France to host conference on funding African Union peace efforts, says Macron
French President Emmanuel Macron has announced that France will host an international conference in Paris later this year aimed at mobilizing financial support for African Union peace operations.
Macron made the announcement during his visit to Ethiopia, where he held discussions with African Union Chairperson Mahamoud Ali Youssouf and United Nations Secretary-General António Guterres as part of a broader diplomatic tour across Africa.
According to Macron, the conference will take place in Paris during the final quarter of the year and focus on raising additional resources for the African Union Peace Fund, as well as attracting new public and private sector partners to support peacekeeping and mediation operations across the continent.
The African Union Peace Fund was originally established in 1993 under the Organisation of African Unity, the predecessor to the African Union. Its purpose is to provide sustainable financing for peace and security initiatives, including conflict prevention, mediation, and peace support operations.
For years, however, the fund faced major financing challenges and remained largely inactive until reforms revived it in 2018. By 2024, it had reportedly raised approximately $400 million through contributions from African Union member states, private organizations, and individuals.
Macron said strengthening the fund is essential to giving the African Union greater independence and operational capacity in managing African security crises.
He also renewed his call for the effective implementation of UN Security Council Resolution 2719, adopted in 2023, which allows for mandatory United Nations member contributions to help finance African Union-led peace operations under specific conditions.
The resolution has been widely viewed as a significant step toward reducing Africa’s long-standing dependence on external donors for security operations.
During his Africa visit, Macron said he wants the African Union to gain “more capacity” to conduct peacekeeping missions and strengthen its own mediation mechanisms in response to conflicts across the continent.
He also reiterated France’s support for Africa receiving permanent representation on the United Nations Security Council, a longstanding demand from African leaders who argue the continent remains underrepresented in global governance structures.
Macron said discussions also touched on the ongoing crisis in eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo, where armed conflict and humanitarian instability continue to challenge regional security. He indicated that mediation efforts involving both the UN and African Union would be further explored.
The French leader’s visit forms part of a five-day Africa tour, which included attending a two-day economic summit in Nairobi, Kenya. France has recently intensified diplomatic engagement across Africa as it seeks to reposition itself amid changing geopolitical dynamics and increasing competition from other global powers.
Macron also announced that Kenyan President William Ruto has been invited to represent Africa at next month’s G7 summit in France, a move seen as recognition of Africa’s growing influence in global economic and political discussions.
In addition to security and governance issues, Macron acknowledged the economic impact of instability in the Middle East on African countries, particularly disruptions linked to the closure of the Strait of Hormuz.
“The entire global economy is obviously affected by the closure of the Strait of Hormuz, but the African continent particularly so,” Macron said, highlighting concerns over energy prices, trade disruptions, and broader economic vulnerabilities.
The Strait of Hormuz remains one of the world’s most strategically important shipping routes, with significant implications for oil exports and international commerce.
Macron did not provide details on how France intends to support African countries affected by the fallout from the US-Israel conflict involving Iran, but suggested further initiatives could follow.
The planned Paris conference is expected to bring together international governments, development institutions, private investors, and African leaders to discuss long-term financing strategies for African-led peace operations.
The initiative signals growing international recognition of the need for more sustainable African security financing as the continent faces complex and overlapping security challenges.
