Djibouti to chair African Union Peace and Security Council in December

Djibouti has taken on the role of chairing the African Union Peace & Security Council (PSC) for December.

The PSC is the AU’s primary body for decision-making on conflict prevention, management, and resolution.

Djibouti assumes this responsibility amid escalating tensions in the Horn of Africa, particularly between Ethiopia and Somalia over a controversial port deal with Somaliland, a breakaway region of Somalia not recognised internationally.

Ethiopia’s deal with Somaliland grants it access to a strategic port on the Gulf of Aden. Somalia, viewing this as a provocation, considers Somaliland part of its territory.

Djibouti, with its strategic position in the Horn, will need to carefully navigate these tensions, especially since it has temporarily allowed Ethiopia access to part of a port to help ease the situation.

The Horn of Africa will likely be a key focus for Djibouti as it seeks to leverage its position to further its ambitions for leading the African Union Commission.

In addition to regional tensions, Djibouti’s PSC chairmanship comes at a critical time for ongoing conflicts in Sudan and Eastern Congo, which are expected to be high on the agenda.

Djibouti’s efforts to ease tensions within the Horn of Africa will be closely watched, especially as it works to project itself as a leader within the AU.

Meanwhile, the planned drawdown of ATMIS peacekeepers and the transition to a post-ATMIS mission will test the PSC’s ability to handle the ongoing instability in Somalia.

Ethiopia, having been a key player in the mission, has strongly objected to being excluded from the new mission, claiming that its absence could jeopardise its national security.

Tensions between Ethiopia and Egypt, particularly over the GERD dam dispute, have also complicated the situation. Egypt’s involvement in Somalia, with the delivery of weapons, has raised concerns in Addis Ababa.

Despite the AU’s long-standing goal to silence the guns by 2020, conflicts persist across the continent, threatening both human security and the establishment of a peaceful environment for the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) to thrive.

The PSC’s effectiveness in navigating these complex challenges remains critical.

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