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The landscape of peace operations in Africa has transformed over the past decade, including a marked increase in African-led peace support operations (PSOs). Since the early 2000s, the African Union (AU) and UN have evolved distinct, albeit parallel, conceptual and operational approaches to the protection of civilians (POC). While the UN views POC in peacekeeping as a whole-of-mission objective, with military, police, and civilian components prioritizing POC and proactively protecting civilians, the AU views itself as contributing to the protection of civilians primarily by neutralizing armed groups and establishing a protective environment. These differences raise important questions about how POC will be upheld in the context of the UN-AU partnership.

This report examines the operational differences between UN and AU approaches to POC, assessing their respective advantages and limitations. It highlights how African-led PSOs tend to be more able and willing to use force to respond to outbreaks of violence and to contain aggressors but have less sustainable and flexible financing than UN peacekeeping operations. Meanwhile, UN peacekeeping missions with POC mandates have more robust civilian and police components but may lack rapid response capabilities. To strengthen their partnership on POC, the two organizations should leverage their comparative advantages, acknowledge their respective limitations, and work toward an approach to POC that is tailored to each context.

Based on the findings in this report, the following recommendations are made:

Understandings of POC:

• The UN Department of Peace Operations (DPO) and AU Peace Support Operations Division (PSOD) should continue to facilitate understanding of their comparative advantages and challenges on POC.
• POC should be a central focus of efforts to implement the 2017 Joint Framework for Enhanced Partnership in Peace and Security.
• UN DPO and AU PSOD should share lessons learned and strengthen each other’s capacity.
• The AU compliance team should continue to support regional economic communities in adhering to AU POC policies.

Structures on POC:

• The UN and AU should establish a joint lessons-learned mechanism within the UN Office to the AU to systematically assess joint UN-AU missions and African-led operations.
• UN DPO and AU PSOD should develop and implement a joint protection strategy when engaged in partnered operations.
• UN DPO and AU PSOD should conduct a thorough joint POC assessment prior to any partnered deployments.
• The AU Peace and Security Council and UN Security Council should engage in regular consultations on peace support operations, including on mandates.

The post The United Nations–African Union Partnership and the Protection of Civilians appeared first on International Peace Institute.

"We request your support in taking the necessary measures to block access to the TikTok application and its digital infrastructure" read letters from two Albanian regulators.

Les eurodéputés considèrent que le projet de loi de la Commission européenne visant à améliorer l'approvisionnement en médicaments de l'UE devrait être clarifié pour mieux répondre aux problèmes persistants.

The "constant push to renationalise policies worries me," says Herbert Dorfmann.

Az EU fordulópont előtt áll, és az európai biztonságot fenyegető fenyegetésekkel és támadásokkal szemben a „szokásos üzletmenet” megközelítés már nem járható út.
Külügyi Bizottság
ssBiztonság- és Védelempolitikai Bizottság

Forrás : © Európai Unió, 2025 - EP

The company that set out to “drive real change” in the European battery and EV industry is now at its last resort.

Die EU steht an einem Wendepunkt und „so weiterzumachen wie bisher“ ist angesichts der Angriffe auf die europäische Sicherheit keine Option mehr.
Ausschuss für auswärtige Angelegenheiten
Ausschuss für Sicherheit und Verteidigung

Quelle : © Europäische Union, 2025 - EP

Die EU steht an einem Wendepunkt und „so weiterzumachen wie bisher“ ist angesichts der Angriffe auf die europäische Sicherheit keine Option mehr.
Ausschuss für auswärtige Angelegenheiten
Ausschuss für Sicherheit und Verteidigung

Quelle : © Europäische Union, 2025 - EP

Die EU steht an einem Wendepunkt und „so weiterzumachen wie bisher“ ist angesichts der Angriffe auf die europäische Sicherheit keine Option mehr.
Ausschuss für auswärtige Angelegenheiten
Ausschuss für Sicherheit und Verteidigung

Quelle : © Europäische Union, 2025 - EP

A szerdán elfogadott állásfoglalásban a Parlament szerint az EU most Ukrajna elsődleges stratégiai szövetségese, és segítenie kell az országot az önvédelemhez való jogának fenntartásában.
Külügyi Bizottság

Forrás : © Európai Unió, 2025 - EP

Marième Faye Sall est l'épouse de l'ancien président sénégalais Macky Sall. Elle a été Première dame du Sénégal de 2012 à 2024.

Die EU ist nun der wichtigste strategische Verbündete der Ukraine und muss dem Land helfen, sein Recht auf Selbstverteidigung zu wahren, so die Abgeordneten.
Ausschuss für auswärtige Angelegenheiten

Quelle : © Europäische Union, 2025 - EP

Die EU ist nun der wichtigste strategische Verbündete der Ukraine und muss dem Land helfen, sein Recht auf Selbstverteidigung zu wahren, so die Abgeordneten.
Ausschuss für auswärtige Angelegenheiten

Quelle : © Europäische Union, 2025 - EP

The EU faces a turning point and "business as usual" is no longer an option against the threats and attacks towards European security.
Committee on Foreign Affairs
Committee on Security and Defence

Source : © European Union, 2025 - EP

The EU faces a turning point and "business as usual" is no longer an option against the threats and attacks towards European security.
Committee on Foreign Affairs
Committee on Security and Defence

Source : © European Union, 2025 - EP

Parliament urges the EU and members states to support Syria’s transitional forces and calls on Damascus to end historical alliances with Tehran and Moscow.
Committee on Foreign Affairs

Source : © European Union, 2025 - EP

Parliament urges the EU and members states to support Syria’s transitional forces and calls on Damascus to end historical alliances with Tehran and Moscow.
Committee on Foreign Affairs

Source : © European Union, 2025 - EP

Parliament urges the EU and members states to support Syria’s transitional forces and calls on Damascus to end historical alliances with Tehran and Moscow.
Committee on Foreign Affairs

Source : © European Union, 2025 - EP

Bernd Lange told Euractiv the EU remains "open for negotiations" with the US but that Washington's ultimate goals are currently "totally unclear."

In a resolution adopted on Wednesday, Parliament says the EU is now Ukraine’s primary strategic ally and must help the country uphold its right to self-defence.
Committee on Foreign Affairs

Source : © European Union, 2025 - EP