United Nations Security Council Resolution 2320 – Cooperation between the United Nations and regional and subregional organizations in maintaining international peace and security
Resolution 2320 (2016)
The Security Council,
Recalling its primary responsibility under the Charter of the United Nations for the maintenance of international peace and security,
Recalling also Chapter VIII of the Charter of the United Nations,
Recognizing that cooperation with regional and subregional organizations in matters relating to the maintenance of peace and security, and consistent with Chapter VIII of the Charter of the United Nations, can improve collective security,
Recalling all its previous relevant resolutions, and statements by its President underscoring the importance of developing effective partnerships between the United Nations and regional organizations, in particular the African Union (AU), in accordance with the Charter of the United Nations,
Stressing the importance of collaboration between organizations in addressing the complex security challenges facing the international community,
Reaffirming its commitment to uphold the purposes and principles of the Charter of the United Nations, including its commitment and respect to the principles of political independence, sovereign equality and territorial integrity of all States in conducting all peacekeeping activities and the need for States to comply with their obligations under international law,
Resolving to strengthen the central role of the United Nations in peacekeeping and to ensure the effective functioning of the collective security system established by the Charter of the United Nations,
Stressing the utility of developing effective partnerships between the UN and regional and subregional organizations, in order to enable timely responses to disputes and emerging crises and to strengthen the role of the UN in the prevention of conflict, and further stressing that the coordination of efforts at the regional level may contribute to the development of a comprehensive strategy to ensure that peacekeeping is effective in addressing threats to international peace and security,
Commending the progress made in the UN-AU partnership and stressing it should further develop into a systematic and strategic partnership adapted to the complex security challenges facing the Continent,
Welcoming the UN partnership with the AU in the field of peacekeeping, including by supporting the AU’s efforts to develop policy, guidance and training in particular in the areas of security sector reform, post-conflict reconstruction, women, peace and security and the protection of civilians including child protection and the prevention of and response to sexual and gender-based violence in armed conflicts and post-conflict situations, thereby welcoming the Framework of Cooperation between the Special Representative on Sexual Violence in Conflict and the AU signed on 31 January 2014 and calling for its implementation,
Commending the work of the United Nations Office to the African Union (UNOAU) to strengthen the partnership between the UN and the AU,
Acknowledging the important role of the AU in efforts to prevent, mediate and settle conflicts on the African continent, and expressing its support for the continued efforts of the AU to confront threats to international peace and security in Africa consistent with Chapter VIII of the Charter of the United Nations,
Recalling the commitment made by the Assembly of the AU in January 2015, at its 24th ordinary session to fund 25% of the cost of its peace and security efforts, including peace support operations to be phased in over a five year period, as reaffirmed at the 25th Ordinary session in Johannesburg in July 2015,
Reaffirming the importance of mobilizing resources from within the Continent in support of the AU peace and security agenda.
Encouraging AU Member States to foster the process aiming at finding practical and consensual ways on how to effectively implement the decision made by the Assembly of the AU relating to the Peace Fund, as endorsed by the 27th Ordinary Session of the Assembly held in Kigali, Rwanda, in July 2016,
Recalling the Report of the High-level Independent Panel on UN Peace Operations (HIPPO), the subsequent Secretary-General report entitled “The Future of United Nations Peace Operations: Implementation of the Recommendations of the HIPPO”, with particular reference to strategic partnership with the African Union and in this regard stresses that this partnership should be underpinned by mutual consultations between the Security Council and the AU PSC in their respective decision making processes and common strategies for a holistic response to conflict, as appropriate, based on respective comparative advantage, burden sharing, consultative decision making, joint analysis and planning missions and assessment visits by the UN and AU, monitoring and evaluation, transparency and accountability, to address common security challenges in Africa in accordance with the Charter of the United Nations, including Chapter VIII and the Purposes and principles as well to determine the needs of regional peace support operations,
Welcoming the letter of the Chairperson of the AU Executive Council, the Foreign Minister of Chad, to the President of the UN Security Council and his request to start discussions, as requested in AU/Dec.605 (XXVII), on “the provision of UN assessed contributions for AU-led peace operations authorized by the Security Council”,
Taking note of the AU High Representative for the Peace Fund’s Report and proposals on the Decision-making Process for Seeking UN Assessed Contributions for AU Peace Support Operations as a contribution towards further discussions on sustainable financing for AU-led peace support operations on a case by case basis,
- Reaffirms its determination to take effective steps to further enhance the relationship between the UN and regional organizations, in particular the AU, in accordance with Chapter VIII of the United Nations Charter;
2. Acknowledges the need for more support to enhance AU peace operations and encourages further dialogue between the UN and AU to achieve this; and takesnote with interest the report of the joint AU-UN review of available mechanisms to finance and support African Union peace operations authorized by the UN Security Council of September 2016;
3. Stresses the need to enhance the predictability, sustainability and flexibility of financing for African Union-led peace support operations authorized by the Security Council and under the Security Council’s authority consistent with Chapter VIII of the Charter;
4. Reiterates that regional organizations have the responsibility to secure human, financial, logistical and other resources for their organizations, including through contributions by their members and support from partners and welcomes the valuable financial support provided from partners in this regard and commends the African Union’s ongoing efforts and commitment to enhance self-reliance and financing of its activities, in a manner consistent with its member states’ international obligations, as applicable;
5. Welcomes the AU Assembly decision [Assembly/AU/Dec.605 (XXVII)], adopted at its 27th ordinary session, held in Kigali in July 2016, which als o reaffirmed its earlier decision, taken at the 25th ordinary session of the AU assembly to fund 25% of AU peace support operations, to be phased incrementally over five years;
6. Encourages the AU to finalize its human rights and Conduct and Discipline Compliance frameworks for AU peace support operations, to achieve greater accountability, transparency, and compliance with international human rights law and international humanitarian law, as applicable, and with UN conduct and discipline standards, and underscores the importance of these commitments as well as the requirement for oversight by the Security Council for operations authorized by the Security Council and under the Security Council’s authority consistent with Chapter VIII of the Charter;
7. Expresses its readiness to consider the proposals of the AU, for future authorization and support by the Security Council for AU peace support operations authorized by the Security Council and under the Security Council’s authority under Chapter VIII of the Charter, including on financing and accountability, and in this regard, invites the AU to update the Security Council within six months of the adoption of this resolution, regarding the details of the proposed scope of peace operations to be considered; the progress, benchmarks, and timelines for implementation of the AU Peace Fund, consistent with applicable international obligations, as well as accountability, transparency, and compliance frameworks for AU peace support operations;
8. Requests the Secretary-General to continue working closely with the AU to refine options for further cooperation on the relevant AU proposals, including joint planning and the process for mandating AU peace support operations, subject to authorization by the Security Council and to provide the Security Council with a detailed report within six months of the adoption of this resolution;
9. Recognizes the AU’s commitment to fund 25 percent of AU peace support operation costs by 2020, underscores the need for early and regular engagement between the UN and AU on emerging and ongoing threats in Africa, emphasizes that consultative analysis and joint planning with the UN is critical to developing joint recommendations on the scope and resource implications of potential peace support operations, assessing action and undertaking missions where appropriate, and regularly reporting on such actions when taken, and underscoresthe importance of full compliance with AU and UN human rights and conduct and discipline policies and arrangements, and encourages further dialogue to establish these processes;
10. Recognizes the important role of the good offices of the Secretary-General in Africa, and encourages the Secretary-General to continue to use mediation as often as possible to help resolve conflicts peacefully, working in coordination and closely with the AU and other subregional organizations in that regard, as appropriate;
11. Welcomes the report of the Secretary-General on strengthening the partnership between the United Nations and the African Union in peace and security (S/2016/780), and notes the decision to conduct an assessment of United Nations-African Union cooperation, as well as the structure and capacity of UNOAU to meet the growing demands for the partnership, and requests the Secretary-General to report to the Security Council after completion of such assessment;
12. Decides to remain seized of the matter.
Adopted by the Security Council at its 7816th meeting, on 18 November 2016.
