Today, 20^th September, will be the highlight of the Ethiopian Presidency of the United Nations Security Council as it holds a high-level open debate on the “Reform of UN peacekeeping: implementation and follow-up”, chaired by Prime Minister Hailemariam Dessalegn. Secretary-General António Guterres and Moussa Faki Mahamat, the Chairperson of the AU Commission, are expected to brief the Council, along with the former President of Timor Leste and Chair of the High Level Panel on the Review of Peace Operations (HIPPO), José Ramos-Hortaa.

The debate has already attracted a lot of attention with the high-level participation of members of the United Nations. So far, nine Presidents, three Vice Presidents, six Prime Ministers, three Deputy Prime Minister and more than thirty Foreign Ministers are confirmed to attend the debate. More than seventy countries have also registered to speak at the event demonstrating the importance attached to the debate by member states.

A draft resolution on the reform of United Nations peacekeeping to be tabled by Ethiopia will be adopted during the debate. The draft resolution calls for accelerating reform and welcomes the efforts being made by the Secretary-General in this regard. It also lays emphasis on enhancing the efficiency and effectiveness of UN Peacekeeping and underscores the need for peacekeepers to be equipped with the necessary capabilities.

In this regard, it calls for the existing gaps to be addressed. It also recognizes the importance of enhancing partnerships particularly between the UN and the AU. The Council is expected to agree to consider taking practical steps on financing AU led peace support operations authorized by the United Nations Security Council on a case by case basis.

All Council members will co-sponsor the draft resolution and several other non-members are also expressing interest to co-sponsor.

This is indeed a big success for Ethiopia which, as a leading troop-contributing country, attaches great importance to strengthening UN Peacekeeping. This is also one of the most important priorities of Ethiopia in its activities in the Security Council.

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