Communique of the 870th meeting of the PSC on the Harmonization and Coordination of Decision-making processes/Division of labour between the PSC and the Policy Organs of the Regional Economic Communities/Regional Mechanisms (RECs/RMs) for Conflict prevention, management and Resolution and the Promotion of Peace, Security and Stability in Africa

UNION AFRICAINE

A/n juni

P. O. Box 3243, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia Tel.: (251-11) 551 38 22 Fax: (251-11) 519321
Email: situationroom@africa-union.org

PEACE AND SECURITY COUNCIL 870^th MEETING

ADDIS ABABA, ETHIOPIA 20 AUGUST 2019

PSC/PR/COMM.(DCCCXLXX)

COMMUNIQUE

COMMUNIQUE

Adopted by the Peace and Security Council (PSC) of the African Union (AU) at its 870^th meeting held on 20 August 2019 on the Harmonization and Coordination of Decision-making processes/Division of labour between the PSC and the Policy Organs of the Regional Economic Communities/Regional Mechanisms (RECs/RMs) for Conflict prevention, management and Resolution and the Promotion of Peace, Security and Stability in Africa.

The Peace and Security Council,

Noting the opening remarks made by the Permanent Representative of the Republic of Zimbabwe of the AU in his capacity as Chairperson of the PSC for the month of August 2019, H.E Ambassador Albert Ranganai Chimbindi and the remarks made by the AU Director for Peace and Security Department, Dr. Admore Kambudzi, as well as the presentations made by the representatives of the RECs/RMs, namely; East African Standby Force (EASF), Common Market for Eastern and Southern Africa (COMESA), Economic Community of Central African States (ECCAS), North African Regional Capability (NARC), Multinational Joint Task Force (MNJTF) Against the Boko Haram terrorist group and the Southern African Development Community (SADC);

Recalling its previous communiques and press statement on its cooperation and coordination with the RECs/RMs, in particular the Joint Communique of the Inaugural Consultative Meeting between PSC and the RECs/RMs [INAUGURAL MEETING (I) PSC/REC/RMS] held on 24 May 2019.

Acting under Articles 6, 7 and 16 of its Protocol, the Peace and Security Council:

1. Underscores the need to uphold the decisions contained in the Joint Communique of the Inaugural Consultative Meeting between the PSC and the RECs/RMs [INAUGURAL MEETING (I) PSC/REC/RMS] held on 24 May 2019, with a view to enhancing collaboration between Council and the RECs/RMs in effectively preventing, managing and resolving conflicts and crises, as well as to promote peace, security and stability in African;

2. Underlines the need for regular consultative meetings between Council and RECs/RMs, in order to harmonize decision making, strengthen coordination, as well as to further reinforce synergies and more effectively implement the African Peace and Security Architecture (APSA) and the African Governance Architecture (AGA);

3. Acknowledges the important role of the RECs/RMs as primary responders of crisis/conflict situations in their respective jurisdictions, in line with the cardinal principles of subsidiarity, complementarity and comparative advantage;

4. Underscores the importance of horizontal collaboration between and among the RECs/RMs, with a view to sharing of experiences, lessons learned and best practices in conflict prevention, management and resolution, and even in post-conflict reconstruction and development;

5. Reaffirms its commitment to uphold the principle of subsidiarity and complementarity based on comparative advantages and, in this respect, encourages consultations between the PSC and RECs/RMs with regard to deployment in conflict and crisis situations; and in that regard, stressed the need to establish and effective and systematic mechanism to exchange information to facilitate early warning and action;

6. Acknowledges the peculiarities of conflict and crisis situations in Africa and, in this regard, stresses the importance of ensuring that responses to conflict and crisis situations are tailor-made for the peculiar characteristics of each and every conflict and crisis situation;

7. Emphasizes the importance of ensuring financial independence in AU peace efforts and, in this regard, underscores the urgent need to expedite the operationalization of the AU Peace Fund, in its three components dedicated to mediation and preventive diplomacy, institutional capacities and peace support operations, with a view to deploy resources with efficiency and effectiveness;

8. Emphasizes, once again, the importance of expediting the full operationalization of the African Standby Force (ASF) and, in this context, encourages the RECs/RMs to fully participate in this exercise, building on the successful deployment, within the Framework of ASF, in Lesotho (SAPMIL) by the SADC, and in the Gambia (ECOMIG) and in Guinea Bissau (ECOMIB) by the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS);

9. Further reaffirms its commitment to institutionalize and harmonize it's working relationship with the RECs/RMs through the following, among others:

1. Convening, as soon as possible and not later than October 2019, a meeting of the Technical Working Group of experts to develop a matrix outlining concrete practical steps to be undertaken, assign responsibilities with specific timelines, as well as a roadmap with clearly defined modalities and timeframes for the consideration by the Council of the issues raised in the Concept Note and joint Communique of 24 May 2019;

2. Assigning the Military Staff Committee (MSC) to work in collaboration with the technical experts of both the PSC and RECs/RMs to review the existing AU legal instruments, in contrast to those of the RECs/RMs with a view to synergize them and avoid duplication;

3. Convening a joint retreat of the Council and RECs/RMs between September 2019 and January 2020 to brainstorm and reflect on "Decision-making, Harmonization and Coordination between the AU PSC and RECs/RMs on the promotion of peace and security" and, thereafter, develop a Report on appropriate common response strategies to be presented during the AU Summit to be held in February 2020.

10. Looks forward to the successful convening of the 2^nd Joint Consultative Meeting with the RECs/RMs in May 2020;

11. Decides to remain seized with the matter.