African Union elects new Peace and Security Council members for 2026–28

By Sadik Kedir

ADDIS ABABA, Ethiopia (AA) - The African Union Peace and Security Council elected six new members and re-elected four others for the 2026-2028 term following a vote by the AU Executive Council, according to an official statement.

Benin, Gabon, Lesotho, Morocco, Somalia, and South Africa on Wednesday secured seats on the 15-member body, while Cote d’Ivoire, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Sierra Leone, and Uganda were re-elected. The newly elected members will serve from April 1, 2026, to March 31, 2028.

No permanent seats exist on the Council. Members are chosen on the basis of equitable regional representation and serve either two- or three-year terms.

Algeria, Cameroon, Ethiopia, Eswatini, and Nigeria were elected last year for three-year mandates, pending next year’s election cycle.

Voting took place during the Executive Council’s 48th Ordinary Session held from Feb. 11 to 12. Results are expected to receive formal endorsement from the AU Assembly of Heads of State and Government at its 39th Ordinary Session scheduled this weekend at the bloc’s headquarters.

The Peace and Security Council serves as the Union’s principal decision-making organ for conflict prevention, management, and resolution.

Authority includes approving peace support operations, supervising early warning and preventive diplomacy mechanisms, imposing sanctions in cases of unconstitutional changes of government, and coordinating continent-wide responses to security threats, including terrorism.

The Council remains central to AU’s broader strategy to address armed conflict and political instability across Africa.