By John Ikani
Nigeria has been re-elected into the African Union Peace and Security Council (AUPSC) for another three-year mandate (2022-2025) to represent the West African region.
The election of the 15-member Council was held on Thursday during the 40th Ordinary Session of the Executive Council of the African Union in Addis Ababa.
A statement on Saturday signed by the Presidential spokesperson, Femi Adesina, and titled, ‘Nigeria Re-elected into the African Union Peace and Security Council: Addis Ababa’, noted that Nigeria pulled 44 votes in the first round to secure the statutory 2/3 votes required to win the election.
Nigeria is represented at the Permanent Representatives level by Victor Adeleke, Nigerian Ambassador to Ethiopia and Permanent Representative to the African Union.
The statement went on to note that Nigeria is the only country that has sustained the membership of the Peace and Security Council since the inception of the organ in 2004 as a result of ECOWAS’ dedication of a permanent seat to the country.
“Also elected for a three-year mandate alongside Nigeria, were Cameroon, Djibouti, Morocco, and Namibia. Elected for a two year mandate were Burundi, Congo, Uganda, Tanzania, Tunisia, Zimbabwe, South Africa, Ghana, Senegal, and Gambia.
“Nigeria is the only country that has sustained the membership of the PSC since the inception of the Organ in 2004, following the Decision of the ECOWAS Authority of Heads of State and Government dedicating a Seat of three-year term to Nigeria at every PSC election.
“This is in recognition of Nigeria’s sterling contributions to the maintenance of peace and security in Africa and beyond. It is in consonance with the AUPSC Protocol and without prejudice to the 2/3 votes standard requirement,” the statement further.
The PSC is a standing decision-making organ of the African Union charged with responsibilities of conducting early warning and preventive diplomacy; facilitating peace-making; establishing peace-support operations; and, in certain circumstances, recommending intervention in Member States to promote peace, security and stability.
The PSC works in support of peace-building and post-conflict reconstruction as well as humanitarian action and disaster management. It is mandated to institute sanctions; and implement the AU’s common defence policy.
The PSC also ensures the implementation of key conventions and instruments to combat international terrorism; promote coordination between regional mechanisms and the AU with respect to peace, security and stability in Africa.
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