The North Africa Post
Morocco was elected to the African Union’s Peace and Security Council, a body entrusted with conflict prevention, conflict management and resolution, and peacekeeping in Africa.
The election of Morocco to this supreme decision-making body on peace and security issues, where the Kingdom is set to play a major role, took place in Addis Ababa Friday, at the 32nd Ordinary Session of the Executive Council of the Pan-African Organization.
Morocco, the unique candidate from the North-African region, was elected to the Peace & Security Council (PSC) for a renewable two-year term (2018-2020) by 39 votes. The minimum of votes required is 36.
Foreign Minister Nasser Bourita who is taking part in the meetings preceding the 30th AU Summit (January 28-29) described Morocco’s election to the PSC as an acknowledgment of the very constructive role and solidarity-based actions carried out in the continent, under the leadership of King Mohammed VI, in terms of peace, security and human development.
This election is another token of the AU member States’ support to and confidence in the Monarch, the Foreign Minister said in a statement to the media after the election process.
He revealed that some countries tried to hamper the Kingdom’s election to this strategic body of the AU, but their attempts failed, while Morocco’s credibility and the King’s commendable actions prevailed. He pointed out that integrating the CPS has been one of the objectives sought by Morocco after it returned to the AU in January 2017.
Since its creation in 2003, the Council has been chaired by an Algerian and was often prompted by this chairmanship to act against Morocco’s supreme interests, particularly when it comes to its Western Sahara provinces.
In this connection, Nasser Bourita said Morocco’s presence within the council would therefore make it possible to block all the manoeuvers and to counter the strategies that have manipulated the PSC for years to serve some specific agendas.
The Foreign Minister also underlined that the kingdom’s unique experience in the continent, primarily in the field of conflict prevention and crisis management and its participation in several peacekeeping operations will be additional assets for the CPS work.
He noted that the current exhibition, organized by the Department of Military History of the General Staff of the Royal Armed Forces (FAR), on the sidelines of the 30th AU Summit in Addis Ababa, perfectly illustrates this peacekeeping vocation of the Kingdom.
Other African officials attending the AU meetings stressed that Morocco has an important role to play in strengthening peace and stability in Africa, given the vast experience it acquired in these areas as well as in matters of economic, social and human development.
In this vein, Nigerian Foreign Minister Geoffrey Onyeama hailed Morocco’s ceaseless and commendable efforts in the areas of peace and security on the continent, while his Tanzanian peer, Augustine Mahiga stressed that Morocco has an important role to play in the CPS.
The presence of Morocco in this Council will provide the kingdom with a better opportunity to strengthen its valuable contribution to peace and security in the continent, said Augustine Mahiga, recalling that Morocco has played a key role in peacekeeping in Africa since the establishment of the Organization of African Unity (AU predecessor).
“We hope that Morocco’s entry into the CPS will be an opportunity to redefine and strengthen Morocco’s position in the AU,” added the Tanzanian Foreign Minister. Morocco has always responded voluntarily and without hesitation to the solidarity calls of his African brothers, she said.
Burundi’s Foreign Minister Alain Aimé Nyamitwe also praised Morocco’s unwavering commitment to peace and security in Africa, saying the Kingdom is carrying out a “stunning” action in the continent, underpinned by a humanitarian dimension.
The Kingdom’s commitment to humanitarian causes in Africa is highlighted during each of the visits King Mohammed VI pays to African countries, he said.
The Peace and Security Council is the AU’s standing decision-making body responsible for the maintenance of continental peace and security. The council 15 members are elected by the AU Executive Council on regional basis (three from Central Africa; three from East Africa; two from North Africa; three from Southern Africa; and four from West Africa). Ten members are elected for a two-year term and five are elected for a three-year term, to ensure continuity in the actions of the CPS.
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