Ezulwini Consensus Explained

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]

Collective security - preventive measures

Underlining the serious threats posed by HIV/AIDS, poverty, and environmental degradation
Encouraging debts of highly indebted states to be written off
Recommending adoption of the Lomé Declaration and Algiers Declaration 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.

United Nations reform

At least two permanent seats (including veto power), and five non-permanent seats on the Security Council.^[4]
The African Union 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 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
Lomé Declaration
Algiers Declaration

Notes and References

Web site: AFRICAN UNION (AU). Inventory of International Nonproliferation Organizations and Regimes. James Martin Center for Nonproliferation Studies. 13 October 2012. https://web.archive.org/web/20111025001131/http://cns.miis.edu/inventory/pdfs/au.pdf. 25 October 2011. dead.
Web site: Walking a tightrope: SA, Africa and the UN. Helen Suzman Foundation. 13 October 2012. 9 April 2016. https://web.archive.org/web/20160409033048/http://hsf.org.za/resource-centre/focus/issues-31-40/issue-40-fourth-quarter-2005/walking-a-tightrope-sa-africa-and-the-un/. dead.
THE COMMON AFRICAN POSITION ON THE PROPOSED REFORM OF THE UNITED NATIONS: "THE EZULWINI CONSENSUS" . EXECUTIVE COUNCIL, 7th Extraordinary Session . 7–8 March 2005 . . 19 September 2023 . 5 February 2009 . https://web.archive.org/web/20090205142414/http://www.africa-union.org/News_Events/Calendar_of_%20Events/7th%20extra%20ordinary%20session%20ECL/Ext%20EXCL2%20VII%20Report.pdf . bot: unknown .
Web site: General Assembly . 18 November 2008 . ‘OUT OF DATE AND OUT OF TOUCH’, SECURITY COUNCIL REQUIRES URGENT REFORM, ASSEMBLY PRESIDENT SAYS, URGING DELEGATIONS TO MOVE SWIFTLY TO END IMPASSE . 2022-03-21 . United Nations.