Morocco, a member of the African Union's Peace and Security Council since 2022, takes over its presidency today, February 1st, 2024. This key body spearheads efforts to bring peace, security, and stability across the continent, a press release by the Moroccan Foreign Ministry revealed on Thursday. This marks Morocco's third time leading the Council since rejoining the African Union in 2017, reflecting its commitment to a safer and more secure Africa. Previous terms were held in September 2019 and October 2022. According to the Ministry, this presidency «extends Morocco's commitment to confronting the security challenges facing Africa, adopting a new, comprehensive, and multidimensional approach that recognizes the interconnectedness of peace, security, and development». This aligns with the conclusions of the First Continental Political Conference of the African Union on strengthening the peace-security-development nexus, held in Tangier in October 2022. Coinciding with the 37th Summit of Heads of State and Government in Addis Ababa in February 2024, Morocco's presidency proposes a ministerial meeting of the Council focused on «Connectivity: A Path Towards Strengthening Peace, Security, and Integration in Africa». The monthly program also includes meetings of permanent representatives to discuss priority issues where Morocco holds proven experience. These key concerns encompass combating terrorism and violent extremism, health security and its link to peace and security, transitional justice and post-conflict peacebuilding, preventing and countering child recruitment, and following up on the Tangier Conference's recommendations. During this second term, Morocco aims to lead the Council in exploring innovative approaches to address Africa's peace, security, and development challenges.
