ADDIS ABABA — The Algerian flag was raised on Monday at the headquarters of the Peace and Security Council (PSC) of the African Union (AU) in Addis Ababa, marking the country’s landslide victory in securing a three-year seat on this continental body.
On this occasion, the Ambassador of Algeria to Ethiopia, Mohamed Khaled, said that securing a seat on the PSC “represents recognition from African brother countries of the effective and decisive role of Algerian diplomacy in promoting peace values and establishing consultation between States to find solutions to crises facing the African continent, in line with the instructions of the President of the Republic, Abdelmadjid Tebboune, which enabled Algeria to regain its proper standing at the continental level.”
“Algeria will begin its mandate on this council, a key pillar of Africa’s peace and security framework, amid a continental and international geopolitical landscape that requires the combined efforts from all council members to develop lasting solutions to conflicts, wars and problems facing several African countries, while defending just causes,” added the diplomat.
According to him, “Algeria’s seats on both the UN Security Council and the AU Peace and Security Council will enable it to effectively advocate for African causes, which remain central to its priorities.”
“In accordance with the instructions of President Tebboune, Algeria will work throughout its term to enhance the effectiveness of the Peace and Security Council and to bolster, alongside other countries, joint African action in order to uphold the principle of African solutions to African problems and to contribute effectively to the fulfilment of the African peoples’ aspirations for peace and security,” he underscored.
At the start of the ceremony, the AU Commissioner for Political Affairs, Peace and Security, Bankole Adeoye, and the Permanent Representative of Uganda to the AU, whose country chairs the Peace and Security Council for April, Rebecca Otengo, welcomed Algeria and extended their best wishes for its success.
On April 15, Algeria handily secured a seat on the AU Peace and Security Council for a three-year term, obtaining more than two-thirds of the votes from African countries.
Algeria secured the vote in its favor after gaining the confidence of 34 African countries in the third round of elections, compared to 15 votes for Libya, while Morocco withdrew its candidacy fearing another defeat against Algeria, following the failures it suffered in last February’s elections, particularly in accessing the vice-presidency of the AU Commission.
