New York (People’s Daily) – “I thank the Chinese presidency for convening this open debate on strengthening peacekeeping operations in Africa, and for China’s contributions to United Nations peacekeeping operations in Africa and around the world,” UN Secretary-General António Guterres said Tuesday.

UN Secretary-General António Guterres briefs a Security Council meeting on peace and security in Africa, with a focus on strengthening peacekeeping operations. (Photo: People's Daily app)

He made the remarks during an open debate entitled “Peace and security in Africa: Strengthening peacekeeping operations in Africa” held at the Chamber of the Security Council at the UN headquarters in New York.

Guterres said that he welcomes Chinese President Xi Jinping’s pledge to establish a Peacekeeping Standby Force and hopes to build on the 13 units that have already been registered, adding that some 2,500 uniformed Chinese personnel, including well-trained and equipped individual and formed police units, are making an important contribution to multilateral efforts for peace.

According to the UN report, the African continent currently hosts seven of the 14 United Nations peacekeeping missions and more than 80 per cent of the United Nations peacekeepers. African countries provide nearly half of United Nations Blue Helmets deployed around the world, including almost two-thirds of all women peacekeepers, and the majority of United Nations police officers.

The secretary-general noted the close collaboration between the United Nations and the African Union across the continent, in places like the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Mali, the Central African Republic and Darfur, to support political processes, national dialogues and regional mediation efforts, easing tensions and paving the way for peace agreements and elections.  Such cooperation becomes increasingly important as peacekeeping encompasses complex operations with multidimensional mandates in extremely dangerous environments, he said.

“Against this backdrop, our partnership with the African Union and African Member States is vital to our collective efforts for peace, and we must continue working to strengthen it,” Guterres said.

He went on to emphasize the need to build the capacity to enable Africa to play its full role in that context, and to improve funding methods. 

“It is essential that African-led peace operations acting under the Security Council’s authority are provided with strong mandates and predictable, sustainable and flexible finance, including through UN-assessed contributions where appropriate,” he said.