ICRC and African Union pledge closer cooperation as conflicts and humanitarian needs grow
The International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) and the African Union (AU) have reaffirmed their commitment to strengthening cooperation in advocating respect for the rules of war as Mame Ibrahima Tounkara, the ICRC’s new head of delegation to the AU, presented his credentials to AU Commission Chairperson Mahmoud Ali Youssouf in Addis Ababa on October 15.
Their discussions underscored the need to strengthen respect for international humanitarian law (IHL) and preserve multilateralism amid escalating conflicts and growing humanitarian needs.
Chairperson Youssouf stressed the importance of protecting civilians, respecting international law and upholding the dignity of migrants.
He also highlighted the need to address forced displacement and humanitarian crises, and called for predictable and adequate funding, stronger international solidarity and better coordination among relevant actors.
Mr. Tounkara outlined the Global Initiative to Galvanize Political Commitment to International Humanitarian Law, which seeks to rally States behind IHL.
The Global IHL Initiative aims to renew States’ political commitment to international humanitarian law and advocate for practical measures that better protect people affected by armed conflict,” said Tounkara.
He also extended the invitation to the Chairperson of the AU Commission to attend the High-Level Conference on Humanity in War, to be held in Jordan on 7 December 2026.
The AU Commission Chair and ICRC Head of Delegation reaffirmed their organization’s shared commitment to strengthening humanitarian protection, consolidating international legal frameworks & advancing coordinated multilateral action to alleviate human suffering.
