Leaders from AU, EU, and UN Reaffirm Commitment to African Peace and Development
Leaders from the African Union (AU), European Union (EU), and United Nations (UN) met on 21 September 2025 at the UN Headquarters in New York. They commemorated the 25th anniversary of UN Security Council resolution 1325 on women, peace, and security, and reaffirmed their commitment to sustainable development and peace in Africa.
The meeting, chaired by AU Commission Chair Mahmoud Ali Youssouf, EU Council President António Costa, EU Commission President Ursula von der Leyen, and UN Secretary-General António Guterres, discussed various peace efforts in Africa. They stressed the need to end the war in Sudan, combat terrorist groups in the Sahel, support the UN roadmap for Libya, and initiatives in the Democratic Republic of the Congo and Somalia.
The leaders expressed concern over climate-induced disruptions and called for ambitious commitments at the upcoming COP30. They also underscored the importance of implementing the Sevilla Commitment to facilitate financing for development and address debt challenges of developing countries. The EU's foreign minister or representative at the meeting was not specified.
The three organizations reiterated their support for multilateralism and condemned the lack of respect for international humanitarian law and human rights law. They agreed to reconvene in 2026 on the margins of the 81st UN General Assembly session, committing to accelerate women's leadership in peacebuilding processes and advance durable peace and sustainable development in Africa.
