               United Nations                                                                    S/RES/2457 (2019)
               Security Council                                                  Distr.: General
                                                                                 27 February 2019




               Resolution 2457 (2019)
               Adopted by the Security Council at its 8473rd meeting, on
               27 February 2019

                    The Security Council,
                     Reaffirming its primary responsibility under the Charter of the United Nations
               for the maintenance of international peace and security as well as its commitment to
               uphold the Purposes and Principles of the Charter of the United Nations,
                     Recalling that the prevention of conflict remains a primary responsibility of
               States, and further recalling their responsibility to protect civilians and to respect
               human rights, as provided for by relevant international law, and further reaffirming
               the responsibility of each individual State to protect its populations from genocide,
               war crimes, ethnic cleansing, and crimes against humanity,
                    Recalling in this regard its previous Presidential Statements and resolutions
               concerning the various factors and causes that play a role in triggering, worsening or
               prolonging conflicts in Africa,
                     Expressing concern over conflicts in different geographic areas, and reiterating
               that the United Nations’ cooperation with regional and subregional organizations is
               critical to contributing to the prevention of the outbreak, escalation, continuation and
               recurrence of conflict, in line with Chapter VIII of the United Natio ns Charter,
                     Noting that Africa still faces enormous challenges, including: governance
               deficits, economic difficulties, high rates of unemployment, the mismanagement of
               ethnic diversity, competition over power and resources, state fragility and weak state
               institutions, ungoverned spaces which leave room for illegal activities, the continued
               flow of weapons into the continent and their illicit circulation, mercenary activity,
               insurgencies and rebellions, inadequate border monitoring and control that facilita tes
               transnational organized crime, illicit exploitation of natural resources, continued
               crisis that precipitate irregular migration, corruption, illicit financial flows which
               facilitate funding for illegal activities, climate change and natural disasters, and slow
               processes in the ratification of AU instruments and policies,
                     Reaffirming the need to address the multidimensional nature of peace and
               security challenges facing African countries emerging from conflict, and emphasizing
               the importance of a comprehensive and integrated approach for peace building and
               sustaining peace, with a view to preventing them from relapsing into conflict,




19-03357 (E)     280219
*1903357*

S/RES/2457 (2019)

                      Gravely concerned that the illicit trade, destabilizing accumulation and misuse
               of small arms and light weapons in many regions of the world, including Africa,
               continue to pose threats to international peace and security, cause significant loss of
               life, contribute to instability and insecurity,
                      Recalling in this regard all international, regional and subregional instruments
               addressing the illicit trade, destabilizing accumulation and misuse of small arms and
               light weapons in Africa, including the Programme of Action to Prevent, Combat and
               Eradicate the Illicit Trade in Small Arms and Lights Weapons in All Its Aspects, and
               its relevant resolutions, which contribute to conflict prevention in Africa,
                    Noting that in some armed conflict situations, the illicit exploitation, trafficking,
               and illicit trade of natural resources has contributed to the outbreak, escalation or
               continuation of such conflicts and further noting the resolutions adopted and sanctions
               measures taken on this issue to support the prevention of illegal exploitation of natural
               resources, particularly timber, so-called “conflict minerals” like tin, tantalum,
               tungsten and gold, as well as diamonds, cobalt, charcoal and wildlife from fueling
               armed conflicts, and encouraging the AU member states to promote the transparent
               and lawful management of natural resources, including the adoption of government
               revenue targets to finance development, sustainable regulatory and customs
               frameworks, and responsible mineral sourcing supply chain due diligence,
                     Noting that the African Union is implementing an institutional reform agenda
               aimed at ensuring greater effectiveness and efficiency and further noting the potential
               of these reforms to strengthen the African Union and allow the organization to partner
               more effectively with the United Nations in addressing the peace and security
               challenges on the continent,
                     Noting the measures so far taken and in course towards the implementation of
               the goal of Silencing the Guns in Africa by the African Union as well as other relevant
               stakeholders, and further noting the adoption, implementation and reporting on the
               African Union Master Roadmap of Practical Steps to Silence the Guns in Africa by
               Year 2020, in the context of the simultaneous implementation of the African Peace
               and Security Architecture and the African Governance Architecture,
                      Welcoming the decision by the African Union Peace and Security Council to
               declare September of each year until 2020 Africa Amnesty Month for the surrender
               of illegally owned weapons and arms,
                     Noting that achieving the goal of Silencing the Guns in Africa will contribute
               significantly to saving succeeding generations from the scourge of war, and further
               noting that the African Union’s efforts as outlined in its Agenda 2063 to ensure an
               integrated, peaceful, secure and prosperous Africa and lay a solid foundation for
               inclusive growth and sustainable development is closely aligned with the United
               Nations 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development,
                     Noting the aspirations of peace, security and stability in Africa and the
               UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) constitute shared priorities as outlined
               in the two Joint United Nations-African Union Frameworks for Enhanced Partnership
               in Peace and Security, Africa’s Agenda 2063, and the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable
               Development,
                     Reaffirming the importance of supporting the African Union Agenda 2063, as a
               strategic vision and an action plan for ensuring a positive socioeconomic
               transformation in Africa by 2063, and acknowledges the emphasis in Agenda 2063 on
               peace and security as critical enablers for sustainable development,




2/6                                                                                                         19-03357

                                                                                                   S/RES/2457 (2019)

                  Taking note of the African Union's continued efforts to operationalize its policy
           on post-conflict reconstruction and development (PCRD), including its relevant
           initiatives particularly the African Solidarity Initiative (ASI) and further takes note of
           the decisions of the Assembly AU/Dec.351(XVI) of January 2011 and AU/Dec.710
           (XXXI) of June 2018 on the establishment of the African Union Cen ter for
           Post-Conflict Reconstruction and Development (AU-PCRD) in Cairo,
                Recalling the discussion that took place during the 12th annual consultation
           between members of the United Nations Security Council and the African Union
           Peace and Security Council on 19 July 2018 on the African Union’s goal of Silencing
           the Guns in Africa by the year 2020, and the exchange of views on possible
           cooperation in the implementation of the AU Master Roadmap of Practical Steps to
           Silence the Guns in Africa by the Year 2020,
                Recalling resolutions 2320 (2016) and 2378 (2017), acknowledging the need to
           enhance the predictability, sustainability and flexibility o f financing for African
           Union-led peace support operations authorized by the Security Council and utilized
           pursuant to Chapter VIII of the Charter,
                 Welcoming the progress made on the partnership between the United Nations
           and the African Union, which has been characterized by closer collaboration, joint
           field visits by senior officials, more regular exchanges of information, deeper
           consultations, increasingly coordinated action, and greater collaboration between the
           Secretariat and the Commission,
                  1.    Welcomes the African Union’s determination to rid Africa of conflicts and
           create conditions favorable for the growth, development and integration of the
           continent as encapsulated in its goal of Silencing the Guns in Africa by the Year 2020
           and its Master Roadmap outlining practical steps that underpin the actions necessary
           for its attainment of the goal of a conflict-free Africa by 2020;
                 2.   Takes note of the African Union’s effort to advance Africa’s political,
           social and economic integration agenda and to the ideal of pan-Africanism and
           African renaissance, as well as the pledge to “end all wars in Africa by 2020” and
           “achieve the goal of a conflict-free Africa”, as affirmed in the solemn declaration
           adopted on 26 May 2013 on the occasion of the fiftieth anniversary of the
           Organization of African Unity/African Union, and expresses its readiness to
           contribute, and calls upon all, in particular relevant United Nations entities, as
           appropriate, to help to achieve this goal;
                 3.    Acknowledges that the building of a conflict free Africa essentially rests
           on the African Union, its Member States, their people and their institutions, including
           their civil society and expresses support for initiatives aimed at finding African
           solutions to African problems, while also recognizing the need for international
           cooperation and partnership to help accelerate progress towards the realization of this
           continental goal;
                 4.    Takes note of the ongoing efforts of the African Union and the subregional
           organizations, within the framework of the African Peace and Security Architecture
           (APSA) to strengthen their capacity and undertake peace support operations in the
           continent, in accordance with Chapter VIII of the Charter of the United Nations,
           particularly the African Standby Force and its Rapid Deployment Capability, and
           encourages the UN Secretariat and the African Union Commission to collaborate
           towards strengthening the APSA by supporting the APSA road map and silencing the
           guns master roadmap and their respective work plans;
                 5.    Takes note of the efforts by the African Union on combating the
           transnational threats of terrorism in Africa consistent with international human rights
           law, international refugee law, international humanitarian law and taking into account

19-03357                                                                                                         3/6

S/RES/2457 (2019)

               gender perspectives; underscores the need for a sustained, cooperative and
               coordinated approach to countering terrorism, and, in this regard, welcomes the
               ongoing cooperation with the Counter-Terrorism Executive Directorate (CTED) and
               notes the engagement by the Office of Counter-Terrorism with African Union
               counterparts on collaboration and capacity-building support in relation to counterterrorism and countering violent extremism conducive to terrorism in the context of
               the joint UN-AU framework for enhanced partnership in the area of peace and
               security;
                    6.     Expresses concern over the challenging security situation in parts of
               Africa, notably threats posed by terrorism, maritime piracy, tensions between
               pastoralists and farmer communities, subversive mercenary activities, tran snational
               organized crime, which can include illicit trafficking in persons, arms, drugs, and
               natural resources, and the persistent violence perpetrated by insurgents, rebel, and
               armed groups, and, in this regard, encourages enhancement of border control,
               management, and cooperation measures;
                     7.    Emphasizes the valuable contribution of African Union’s mediation
               capacities, and of regional and subregional organizations, to ensuring the coherence,
               synergy and collective effectiveness of their efforts, and enc ourages greater
               cooperation and collaboration with the Secretary-General’s High-Level Advisory
               Board on Mediation in the prevention and resolution of conflicts in Africa, including
               the possibility of fielding of joint mediation teams in response to conflic t and crisis
               situation in the continent;
                     8.    Encourages the United Nations and the African Union to strengthen their
               efforts to coordinate their engagement in a mutually supportive manner, across the
               range of possible responses to conflict – from prevention and mediation to
               peacekeeping and peacebuilding to post-conflict recovery and development in line
               with their joint framework for enhanced partnership in peace and security particularly
               in ensuring effective implementation of peace agreements by warring p arties to
               conflict, and in this regard, stresses the need to continue enhancing strategic dialogue,
               partnerships, more regular exchange of views, analyses and information at the
               working level to build capacities in relation to the preventive diplomacy tool s,
               invigorate and engage potential and existing capacities and capabilities, particularly
               through United Nations regional political offices, contribute to the coherence and
               integration of their preventive diplomacy efforts, inter alia, through mediation an d
               the Secretary-General’s Good Offices, as appropriate;
                     9.   Underscores the importance of the two joint UN-AU partnership
               frameworks in galvanizing concrete and practical system and commission wide
               support towards helping Africa make tangible progress towa rds achieving its goal of
               creating a conflict free continent and expresses its readiness to support the
               implementation of the African Union Master Roadmap of Practical Steps to Silence
               the Guns in Africa by year 2020;
                     10. Acknowledges the memorandum of understanding signed between the
               United Nations and the African Union to strengthen cooperation in support of efforts
               aimed at peacebuilding and sustaining peace in Africa; reaffirms the primary
               responsibility of national governments and authorities in ident ifying, driving and
               directing priorities, strategies and activities for peacebuilding and sustaining peace;
               emphasizes the importance of partnership and cooperation between the United
               Nations and relevant regional and subregional organizations, including the African
               Union, to improve cooperation and coordination in peacebuilding, to increase
               synergies and ensure the coherence and complementarity of such efforts, and in this
               regard, welcomes the holding of regular exchanges of views, joint initiatives, and
               information sharing between the Peacebuilding Support Office and the African Union


4/6                                                                                                        19-03357

                                                                                                    S/RES/2457 (2019)

           Commission and the African Union Peace and Security Council and encourages the
           Peacebuilding Commission to hold exchanges of views, as appropriate, with relevant
           regional and subregional organizations, including the African Union in line with
           resolutions 1645 (2005) and 2282 (2016);
                 11. Notes the importance of consultations between the Security Council and
           the AU Peace and Security Council in their respective decision making processes and
           common strategies for a holistic response to conflict, as appropriate, based on
           respective comparative advantage, burden sharing, 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 Cha pter VIII and the
           Purposes and principles;
                 12. Welcomes the African Union decision to reaffirm Africa as a nuclear free
           zone and stresses the need for full implementation of existing international, regional
           and subregional instruments addressing the illicit trade, destabilizing accumulation
           and misuse of small arms and light weapons in Africa, including, the United Nations
           Programme of Action to Prevent, Combat and Eradicate the Illicit Trade in Small
           Arms and Light Weapons in All Its Aspects, and its relevant resolutions, which
           contribute to conflict prevention in Africa;
                 13. Underlines the need for effective implementation of relevant arms control
           and disarmament instruments and regimes as well as arm embargoes imposed by the
           United Nations Security Council and welcomes efforts to assist Member States as
           well as intergovernmental, regional and subregional organizations such as the African
           Union in capacity-building to prevent and address the illicit trade in, and destabili zing
           accumulation and misuse of, small arms and light weapons, and encourages African
           states to safeguard national stockpiles of weapons to prevent their illicit diversion;
                 14. Notes the UN partnership with the AU in the field of peacekeeping,
           including by supporting the AU’s efforts to develop AU policy, guidance and training
           in particular in the areas of security sector reform, post -conflict reconstruction and
           development, women, peace and security, and youth, peace and security;
                 15. Reaffirms the important role of women in the prevention and resolution of
           conflicts and in peacebuilding as well as in post-conflict situations, as recognized in
           relevant Security Council resolutions including 1325 (2000) and resolution 2242
           (2015) and welcomes in this regard the roles of “FemWise-Africa”, Network of
           African Women in Conflict Prevention and Mediation and the African Women
           Leaders Network (AWLN), emphasizes also the need for joint action between the UN
           and AU to end sexual violence in armed conflict and post-conflict situations, stresses
           the importance of the full implementation of the measures for the prevention and
           response to Conflict-related Sexual Violence in relevant Security Council resolutions
           and welcomes the Secretary-General’s continued efforts to implement and reinforce
           the United Nations zero tolerance policy on sexual exploitation and abuse;
                 16. Reaffirms the important and positive contribution of youth to the efforts
           for the maintenance and promotion of peace and security and the role young people
           play in the prevention and resolution of conflicts, and as a key aspect of the
           sustainability, inclusiveness and success of peacekeeping and peacebuilding efforts,
           as well as in post-conflict situations and It also encourages all those involved in the
           planning for disarmament, demobilization and reintegration to consider the needs of
           youth affected by armed conflict, including the pr oblem of youth unemployment in
           the continent, by investing in building young person’s capabilities and skills to meet
           labor demands through relevant education opportunities designed in a manner which
           promotes a culture of peace;


19-03357                                                                                                          5/6

S/RES/2457 (2019)

                     17. Recognizes in particular that a strong focus is needed on combatting
               poverty, deprivation and inequality to prevent and protect children from all violations
               and abuses in particular in the context of armed conflict and to promote the resilience
               of children, their families and their communities, and the importance of promoting
               education for all and peaceful and inclusive societies for sustainable development and
               further emphasizes the importance of giving due consideration to child protection
               issues from the early stages of all peace processes, in particular the integration of
               child protection provisions, as well as of peace agreements that put strong emphasis
               on the best interest of the child, the treatment of children separated from armed groups
               as victims and focus on family and community-based reintegration;
                     18. Recognizes the adverse effects of climate change, ecological changes and
               natural disasters, among other factors, on the stability of a number of AU Member
               States, including through drought, desertification, land degra dation and food
               insecurity, and emphasizes the need for adequate risk assessment and risk
               management strategies by the respective governments and the United Nations relating
               to these factors;
                      19. Calls upon AU Member States to enhance good governance, including the
               elimination of corruption, strengthening of democratic institutions, respect for human
               rights, and accountability and to redouble their efforts in economic development and
               the promotion of the well-being of their people with a view to addressing the root
               causes of conflicts and laying a solid foundation for durable peace and stability; and
               further encourages all AU member states to sign, ratify and domesticate all AU
               initiatives related to the promotion of democracy, human rights and good governa nce
               and promote universal application through the continent as requested in the latest AU
               Summit communique regarding the implementation of the Silencing the Guns Agenda
               in the continent;
                     20. Reaffirms its determination to take action against illicit exploitation and
               trafficking of natural resources and high-value commodities in areas where it
               contributes to the outbreak, escalation or continuation of armed conflict in Africa and
               encourages AU Member States to strengthen their regulatory mechanisms on the
               exploitation and management of natural resources and to ensure that the proceeds
               from these resources are utilized in meeting the basic needs of their people, with a
               view to promoting equitable development and distribution of benefits ;
                     21. Reiterates its intention to consider steps that can be taken to enhance
               practical cooperation with the African Union in the promotion and maintenance of
               peace and security in Africa in line with Chapter VIII of the United Nations Charter;
                     22. Requests the Secretary-General, in consultation with the Chairperson of
               the African Union Commission, when appropriate, to provide updates on
               implementation measures towards enhancing the support of the United Nations and
               its agencies to the African Union in the implementation of Vision 2020 to Silence the
               Guns in Africa, including as part of his Report on Strengthening the Partnership
               between the United Nations and the African Union on Issues of Peace and Security in
               Africa.




6/6                                                                                                       19-03357

