Communiqué of the 1176th Meeting of the Peace and Security Council, Held on 29 September 2023, on AU’s Engagement with the United Nations High Commission for Refugees (UNHCR) on Post-Malabo Extraordinary Humanitarian Summit and Pledging Conference: Translating Pledges into Reality.

Abstract

Council expressed deep concern over the worsening humanitarian situation in parts of the Continent and called on the Member States and the broader international community to increase humanitarian support for affected populations in Africa, in particular women and children, including the protection and assistance of refugees and displaced population. Council further expressed appreciation to the Member States and partners who made and honoured their commitments at the 15th Extraordinary African Union Humanitarian Summit and Pledging Conference adopted in May 2022 in Malabo, Equatorial Guinea - [Ext/Assembly/AU/Decl.(XV)]. During the Meeting, the AU Commission was called upon to (i) accelerate the finalization of the governing structures of the Emergency Fund for humanitarian crises (ii) spearhead efforts for an all-Africa mega pledge, inspired by the post-Malabo 10-year plan of Action. Council also reiterated its call for the AU Commission to (i) expedite the operationalization of the African Humanitarian Agency (AfHA) by 2024-2025 and ensure it is adequately resourced; (ii) communicate detailed and comprehensive information about the needs and requirement of the Agency’s operationalisation to partners; explore the possibilities of establishing a Humanitarian Platform within the African Diplomatic community in Addis Ababa. Lastly, the AU Commission was requested to undertake a study on the cooperation between the AU and the UNHCR in addressing the challenges of humanitarian crises in Africa to be submitted during the 55th anniversary of this cooperation in 2024.