               United Nations                                                                     S/RES/2320 (2016)
               Security Council                                                  Distr.: General
                                                                                 18 November 2016




               Resolution 2320 (2016)
               Adopted by the Security Council at its 7816th meeting, on
               18 November 2016

                    The Security Council,
                     Recalling its primary responsibility under the Charter of the United Nations
               for the maintenance of international peace and security,
                    Recalling also Chapter VIII of the Charter of the United Nations,
                    Recognizing that cooperation with regional and subregional organizations in
               matters relating to the maintenance of peace and security, and consistent with
               Chapter VIII of the Charter of the United Nations, can improve collective security,
                    Recalling all its previous relevant resolutions, and statements by its Presi dent
               underscoring the importance of developing effective partnerships between the
               United Nations and regional organizations, in particular the African Union (AU), in
               accordance with the Charter of the United Nations,
                     Stressing the importance of collaboration between organizations in addressing
               the complex security challenges facing the international community,
                     Reaffirming its commitment to uphold the purposes and principles of the
               Charter of the United Nations, including its commitment and respect to th e
               principles of political independence, sovereign equality and territorial integrity of
               all States in conducting all peacekeeping activities and the need for States to comply
               with their obligations under international law,
                    Resolving to strengthen the central role of the United Nations in peacekeeping
               and to ensure the effective functioning of the collective security system established
               by the Charter of the United Nations,
                    Stressing the utility of developing effective partnerships b etween the UN and
               regional and subregional organizations, in order to enable timely responses to
               disputes and emerging crises and to strengthen the role of the UN in the prevention
               of conflict, and further stressing that the coordination of efforts at the regional level
               may contribute to the development of a comprehensive strategy to ensure that
               peacekeeping is effective in addressing threats to international peace and security,




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                    Commending the progress made in the UN-AU partnership and stressing it
               should further develop into a systematic and strategic partnership adapted to the
               complex security challenges facing the Continent,
                     Welcoming the UN partnership with the AU in the field of peacekeeping,
               including by supporting the AU’s efforts to develop polic y, guidance and training in
               particular in the areas of security sector reform, post-conflict reconstruction,
               women, peace and security and the protection of civilians including child protection
               and the prevention of and response to sexual and gender-based violence in armed
               conflicts and post-conflict situations, thereby welcoming the Framework of
               Cooperation between the Special Representative on Sexual Violence in Conflict and
               the AU signed on 31 January 2014 and calling for its implementation,
                   Commending the work of the United Nations Office to the African Union
               (UNOAU) to strengthen the partnership between the UN and the AU,
                     Acknowledging the important role of the AU in efforts to prevent, mediate and
               settle conflicts on the African continent, and expressing its support for the continued
               efforts of the AU to confront threats to international peace and security in Africa
               consistent with Chapter VIII of the Charter of the United Nations,
                      Recalling the commitment made by the Assembly of the AU in January 2 015,
               at its 24th ordinary session to fund 25% of the cost of its peace and security efforts,
               including peace support operations to be phased in over a five year period, as
               reaffirmed at the 25th Ordinary session in Johannesburg in July 2015,
                     Reaffirming the importance of mobilizing resources from within the Continent
               in support of the AU peace and security agenda. Encouraging AU Member States to
               foster the process aiming at finding practical and consensual ways on how to
               effectively implement the decision made by the Assembly of the AU relating to the
               Peace Fund, as endorsed by the 27th Ordinary Session of the Assembly held in
               Kigali, Rwanda, in July 2016,
                     Recalling the Report of the High-level Independent Panel on UN Peace
               Operations (HIPPO), the subsequent Secretary-General report entitled “The Future
               of United Nations Peace Operations: Implementation of the Recommendations of
               the HIPPO”, with particular reference to strategic partnership with the African
               Union and in this regard stresses that this partnership should be underpinned by
               mutual consultations between the Security Council and the AU PSC in their
               respective decision making processes and common strategies for a holistic response
               to conflict, as appropriate, based on respective comparative advanta ge, burden
               sharing, consultative decision making, joint analysis and planning missions and
               assessment visits by the UN and AU, monitoring and evaluation, transparency and
               accountability, to address common security challenges in Africa in accordance with
               the Charter of the United Nations, including Chapter VIII and the Purposes and
               principles as well to determine the needs of regional peace support operations,
                    Welcoming the letter of the Chairperson of the AU Executive Council, the
               Foreign Minister of Chad, to the President of the UN Security Council and his
               request to start discussions, as requested in AU/Dec.605 (XXVII), on “the provision
               of UN assessed contributions for AU-led peace operations authorized by the
               Security Council”,




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                 Taking note of the AU High Representative for the Peace Fund’s Report and
           proposals on the Decision-making Process for Seeking UN Assessed Contributions
           for AU Peace Support Operations as a contribution towards further discussions on
           sustainable financing for AU-led peace support operations on a case by case basis,
                 1.   Reaffirms its determination to take effective steps to further enhance the
           relationship between the UN and regional organizations, in particular the AU, in
           accordance with Chapter VIII of the United Nations Charter;
                2.    Acknowledges the need for more support to enhance AU peace operations
           and encourages further dialogue between the UN and AU to achieve this; and takes
           note with interest the report of the joint AU-UN review of available mechanisms to
           finance and support African Union peace operations authorized by the UN Security
           Council of September 2016;
                 3.    Stresses the need to enhance the predictability, sustainability and
           flexibility of financing for African Union-led peace support operations authorized
           by the Security Council and under the Security Council’s authority consistent with
           Chapter VIII of the Charter;
                 4.   Reiterates that regional organizations have the responsibility to secure
           human, financial, logistical and other resources for their organizations, i ncluding
           through contributions by their members and support from partners and welcomes the
           valuable financial support provided from partners in this regard and commends the
           African Union’s ongoing efforts and commitment to enhance self -reliance and
           financing of its activities, in a manner consistent with its member states’
           international obligations, as applicable;
                 5.   Welcomes the AU Assembly decision [Assembly/AU/Dec.605 (XXVII)],
           adopted at its 27th ordinary session, held in Kigali in July 2016, which als o
           reaffirmed its earlier decision, taken at the 25th ordinary session of the AU
           assembly to fund 25% of AU peace support operations, to be phased incrementally
           over five years;
                 6.    Encourages the AU to finalize its human rights and Conduct and
           Discipline Compliance frameworks for AU peace support operations, to achieve
           greater accountability, transparency, and compliance with international human rights
           law and international humanitarian law, as applicable, and with UN conduct and
           discipline standards, and underscores the importance of these commitments as well
           as the requirement for oversight by the Security Council for operations authorized
           by the Security Council and under the Security Council’s authority consistent with
           Chapter VIII of the Charter;
                7.    Expresses its readiness to consider the proposals of the AU, for future
           authorization and support by the Security Council for AU peace support operations
           authorized by the Security Council and under the Security Council’s authority under
           Chapter VIII of the Charter, including on financing and accountability, and in this
           regard, invites the AU to update the Security Council within six months of the
           adoption of this resolution, regarding the details of the proposed scope of peace
           operations to be considered; the progress, benchmarks, and timelines for
           implementation of the AU Peace Fund, consistent with applicable international
           obligations, as well as accountability, transparency, and compliance frameworks for
           AU peace support operations;




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                     8.   Requests the Secretary-General to continue working closely with the AU
               to refine options for further cooperation on the relevant AU proposals, including
               joint planning and the process for mandating AU peace support operations, subject
               to authorization by the Security Council and to provide the Security Council with a
               detailed report within six months of the adoption of this resolution;
                     9.   Recognizes the AU’s commitment to fund 25 percent of AU peace
               support operation costs by 2020, underscores the need for early and regular
               engagement between the UN and AU on emerging and ongoing threats in Africa,
               emphasizes that consultative analysis and joint planning with the UN is critical to
               developing joint recommendations on the scope and resource implications of
               potential peace support operations, assessing action and undertaking missions where
               appropriate, and regularly reporting on such actions when taken, and underscores
               the importance of full compliance with AU and UN human rights and conduct and
               discipline policies and arrangements, and encourages further dialogue to establish
               these processes;
                    10. Recognizes the important role of the good offices of the Secretary-General in Africa, and encourages the Secretary-General to continue to use
               mediation as often as possible to help resolve conflicts peacefully, working in
               coordination and closely with the AU and other subregional organizations in that
               regard, as appropriate;
                     11. Welcomes the report of the Secretary-General on strengthening the
               partnership between the United Nations and the African Union in peace and security
               (S/2016/780), and notes the decision to conduct an assessment of United Nations-African Union cooperation, as well as the structure and capacity of UNOAU to meet
               the growing demands for the partnership, and requests the Secretary-General to report
               to the Security Council after completion of such assessment;
                    12.   Decides to remain seized of the matter.




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