats” and emphasized the need for stronger coordination among AU institutions, RECs/RMs, and Member States to bridge the gap between early warning and early action. The Council commended ongoing collaboration among CEWS stakeholders, underscored the importance of coherent policies, advanced data-driven risk analysis, and joint scenario planning, while condemning terrorism, violent extremism, illicit financial flows, and foreign interference. It called for integrating new tools such as a Continental Security Outlook, a joint analytical cell, and an illicit-finance task force, alongside promoting good governance and APRM recommendations as conflict prevention measures. The PSC also welcomed the development of a continental risk-mapping cartography and requested the AU Commission to finalize frameworks on structural vulnerability and resilience, enhance coordination with RECs/RMs, and engage partners for financing, with regular progress updates to be reported back to the Council.
Communiqué of the 1297th Meeting of the Peace and Security Council, held on 15 August 2025, on Consideration of the CoE Report on the Review of the AU Liaison Offices and the Draft Terms of Reference of the Peace and Security Council Sub-Committee on Post-Conflict Reconstruction and Development.
(2025-08-15) Peace and Security Council
At its 1297th meeting on 15 August 2025, the African Union Peace and Security Council (PSC) adopted the Terms of Reference for its Sub-Committee on Post-Conflict Reconstruction and Development (PCRD), reaffirming earlier decisions to urgently reactivate the body. The Council commended President Abdel Fattah El-Sisi of Egypt, AU Champion for PCRD, for his leadership, and appreciated the PSC Committee of Experts for drafting the Terms of Reference during meetings in June 2025. Stressing that the reactivation demonstrates the AU’s commitment to advancing PCRD, the PSC called for immediate operationalization of the Sub-Committee, urging Member States and stakeholders to collaborate in its work. The Sub-Committee is encouraged to assist conflict-affected states in restoring governance, rule of law, and socio-economic stability in line with AU Agenda 2063, and the Council decided to remain actively seized of the matter.
Communiqué of the 1297th Meeting of the Peace and Security Council, held on 15 August 2025, on Consideration of the Terms of Reference of the Peace and Security Council Sub-Committee on Counter Terrorism.
(2025-08-15) Peace and Security Council
The African Union Peace and Security Council (PSC), at its 1297th meeting on 15 August 2025, adopted the Terms of Reference of its Sub-Committee on Counter Terrorism (CT), reaffirming previous AU and PSC decisions on the urgent need for its operationalization. The Council commended Algeria’s President Abdelmadjid Tebboune, AU Champion on Counter-Terrorism, for his leadership and requested the AU Commission to accelerate implementation of his recommendations. It further expressed appreciation to the PSC Committee of Experts for advancing the reactivation of PSC sub-committees, emphasized that the reactivation of the CT Sub-Committee demonstrates the AU’s firm commitment to combating terrorism and violent extremism, and called on Member States and stakeholders to fully collaborate. The Council encouraged the Sub-Committee to support conflict-affected states in building resilience, enhancing regional cooperation, and implementing AU counter-terrorism instruments, and decided to remain actively seized of the matter.
Communiqué of the 1297th Meeting of the Peace and Security Council held on 15 August 2025 on the Consideration of the PSC Field Mission Report on South Sudan.
(2025-08-15) Peace and Security Council
The African Union Peace and Security Council (PSC), at its 1297th meeting on 15 August 2025, adopted the report of its field mission to South Sudan, reaffirming support for the Revitalized Agreement on the Resolution of the Conflict in South Sudan (R-ARCSS) and urging timely completion of the transition process leading to elections in December 2026. The council welcomed President Salva Kiir’s commitment to elections, noted progress on force unification, and called for the full participation of women and youth in peacebuilding. It expressed concern over political tensions and the detention of First Vice President Riek Machar, urging immediate release of all political detainees and initiation of high-level dialogue. The PSC appealed for de-escalation, respect for ceasefire agreements, and lifting of arms embargoes and sanctions to support security reforms. It also highlighted worsening humanitarian conditions and intercommunal violence, urging urgent action and support from partners. The AU Commission was tasked with deploying a Technical Assessment Team, mobilizing resources, and appointing a High-Level Representative to work with stakeholders towards a peaceful transition by February 2027.
