France's Macron announces funding conference for Africa peace efforts

"An international conference to raise additional funds and mobilise new public and private partners for the African Union Peace Fund will be organised "in the last quarter of this year in Paris," he added."

"Macron, on his first visit to the AU headquarters, said France believes that "African problems must first and foremost be resolved and coordinated by Africa, and that the legitimate body is the African Union"."

"The fund, set up in 1993 by the AU's predecessor, the Organisation of African Unity, is reliant on contributions from AU member states, the private sector and individuals. It was blocked for two decades until 2018, and some $400 million was raised in 2024."

"Macron also called for the effective implementation of UN Resolution 2719, which was adopted in 2023 and provides for mandatory contributions from United Nations member states to finance AU peace operations. During his Africa tour, the French head of state said he wanted the AU to have "more capacity" for peacekeeping operations and to "build its own mediation efforts"."

A conference in Paris by the end of the year will aim to raise additional funds and mobilize new public and private partners for the African Union Peace Fund. France supports resolving African problems through African coordination, with the African Union as the legitimate body. The Peace Fund, created in 1993, relies on contributions from member states, the private sector, and individuals, and it was blocked for two decades until 2018. About $400 million was raised in 2024. France also calls for effective implementation of UN Resolution 2719, which mandates UN member state contributions for AU peace operations. France seeks greater AU capacity for peacekeeping and stronger AU mediation efforts, including in the Democratic Republic of Congo with UN and AU involvement.

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