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By Iheanacho Nwosu
NIGERIA yesterday assumed the one-month rotational chairman- ship of the African Union Peace and Security Council (PSC).
Consequently, Nigeria’s Per- manent Representative to the AU, Ambassador Bankole Adeoye was sworn in as the new boss of PSC.
A statement from AU said Adeoye took over from Ambas- sador Susan Sikaneta, the perma- nent representative of Zambia, who held the Presidency for the month of June, 2017. The Coun- cil is composed of 15 countries, of which five are elected to three- year terms, and 10 to two-year terms.
The current members of the PSC are Algeria, Botswana, Bu- rundi, Chad, Congo, Egypt, Niger, Nigeria, Rwanda, Sierra Leone, South Africa, Togo, Uganda and Zambia.
PSC is the primary organ of the African Union. It is patterned along the United Nations Security Council to enforce Union deci- sions, particularly in matters re- lating to maintenance of regional peace and security. Members of the Council are elected by the Assembly of the African Union to reflect regional balance within Africa, as well as a variety of other criteria, including capacity to con- tribute militarily and financially to the Union.
A senior official Embassy of the Federal Republic of Nigeria and Permanent Mission to the African Union & UNECA, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia explained that in view of Nigeria’s Leadership role at both the sub-regional and continental levels, the country has sustained its membership of this most vital mechanism since its founding in 2002.
The official who does not want his name mentioned stated that, “ crucial in Nigeria’s chairmanship of the African Union Peace and Security Council for the month of July will be focus on the Imple- mentation of African Union Mas- ter Roadmap of Practical Steps to Silence the Guns in Africa by 2020. Equally, the Council will engage on the substantial progress being recorded by the Multina- tional Joint Task Force (MNJTF), in the flight against terrorism and seek to gain better understanding of the root causes of the conflict.”
He added: “Also to be consid- ered by the Council during the period of Nigeria’s Presidency are the political and security situations in Guinea Bissau, Somalia, South Sudan, Mali/Sahel and Libya, Es- sentially, Nigeria as chairperson of the Council will prioritize the open debate by the AU Member States on Child soldiers/out of school children in armed conflict situations.
“Overall, with the support of other members of the Council, Nigeria will use its month-long presidency to actively promote sub-regional and continental peace and security in line with the principles of the AU Constitutive Act, UN Charter and the mandate of the Council.”
