UN, AU launch joint task force on peace, security

(PANA)-- The UN and the African Union (AU) Saturday 25/9/2010 launched a joint task force on peace and security as the two organisations stepped up their cooperation in conflict prevention, peacekeeping and peacebuilding across the continent.

The Joint Task Force was launched at UN headquarters in New York by UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon and AU Commission Chairperson Jean Ping. The Pan African News Agency (PANA) learnt that the task force would meet twice a year at the senior level to review immediate and long-term strategic issues.

A statement said that Ban and Ping noted that they were determined to strengthen existing cooperation between the two organisations beyond the ‘groundbreaking joint efforts in Sudan, Guinea and Somalia.’

It said the UN chief and the AU Chairperson approved terms of reference for the new task force, which will conduct its first consultations Tuesday 28/9/2010 in New York, coinciding with this year being declared by the AU as the Year of Peace and Security in Africa.

It also stated that the task force’s programme of work would be mapped out in coordination with the newly established UN Office to the AU and the AU’s Permanent Observer Mission to the UN.

Among the joint efforts is the joint peacekeeping force in Sudan’s Darfur region, known as UNAMID since the start of 2008. In addition, the UN provides support to the troops of the AU peacekeeping mission in Somalia (AMISOM). In Guinea, the two organisations work together with the Economic Community of West African States to try to promote peace and democratisation in the fragile West African nation.

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