The Ezulwini Consensus is a position on international relations and reform of the United Nations, agreed by the African Union. It calls for a more representative and democratic Security Council, in which Africa, like all other world regions, is represented.

Background

The consensus is named after Ezulwini, a valley in central

Eswatini Eswatini ( ; ss, eSwatini ), officially the Kingdom of Eswatini and formerly named Swaziland ( ; officially renamed in 2018), is a landlocked country in Southern Africa. It is bordered by Mozambique to its northeast and South Africa to its no ...

(then known as

Swaziland Eswatini ( ; ss, eSwatini ), officially the Kingdom of Eswatini and formerly named Swaziland ( ; officially renamed in 2018), is a landlocked country in Southern Africa. It is bordered by Mozambique to its northeast and South Africa to its no ...

), where the agreement was made in 2005. The consensus was then adopted at an Extraordinary Session of the Executive Council of the African Union, in March 2005, in Addis Ababa.

Agreement

The agreement covered several areas, including:

Collective security - preventive measures

*Underlining the serious threats posed by HIV/AIDS, poverty, and

environmental degradation Environmental degradation is the deterioration of the environment (biophysical), environment through depletion of resources such as quality of air, water and soil; the destruction of ecosystems; habitat destruction; the extinction of wildlife; an ...

*Encouraging debts of highly indebted states to be written off *Recommending adoption of the

Lomé Declaration Lomé is the capital and largest city of Togo. It has an urban population of 837,437

and

Algiers Declaration Algiers ( ; ar, الجزائر, al-Jazāʾir; ber, Dzayer, script=Latn; french: Alger, ) is the capital and largest city of Algeria. The city's population at the 2008 Census was 2,988,145Census 14 April 2008: Office National des Statistiques d ...

on Unconstitutional Changes of Governments. *Calling for an end to illicit manufacturing, trade, and stockpiling of small arms & light weapons ( SALW). *Recommending steps toward "complete elimination of nuclear weapons"

Collective security - use of force

*A cautious approach to the Responsibility to protect: "It is important to reiterate the obligation of states to protect their citizens, but this should not be used as a pretext to undermine the sovereignty, independence and territorial integrity of states." * Prohibiting any use of force outside Article 51 of the UN Charter (self-defence) and Article 4h of AU (preventing genoicide and serious crimes against humanity). * Calling for the UN to fund and support peacekeeping forces provided by regional organisations such as the AU. * Proposing a

Peacebuilding Commission The United Nations Peacebuilding Commission (PBC) is a United Nations intergovernmental advisory body of both the General Assembly and the Security Council that supports peace efforts in conflict affected countries. A key addition to the capacity ...

United Nations reform

*At least two permanent seats (including veto power), and five non-permanent seats on the Security Council. *The

African Union The African Union (AU) is a continental union consisting of 55 member states located on the continent of Africa. The AU was announced in the Sirte Declaration in Sirte, Libya, on 9 September 1999, calling for the establishment of the Africa ...

would choose which African governments get the seats. * Further calls for ECOSOC to be strengthened.

Sirte Declaration

The Ezulwini Consensus was followed by the

Sirte Declaration The Sirte Declaration was the resolution adopted by the Organisation of African Unity on 9 September 1999, at the fourth Extraordinary Session of the OAU Assembly of African Heads of State and Government held at Sirte, Libya. The Declaration ann ...

of July 2005, which reiterated the need for at least two permanent seats and five non-permanent Security Council seats for African states.

Related agreements

* Responsibility to protect *

Algiers Convention on Terrorism Algiers ( ; ar, الجزائر, al-Jazāʾir; ber, Dzayer, script=Latn; french: Alger, ) is the capital and largest city of Algeria. The city's population at the 2008 Census was 2,988,145Census 14 April 2008: Office National des Statistiques d ...

Lomé Declaration Lomé is the capital and largest city of Togo. It has an urban population of 837,437

References

{{reflist African Union