PERMANENT OBSERVER MISSION OF
THE AFRICAN UNION TO THE UNITED NATIONS
Towards a Peaceful, Prosperous & Integrated Africa
The African Group
Message from the Chair
The Member States in the United Nations General Assembly are divided into various geographical groupings. These are the groupings through which elections are conducted into various UN bodies and agencies.
Africa is allocated 3 non-permanent members of the Security Council, 14 members on ECOSOC, 13 Members on the Human Rights Council and the President of the General Assembly in years ending 4 and 9.
The Africa Group at the United Nations is made up of the 54 African Union Member States at the United Nations. The bloc coordinates its efforts on various topics, ranging from health and migration to issues of peace and security.
The group hold regular meetings to receive briefings from guests and UN officials and discuss on UN resolutions and topics so a common African position can be reached.
The group is chaired by an Ambassador from a Member State, with the position rotating monthly. The African Union Observer Mission serves as a coordinating secretariat for the group by arranging meetings, supporting the Chair, and generally providing logistical and administrative assistance where necessary.
“South Africa is honoured to Chair the #AfricanGroupUN during Africa Month.
25 May 2023 marks the 60th anniversary since the formation of the OAU-AU and also 10 years since the adoption of our continental developmental blueprint, Agenda 2063, The Africa We Want .
During my Chairship, I intend to build on the efforts of my predecessors to further enhance the unity of the Group as well as facilitate a strategic reflection on the consolidation of the African Agenda at the UN”
H.E. Ms. Mathu Joyini
Ambassador and
Permanent Representative of the Republic of South Africa to the United Nations
President of the African Group for the month of May 2023