Opening remarks by HR/VP @kajakallas at the High-Level Ministerial of the Global Alliance for the Implementation of the Two-State Solution.
Read the full opening remarks here: https://t.co/hM7bAOaSYy
The African Union, European Union and United Nations convened for their Seventh Trilateral Meeting on 20 September 2026 on the margins of the #UNGA81, reaffirming their commitment to stronger cooperation for peace and security.
🔗https://t.co/dwF2euX2mS
#Ethiopia: Statement by the Spokesperson
The EU is deeply concerned by the rapidly deteriorating situation in Northern Ethiopia.
Respect for international humanitarian law is non-negotiable.
Immediate de-escalation is needed.
https://t.co/7XggFVdb5y
AUC CHAIRPERSON CALLS FOR UTMOST RESTRAINT AND IMMEDIATE DE-ESCALATION IN NORTHERN ETHIOPIA.
The Chairperson of the African Union Commission (AUC), H.E. Mahmoud Ali Youssouf, @ymahmoudali, expresses deep concern over renewed tensions and military escalation in Northern #Ethiopia, including the seizure and occupation of the airports of Mekelle, Axum and Shire, the detention of federal personnel by the Tigray’s People Liberation Front ( TPLF) and the ensuing disruption of civilian air services.
The AUC Chairperson is also gravely concerned by reports of escalating hostilities in parts of South Tigray and the Afar Region, as well as recent developments involving the formation of new political and military alliances that risk further destabilizing the situation and reversing the gains made to silencing the guns, since 2020.
The AUC Chairperson reaffirms that the Agreement for Lasting Peace through a Permanent Cessation of Hostilities, signed in Pretoria on 2 November 2022, between the Government of Ethiopia and TPLF, under the auspices of the African Union, remains the cornerstone of sustainable peace, stability and reconciliation in Ethiopia. The seizure and occupation of the civilian airports of Mekelle, Axum and Shire by Tigray forces are inconsistent with the commitments and obligations within the Pretoria Agreement and risk eroding the hard-won gains achieved in the pursuit of lasting peace and stability.
The AUC Chairperson calls for utmost restraint and the immediate cessation of all actions that could further escalate tensions. He calls on the resumption of direct talks without delay within the framework of the Pretoria Agreement.
The AUC Chairperson also calls upon all neighbouring countries of Ethiopia to refrain from actions that could contribute to further escalation and to actively support de-escalation, dialogue and confidence-building.
As the African Union strives to preserve the 3-year plus accomplishments of the Pretoria Agreement and advance the Silencing the Guns Agenda, the AUC Chairperson has requested H.E. Olusegun Obasanjo, former President of Nigeria and AU High Representative for the Horn of Africa, to urgently engage the parties and support renewed diplomatic efforts aimed at reducing tensions, promoting dialogue and safeguarding the peace process.
Read @ https://t.co/8bRxdtiZ5i
Vahva YK:n on erityisen tärkeä Suomen kaltaisille pienille maille.
Turvallisuutemme ja menestyksemme nojaavat vahvasti sääntöpohjaiseen maailmanjärjestykseen.
The 81st United Nations General Assembly opens against the backdrop of a new reality.
A multipolar, more transactional world, where the temptation to turn inward can be strong.
But it also opens with one certainty for Europe.
The challenges we face are too great, too complex and too interconnected for any nation to tackle alone.
That is why Europe will always choose outreach and cooperation.
With trusted and like-minded partners.
And through a strong multilateral system built to champion peace in today’s world.
Will world leaders listen?
International humanitarian law cannot bend to political convenience.
Team Europe is a leading humanitarian donor. This is a powerful responsibility to protect people everywhere.
This is the message I bring to this year’s UNGA
#EUatUNGA 🧵
On the margins of #UNGA81, the African Union (AU) convened a high-level meeting on Women, Peace and Security (WPS), bringing together Her Majesty Queen Mathilde of the Belgians, H.E. Mahmoud Ali Youssouf, Chairperson of the African Union Commission, H.E. Prof. François Havyarimana, the Minister of National Education & Scientific Research of Burundi representing H.E. Évariste Ndayishimiye the President of Burundi and the Chairperson of the AU, & H.E. Amina J. Mohammed, UN Deputy Secretary-General to reaffirm the imperative of ensuring the full, equal and meaningful participation of women in efforts to advance a political solution to the crisis in eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC).
Her Majesty Queen Mathilde underscored the indispensable role of women as agents of peace, community leaders and builders of trust. While women and girls are disproportionately affected by conflict, they are also at the forefront of efforts to prevent violence, support communities and rebuild social cohesion. Their voices and leadership must therefore be reflected throughout peace processes.
Chairperson Youssouf reaffirmed the AU’s commitment to the WPS agenda, in line with Agenda 2063, UN Security Council Resolution 1325, the Maputo Protocol and the Continental Plan of Action. He stressed that women’s participation must be substantive & transversal; not peripheral or symbolic, & that African women’s knowledge, leadership & mediation capacities must translate into real & sustained influence.
He emphasised the need to move from political commitments to concrete action, including ensuring women’s representation in mediation & negotiations, ceasefire monitoring & verification mechanisms, & institutions responsible for implementing peace agreements. He also highlighted the importance of addressing structural drivers of conflict, including exclusion, inequality & the exploitation of natural resources.
Chairperson Youssouf called for stronger support to women mediators and civil society organisations, dedicated resources for women’s effective participation, and their inclusion in the implementation, monitoring and verification of peace processes, including the Luanda - Nairobi processes.
He further welcomed the launch of the Strategic Plan 2026–2028 of the Office of the AU Special Envoy on Women, Peace and Security as an important step towards translating political commitments into measurable action & strengthening women’s influence across peace & security processes.
UN Deputy Secretary-General Amina J. Mohammed reaffirmed the United Nations’ commitment to working with the AU, the EU & other partners to strengthen women’s meaningful participation in peace & security processes. She underscored the importance of translating commitments into measurable results and ensuring that women are not only present at the table, but are able to shape decisions and outcomes.
Representing H.E. Évariste Ndayishimiye, President of the Republic of Burundi and Chairperson of the African Union, the representative reaffirmed Burundi’s commitment to advancing women’s leadership in peacebuilding and conflict prevention. The contribution also highlighted the importance of linking the WPS and Youth, Peace and Security agendas, recognising women and young people as indispensable actors in building sustainable peace.
The meeting also recognised the leadership of H.E. Angeline Ndayishimiye, First Lady of Burundi, in advancing the WPS agenda and the empowerment of women.
The message was clear: sustainable peace in the Great Lakes region requires women to be meaningfully and structurally part of the process—from mediation and negotiation to implementation, monitoring and verification.
The event brought together women mediators, diplomats, ministers of foreign affairs and special envoys & was moderated by H.E. Ambassador Liberata Mulamula, AU Special Envoy on Women, Peace and Security.
Read @ https://t.co/jD7w2dYvjm
@ymahmoudali@AminaJMohammed@AfricanUnionWPS@AfricanUnionUN
An excellent meeting with President João Lourenço @jlprdeangola in New York.
The EU and Angola are reliable partners.
I commended President Lourenço for his leadership within the African Union as a champion for peace and reconciliation, and for Angola’s important role in promoting African solutions to peace and security challenges at both regional and continental levels.
We look forward to further strengthening the partnership between the EU and Angola in the years ahead.
The UN High-Level Week is about to kick off in New York.
For over 80 years, the UN has been the world’s common ground, bringing countries together to tackle global challenges.
The EU is proud to be its biggest backer.
Together with @vonderleyen and @eucopresident, we met with UN Secretary-General @antonioguterres to discuss how to strengthen cooperation in a world that needs more dialogue and trust than ever.
Africa’s global leadership is growing.
And Europe stands firmly behind it.
We championed the @_AfricanUnion’s permanent membership of the G20 and support a stronger African voice on the global stage.
The EU is Africa’s leading trade and investment partner.
Through Global Gateway, we are mobilising €150 billion for projects that create local value, local jobs and opportunities for Africa’s greatest strength: its young people.
Together with the AU and the UN, we are also advancing African-led solutions for peace and security, sustainable development and food security.
Now we are ready to take this partnership further.
On the margins of #UNGA81, H.E. Mahmoud Ali Youssouf, Chairperson of the African Union (AU) Commission, @ymahmoudali joined H.E. António Guterres, UN Secretary-General, H.E. António Costa, President of the European Council, & H.E. Ursula von der Leyen, President of the European Commission, for a high-level trilateral AU-EU-UN engagement in New York.
The meeting underscored the importance of stronger multilateral cooperation at a time of growing geopolitical pressures & shared global challenges, reaffirming the interconnectedness of Africa & Europe & the centrality of international law & collective action.
Discussions focused on advancing cooperation on peace, security & sustainable development, with particular attention to the Horn of Africa, the Red Sea & maritime security, including efforts to prevent further escalation of conflicts & strengthen regional dialogue and mediation.
The Trilateral also addressed Africa’s development financing needs & the reform of the international financial architecture, including greater use of guarantees, blended finance, the rechanneling of SDRs to multilateral development banks, & stronger African financial institutions in support of Agenda 2063.
Food security, climate resilience & early warning systems were also highlighted, including cooperation on fertilizer production & supply corridors, climate-smart agriculture, soil mapping, & the potential use of Galileo & Copernicus satellite systems to strengthen early warning capacities.
The meeting reaffirmed the commitment to focused, innovative & measurable AU-EU-UN cooperation, with follow-up arrangements envisaged to review progress & advance concrete deliverables.
Read @ https://t.co/PHO1rzkMxh
@UN@EU_Commission@EUCouncil@vonderleyen@eucopresident
Africa���s global leadership is growing. And Europe stands firmly behind it.
We championed the @_AfricanUnion’s permanent membership of the G20 and support a stronger African voice on the global stage.
The EU is Africa’s leading trade and investment partner.
Through Global Gateway, we are mobilising €150 billion for projects that create local value, local jobs and opportunities for Africa’s greatest strength: its young people.
Together with the AU and the UN, we are also advancing African-led solutions for peace and security, sustainable development and food security.
Now we are ready to take this partnership further.
Excellent meeting with UN Secretary General @antonioguterres, together with @vonderleyen and HRVP @kajakallas, ahead of UNGA81.
The EU will always remain a supporter of multilateralism and of a rules-based international order with a reformed @UN at its heart.
We thanked Secretary-General Guterres for our close cooperation throughout his term, from Ukraine to the Middle East, and on climate.
As well as for driving the UN80 reforms forward.
The goal is clear: a UN fit for today’s world. More effective. More responsive. That turns global cooperation into solutions on the ground.
Multilateralism is not an act of idealism; in today’s world, it is a practical necessity.
Read here my message in the @FT, together with Prime Minister @MarkJCarney, President @LulaOficial, and President @WilliamsRuto, ahead of tomorrow’s summit ‘Partners for Multilateralism’ #P4M #UNGA81
https://t.co/b0ziOmi4Px
Good evening from New York! 🇺🇸
My mission for this year's UN General Assembly starts here. And the whole world is coming at a time that is more competitive and more difficult than it used to be.
Europe, brings a unique partnership offer.
The UN Security Council was designed in 1945. Today's world looks very different.
The EU backs comprehensive reform of the UNSC to better reflect today's realities. We support a more effective, inclusive, democratic and accountable UNSC, with a stronger voice for underrepresented regions.