Tanzania Re-elected as AU’s Security Council member

Tanzania has been re-elected as a member of the African Union Peace and Security Council (AUPSC) for a two-year term, effective immediately.

Apart from Tanzania, nine other countries were elected to the Council earlier this week: DR Congo, Equatorial Guinea, Uganda, Egypt, Angola, Botswana, Ivory Coast, Sierra Leone, and Gambia.

As per the information shared by the AU on its verified X platform (formerly Twitter), the new members’ term will commence on April 1, 2024.

Following Tanzania’s re-election, Mr. January Makamba, the Minister for Foreign Affairs and East African Cooperation, shared the AU’s announcement and expressed gratitude to those who supported Tanzania.

Mr. Makamba stated, “Tanzania has been re-elected as a Member of the African Union Peace and Security Council after Ethiopia and Eritrea withdrew their candidacies in support of ours. I am thankful for their backing and for the overwhelming votes from the AU Executive Council.”

The AU indicated that March 30, 2024, will mark the conclusion of the mandate for the 10 members of the African Union Peace and Security Council (PSC) who were elected during the AU Summit in February 2022 for a two-year period.

The Peace and Security Council (PSC) serves as the key decision-making body of the AU for conflict prevention, management, and resolution.

It acts as a mechanism for collective security and early warning to enable timely and effective responses to conflict and crisis situations in Africa.

As stated on the AU website, the PSC, in collaboration with the Chairperson of the AU Commission, is tasked with anticipating and preventing disputes and conflicts that could lead to genocide and crimes against humanity. It also engages in peace-making and peace-building efforts to address conflicts where they arise.

The council has the authority to approve the deployment of peace support missions, establish general guidelines for mission conduct and mandates, ensure the implementation of key conventions and instruments to combat international terrorism, and promote coordination between regional mechanisms and the AU to enhance peace, security, and stability in Africa.