AMN Plus-April 28/2026
Under the chairship of Ethiopia, the African Union Peace and Security Council (AU-PSC) convened on Monday (April 27), to deliberate on the future of Peace Support Operations (PSOs).
The discussion, which was graced by El Ghassim Wane, former Special Representative of the UN Secretary‑General and Head of MINUSMA, as well as Parfait Onanga‑Anyanga, Head of the United Nations Office to the African Union (UNOAU), focused on the future of PSOs in Africa.
The session assessed the measures that need to be taken in light of the evolving international order and the changing peace and security landscape across the continent.
In her remarks, Ambassador Hirut Zemene, Permanent Represenative of Ethiopia to the AU and UN-ECA commended the significant contributions African PSOs have made over nearly three decades, noting their deployment across the continent, often under stringent financial and security conditions.
Ambassador Hirut called for regular and sustained discussions on the subject to ensure that PSOs remain effective instruments for peace and stability in Africa, complementing political processes. The Council emphasized the importance of prioritizing preventive diplomacy and strengthening early warning systems.
The meeting concluded with the adoption of key decisions expected to guide Africa’s Peace Support Operations in the coming decades.
Ethiopia has entered the final week of its chairship of the AU PSC. During the remaining period, it will steer discussions on the joint retreat between the PSC and APRM, as well as consideration of the report on the PSC’s visit to South Sudan later this week as to Ministry of foreign affairs of Ethiopia reported it.
