France to Host AU Peace Financing Conference as Macron Pushes New Africa Security Partnership

France has announced it will host an international conference aimed at strengthening funding for African Union peace operations, as French President Emmanuel Macron seeks to deepen security cooperation with the continent amid ongoing conflicts and reform debates.

The plan was confirmed after discussions between Macron, African Union Commission officials, and United Nations representatives during a series of high-level meetings in Addis Ababa and related Africa diplomacy engagements.

The conference, which is expected to take place in Paris later this year, will focus on mobilising financial support for the African Union Peace Fund, a key mechanism used to support peacekeeping, conflict prevention, and stabilization efforts across Africa.

According to officials involved in the talks, the initiative is designed to attract both public and private sector funding to strengthen African-led peace operations, particularly at a time when several regions of the continent continue to face insecurity, humanitarian crises, and armed conflict.

The announcement comes as France attempts to reposition its relationship with Africa, shifting from traditional aid-based approaches toward investment and joint security partnerships. The move is part of Macron’s broader diplomatic strategy to redefine France’s role on the continent following growing calls from African leaders for more equitable global financial and security arrangements.

Macron has repeatedly argued that African peace operations require more predictable and sustainable financing, especially as African Union missions often struggle with funding gaps that limit their effectiveness in conflict zones. The upcoming conference is expected to be aligned with broader international discussions on reforming global security financing structures.

The initiative also follows renewed emphasis on African-led solutions to security challenges, with both the United Nations and African Union increasingly cooperating on joint frameworks for peacekeeping and conflict resolution across regions affected by instability.

While details of the financial commitments expected at the Paris conference have not yet been fully disclosed, officials say the goal is to strengthen long-term funding mechanisms rather than rely on short-term emergency support.

The announcement highlights France’s continued diplomatic engagement in African security affairs, even as its political and military influence in parts of the continent has faced scrutiny and realignment in recent years. Analysts say the conference will be closely watched as a test of whether new funding models can meaningfully improve the effectiveness of African peace operations.

As preparations continue, the upcoming Paris meeting is expected to bring together African leaders, international partners, and private investors in what officials describe as a “critical moment” for the future financing of peace and security efforts across Africa.