By HeapNews
The European Union Political and Security Committee (EU PSC) and the African Union Peace and Security Council (AU PSC) have renewed their shared commitment to advancing peace and stability across Africa and beyond, following their Sixteenth Annual Joint Consultative Meeting held in Brussels.
Co-chaired by Ambassador Delphine Pronk, Permanent Chair of the EU PSC, and Ambassador Tebelelo Alfred Boang, Botswana’s Permanent Representative to the AU and Chairperson of the AU PSC for October 2025, the meeting brought together senior officials including H.E. Bankole Adeoye, AU Commissioner for Political Affairs, Peace and Security, and H.E. Patricia Llombart, EEAS Managing Director for Africa.
The meeting, which followed the 8th EU-AU PSC Joint Retreat, focused on key peace and security priorities including peace support operations, maritime security, and hybrid threats.
“Our annual consultations remain a vital platform to strengthen dialogue and deepen cooperation between the AU and the EU on peace, security, and governance,” said Ambassador Pronk.
Ambassador Boang added that the partnership “reflects a shared vision rooted in multilateralism, international law, and respect for sovereignty, unity, and territorial integrity of all states.”
Both sides reaffirmed their commitment to upholding the United Nations Charter, emphasizing peaceful dispute resolution and the prohibition of force against sovereign states. They jointly expressed support for peaceful resolutions in Ukraine, Sudan, South Sudan, the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC), the Sahel, and the occupied Palestinian Territory, among other global hotspots.
On Somalia, the two councils expressed grave concern over the persistent threat of Al-Shabaab, and lauded the AU Support and Stabilization Mission in Somalia (AUSSOM) for its efforts to restore peace and stability.
“Without adequate, predictable, and sustainable funding, missions like AUSSOM face major difficulties in executing their mandates,” the communiqué warned, urging greater international support and diversified funding sources.
On Sudan, both sides condemned the ongoing conflict between the Sudanese Armed Forces (SAF) and the Rapid Support Forces (RSF), calling for “an immediate and sustainable ceasefire, humanitarian access, and accountability for atrocities.”
“We are deeply concerned by indiscriminate attacks on civilians, sexual and gender-based violence, and the worsening humanitarian crisis,” the joint statement read.
Turning to the Great Lakes region, the AU and EU reiterated calls for an end to hostilities in eastern DRC and condemned the activities of armed groups such as M23, ADF, and FDLR. They welcomed recent peace efforts, including the June 27 peace agreement between DRC and Rwanda, and urged all parties to “respect the ceasefire and accelerate implementation of commitments.”
In addressing the Sahel and Lake Chad Basin, both sides expressed alarm over escalating insecurity, terrorism, and unconstitutional changes of government, while reaffirming support for regional mechanisms such as the Multinational Joint Task Force (MNJTF).
“We must tackle not only the symptoms but the root causes of instability,bfrom illicit arms flows to economic exclusion and climate change,” said Ambassador Adeoye.
The councils also discussed the harmful effects of climate change on regional security, particularly in the Sahel and Lake Chad Basin, and the need to strengthen resilience through socio-economic development and environmental cooperation.
The EU PSC and AU PSC reaffirmed their commitment to advancing Women, Peace and Security (WPS), marking the 25th anniversary of UN Security Council Resolution 1325, and pledged to enhance women’s leadership in peacebuilding efforts.
The two sides agreed to convene their 17th Annual Joint Consultative Meeting and 9th Informal Joint Retreat in Addis Ababa in 2026. They also looked forward to the upcoming EU-AU Summit scheduled for 24–25 November in Luanda.
“Our partnership is built on trust, shared values, and a joint responsibility for global peace,” Ambassador Pronk concluded. “As challenges evolve, so must our cooperation, with Africa and Europe standing shoulder to shoulder.”