PRESS RELEASE
THE UNITED REPUBLIC OF TANZANIA BECOMES CHAIR OF THE AFRICAN UNION
PEACE AND SECURITY COUNCIL (AUPSC) FOR THE MONTH OF APRIL 2013
Since 1st April 2013,
the United Republic of Tanzania has become Chair of the African Union Peace and
Security Council (AUPSC) for the entire period of one month. The United
Republic of Tanzania was elected as a Member of the AUPSC in April 2012, for a
two-year period. The African Union Peace and Security Council is a standing
decision – making organ for the prevention, management and resolution of
conflicts. The Peace and Security Council (PSC) is the sole organ with the
African Union (AU) that is responsible for decision making on all issues
relating to the promotion of peace, security and stability in Africa.
The PSC is composed of 15 member
states of the AU elected according to the principle of equitable regional
representation and rotation as stipulated in the Protocol Relating to the
establishment of the Peace and Security Council of the African Union. The
current Members of the AU Peace and Security Council (AUPSC) are Algeria,
Angola, Cameroun, Congo (Brazzaville), Cote d’Ivoire, Djibouti, Egypt,
Equatorial Guinea, Gambia, Guinea (Conakry), Lesotho, Mozambique, Nigeria,
Tanzania and Uganda. It is worth noting that Algeria, Mozambique and Uganda are
new members that joined the PSC in April 2013 to replace Libya, Zimbabwe and
Kenya whose membership ended in March 2013.
On 5th April 2013, In
Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, the Peace and Security Council (PSC) held its 365th
Meeting. The meeting was chaired by Prof. Amb. Joram Biswaro, Permanent
Representative of the United Republic of Tanzania to the African Union (AU) and
the United Nations Economic Commission for Africa (UNECA). The PSC meeting considered
and subsequently adopted its monthly programme of work for the month of April
2013, which was prepared by the United Republic of Tanzania in consultation
with the African Union Commission Peace and Security Department and other Union
relevant organs of the African Union Commission (AUC).
In his statement as the new
Chairperson of PSC for the month of April 2013, Prof. Ambassador Joram Biswaro
reiterated the Government of the United Republic of Tanzania’s commitment and
devotion in shouldering its responsibilities as a member and Chair of the Peace
and Security Council, an important organ which has an obligation of the
maintenance and promotion of peace and stability in the African continent.
The Chairperson noted that as
Africa marked 50th Anniversary of the establishment of its
Organization OUA/AU this year, peace and security situation in Africa showed
both positive and negative developments. On a positive note and despite the
existing challenges, there have been developments in the situation between Sudan
and South Sudan, in Eastern DRC, Somalia, Mali, Guinea Bissau and Madagascar in
which the Peace and Security Council (PSC) in collaboration with Regional
Economic Communities has been actively engaged and played a significantly role
while assuming its responsibilities of maintenance of peace, security and
stability in our continent. He also recognized that Peace and stability
continued to consolidate in Egypt and Tunisia despite some challenges.
Similarly, the Chairperson
pointed out that the recent peaceful concluded elections in Kenya and Djibouti
have demonstrated that Africa has made tremendous strides in the promotion of
democracy, good governance and the rule of law.
However, despite these positive
developments, the Chairperson deplored the recent unconstitutional change of
government in Central African Republic (CAR). He therefore underscored the need
for the PSC to continue to play its role to ensure that the gains so far
registered are nurtured and that Africa’s vision of an integrated, prosperous
and peaceful continent is realized as enshrined in the Constitutive Act of the
African Union.
In implementing its programme of
work for the month of April 2013, the Peace and Security Council (PSC) will
discuss and deliberate on various issues pertaining to the political and
security in the Central African Republic (CAR), Madagascar, Democratic Republic
of Congo (DRC), Mali, Guinea Bissau and developments on the situation between
Sudan and South Sudan. The Council will also organize an open debate on the
operationalisation of the African Peace and Security Architecture (APSA) and
Rapid Deployment Capacity. Accordingly, and as lessons learned, there will be
briefings on the recent elections in Kenya and Djibouti, as well as upcoming
ones in the continent.
Issued on 6th April 2013, Addis
Ababa, Ethiopia.
EMBASSY OF THE UNITED REPUBLIC OF TANZANIA TO THE FEDERAL DEMOCRATIC
REPUBLIC OF ETHIOPIA AND PERMANENT REPRESENTATION TO THE AFRICAN UNION (AU) AND
TO THE UNITED NATIONS ECONOMIC COMMISSION FOR AFRICA (UNECA)