NEW YORK – Morocco held a prominent position this week in joint consultations bringing together the African Union’s Peace and Security Council, the United Nations Security Council, and the UN Peacebuilding Commission. The talks, held at UN headquarters in New York from October 21 to 23, concluded with a broad review of African priorities on peace, security, and peacebuilding, alongside efforts to deepen cooperation between the African Union and the United Nations.
The Moroccan delegation, led by Ambassador Mohammed Arrouchi, Morocco’s Permanent Representative to the African Union and the UN Economic Commission for Africa, took an active part in the high-level discussions. During the eleventh informal joint seminar between the AU Peace and Security Council and the UN Security Council, Morocco was entrusted, on behalf of the Peace and Security Council, with the role of lead speaker on the theme of « Youth, Peace and Security. »
In his remarks, Ambassador Arrouchi underscored the contribution of African youth to conflict prevention, mediation, and peacebuilding. He stressed the importance of expanding young people’s participation in decision-making processes and strengthening their economic empowerment, describing both as essential levers for lasting peace across the continent.
The Moroccan diplomat also addressed, again on behalf of the Peace and Security Council, the protection of children affected by armed conflict. He called for translating continental commitments into concrete action, deepening cooperation between the African Union and the United Nations, and working toward the protection, rehabilitation, and reintegration of children associated with armed groups.
On the sidelines of the talks, members of the Peace and Security Council also met with the UN Secretary-General to discuss African priorities relating to peace, security, and stability, along with avenues for closer AU-UN cooperation on these issues. Discussions further touched on the challenges of financing peacebuilding efforts and on strengthening national ownership of initiatives aimed at anchoring sustainable peace in Africa.
Morocco’s involvement in these talks reflects the kingdom’s sustained diplomatic engagement within African and UN institutions, where it has in recent years stepped up initiatives supporting peace, security, and development across the continent, positioning itself as a steady interlocutor between Africa and the international community on these questions.
