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.[1]
Background
The consensus is named after
Ezulwini, a valley in central
Eswatini (then known as
Swaziland), where the agreement was made in 2005.[2] The consensus was then adopted at an Extraordinary Session of the Executive Council of the African Union, in March 2005, in
Addis Ababa.[1]
Agreement
The agreement covered several areas, including:[3]
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.
The Ezulwini Consensus was followed by the
Sirte Declaration of July 2005, which reiterated the need for at least two permanent seats and five non-permanent Security Council seats for African states.[4]
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ab"AFRICAN UNION (AU)"(PDF). Inventory of International Nonproliferation Organizations and Regimes. James Martin Center for Nonproliferation Studies. Archived from
the original(PDF) on 25 October 2011. Retrieved 13 October 2012.