Peace and security in Africa took center stage during Germany’s 6th term as an elected member of the UN Security Council in 2019-20, whether it concerned peace mediation and implementation of sanctions in Libya, supporting Sudan’s fragile transition process, or peacekeeping in Mali. These were often situations of strategic importance to German and European foreign policy. Challenged by major geopolitical tensions and the Covid-19 pandemic, the Council’s work on Africa oscillated between animosity and collaboration. At the same time, the African Union is aspiring a greater role as the primary guarantor of African peace and security.

In a public online debate, we will discuss the challenges for the UN‘s peace and security work in Africa as well as Germany’s experience addressing them during its two years on the Council. We will focus on the extent to which Germany was able to achieve its objectives, use its room for maneuver as elected member, and embed its UN diplomacy in its larger foreign policy activities. The speakers will also discuss the role of the African members of the UN Security Council as well as UN–AU relations.

Speakers:

Dr Christoph Heusgen, Permanent Representative of Germany to the United Nations

Bintou Keita, Assistant Secretary-General for Africa, United Nations Secretariat

Dr Gerrit Kurtz, Research Fellow, Conflict Prevention and Diplomacy in Africa, DGAP

Moderation: David Schwake, Secretary-General, German Africa Foundation