1. On 20 May 2026, the African Union (AU) and the United Nations (UN) held the Fourth Retreat of the, High Representatives, Special Representatives and Permanent Representatives of the Chairperson of the AU Commission and the Special Representatives, Special Envoys and Personal Envoys of the Secretary-General of the United Nations, in Libreville, Gabon.
2. The retreat took place under the auspices of the Chairperson of the AU Commission, H.E. Mahmoud Ali Youssouf, and was co-convened by the Commissioner for Political Affairs, Peace and Security, H.E. Ambassador Bankole Adeoye, and the Special Representative of the Secretary-General to the African Union and Head of UNOAU, Mr. Parfait Onanga-Anyanga. In this regard, participants expressed appreciation for the initiative which enabled them to engage and reflect on Africa’s most pressing peace and security challenges and measures to address them, as well as the continent’s immense potential and opportunities and how to harness them. The UN Special Representatives and Envoys expressed appreciation to the leadership of the African Union for the invitation to attend the 17th High-Level Retreat on the Promotion of Peace, Security and Stability in Africa convened in Libreville, Gabon, on 21-22 May 2026.
