The Republic of Rwanda has assumed the rotating monthly chairmanship of the Peace and Security Council (PSC) of the African Union for the month of May for 2019.
The PSC is the standing organ of the AU for the prevention, management and resolution of conflicts, and has the powers to recommend intervention to bring peace, security and stability in any AU Member States.
Amb. Hope Tumukunde Gasatura, Rwanda’s Permanent Representative (PR) to AU, will be presiding over the PSC sessions during the month.
During Rwanda’s chairmanship, the PSC will receive a report of the Commission on the peace process in the Central Africa Republic (CAR), and propose measures to reinforce the implementation of the Peace Agreement signed two months ago in Khartoum. The council is also expected to renew the mandate of AMISOMwhich is expiring at the end of May 2019.
In addition to the above, Rwanda’s chairmanship will feature discussions on non traditional threats to peace and security in Africa namely: Health epidemics like Ebola, and and also Cyber related Security threats.
Another important session awaited is the inaugural consultative meeting of the PSC and the Regional Economic Communities/Regional Mechanisms (RECs/RMs). In the spirit of the AU reforms decisions, the Council will discuss the principles of subsidiarity and division of labor between the various continental and regional peace and security decision-making bodies and propose ways for better coordination.
Currently, the PSC is composed of 15 countries: Angola, Algeria, Burundi, Djibouti, Equatorial Guinea, Gabon, Kenya, Liberia, Lesotho, Morocco, Rwanda, Nigeria, Sierra Leone, Togo, and Zimbabwe. Rwanda was reelected for a two years term in January 2018, representing the eastern Africa region along with Djibouti and Kenya. (End)