COMMUNIQUÉ

Adopted by the Peace and Security Council (PSC) of the African Union (AU) at its 1360^th meeting held on 12 August 2026 on the Presentation of the Outcome of the 34^th Meeting of the Military Staff Committee held on 6 August 2026 on the Implementation of the Memorandum of Understanding on the African Standby Force (ASF).

The Peace and Security Council,

Recalling all Assembly decisions on the African Standby Force, in particular, Decision [Assembly/AU/Dec.978 (XXXIX)] adopted by the Assembly of the Union at its 39^th Ordinary Session held in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, from 14 to 15 February 2026, through which the Assembly directed the Commission to expedite the signing and operationalisation of the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between the African Union (AU) and the Regional Economic Communities and the Regional Mechanisms (RECs/RMs) on the Use of the African Standby Force and to report regularly on the status of its implementation;

Also recalling all its decisions and pronouncements on the African Standby Force, in particular, Communiqués: [PSC/PR/COMM.1346.1 (2026)] adopted at its 1346^th meeting held on 15 May 2026 and [PSC/PR/COMM.1257 (2025)] adopted at its 1257^th meeting held on 30 January 2025;

Taking note of the presentation by Colonel Bekkar Soltane, Defence Attaché of the People’s Democratic Republic of Algeria as Chairperson of the Military Staff Committee for the month of August 2026; and

Acting Under Article 7 of its Protocol, the Peace and Security Council:

1. Welcomes the Summary Record of the 34^th meeting of the Military Staff Committee;

2. Welcomes the progress achieved in the legal clearance and approval for signature of the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) and the rescheduling of the signing ceremony of the MoU, to take place on the margins of the 8^th AU Mid-Year Coordination Meeting (MYCM) to be held in Egypt on 4 October 2026;

3. Requests the AU Commission to:

1. Finalize and disseminate the MoU Implementation Plan, including the nomination of focal points, pursuant to Article 5 of the MoU;

2. Expedite the development of AU and concerned RECs/RMs decision-making and planning guidelines for Peace Support Operations (PSOs), including with the United Nations (UN) as may be required, in order to operationalize the MoU's provisions on unified political authority and coordinated mandating;

3. Finalize its position on cost-responsibility and reimbursement arrangements, so that predictable financing mechanisms are in place to support the MoU's operational provisions; and

4. After the 8^th Mid-Year Coordination Meeting, submit to the Specialized Technical Committee on Defence, Safety and Security (STCDSS) a follow-up progress report on the status of signature and implementation of the MoU.

4. Encourages the concerned Regional Economic Communities and Regional Mechanisms (RECs/ RMs) to expedite the negotiation of harmonized MoUs with their respective Member States, consistent with the ASF Work Plan, to ensure coherent cascading of the continental instrument to the regional and national levels;

5. Emphasizes the need for continued advocacy on the strategic value of the MoU, including its alignment with United Nations Security Council (UNSC) Resolution 2719 (2023), to strengthen political buy-in and support resource mobilization efforts;

6. Underscores the urgent need for addressing the challenges facing the deployment of the ASF, including political engagement of Member States and RECs/RMs, strategic airlift, interoperability, regional logistics bases, disparities in standards, the capacities and capabilities pledged by the various Regional Planning Elements (PLANELEMS) and their operational readiness;

7. Looks forward to the successful signing of the MoU on the margins of the upcoming 8^th Mid-Year Coordination Meeting to be held on 4 October 2026, in Egypt; and

8. Decides to remain actively seized of the matter.

COMMENTS