Thank you, Mr. President.

Germany fully aligns itself with the statement delivered by the European Union.

Today's meeting comes at a pivotal moment, as conflicts on the African continent grow in numbers and in complexity. While African people bear the brunt of these conflicts, the repercussions extend globally.

From a German perspective, I would like to highlight three key priorities for advancing African peace and security:

First, strengthening the AU-UN partnership on peace operations is essential.

As underscored at the UN Peacekeeping Ministerial in Berlin, collaboration of UN peacekeeping with regional and subregional organizations—especially the African Union—must be enhanced. While UN Security Council Resolution 2719 has been a crucial step forward, boosting the financial and operational capacities of the AU and its Member States is key for effective African-led peace operations.

Joint AU-UN efforts should focus on capacity-building, particularly in force generation, logistics, and planning. In this regard, Germany proudly supports the Knowledge and Expertise Exchange Programme - KEEP, a joint capacity-building initiative between the AU and the UN with the aim of improving inter-operability.

At the Berlin Ministerial, Germany also pledged to support African peacekeeping training centers in Ghana, Mali and Tanzania with more than USD 11 million. With this support, we aim to make sure that African troops receive the best training possible.

Second: we need to invest in conflict prevention.

Peacekeeping is most effective when aligned with the UN’s preventive and peacebuilding activities, for instance through involvement of the Peacebuilding Commission, when requested by Members States. All instruments across the peace continuum should be fully leveraged.

We must pursue a comprehensive approach.

Strengthening early warning systems and preventive diplomacy remains crucial. Local actors, among them women, youth and marginalized groups, should be empowered to lead the way. They understand the dynamics and conditions on the ground best.
Germany’s support of initiatives such as the “African Women Leaders Network” contributes to this goal by fostering inclusive, locally-owned prevention strategies. The key message is: enable the people on the ground.

Third, we need effective transitions from peacekeeping to peacebuilding and nationally-led efforts.

From the outset, transition planning must be an integral component of peacekeeping mandates. As we shift from military-led interventions to civilian-led peacebuilding, we must ensure that post-conflict societies are equipped to handle the challenges of rebuilding institutions, promoting political dialogue, and fostering social cohesion.

Peacebuilding must be backed by comprehensive stabilization efforts and development strategies. It must emphasize governance, human rights, and the protection of civilians.

In closing, allow me to reiterate that Germany will remain a committed partner for peace and security in Africa.

Thank you.