On 7 April, the Special Representative of the Secretary-General to the African Union and Head of the United Nations Office to the African Union participated in the flag ceremony for the incoming members of the African Union Peace and Security Council.
The ceremony featured opening remarks by the State Minister of Foreign Affairs of Ethiopia, Ambassador Hadera Abera, followed by remarks by the Chairperson of the African Union Commission, Mr Mahamoud Ali Youssouf. In his statement, the Chairperson underscored that membership in the Peace and Security Council carries a responsibility to act decisively and collectively in line with the principles of the AU Constitutive Act and the PSC Protocol. He emphasized the importance of preventive diplomacy, effective conflict management and sustained efforts to anticipate and respond to crises across the continent.
The newly elected members of the Council are Benin, Gabon, Somalia, South Africa, Lesotho and Morocco. Côte d’Ivoire, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Sierra Leone and Uganda were re elected. Somalia joins the Council for the first time.
The SRSG congratulated the incoming members and reaffirmed the importance of continued cooperation between the United Nations and the African Union in support of peace, security and conflict prevention in Africa.
