South Africa has been elected to a two-year term on the African Union’s Peace and Security Council (AUPSC), the Department of International Relations and Cooperation (Dirco) confirmed on Wednesday.
The term will run from April 1, 2026, until March 31, 2028.
The elections took place during the 38th Ordinary Session of the Executive Council in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia. South Africa will join the Kingdom of Lesotho to represent the Southern African region.
Dirco’s Minister Ronald Lamola, who is leading the South African delegation, welcomed the election as an opportunity to advance peace and stability across the continent.
“To achieve the goals of Agenda 2063: The Africa We Want, we have to exert more efforts on peacemaking and peacebuilding in our Continent,” Lamola said.
South Africa pledged to work constructively with other members of the council to tackle ongoing peace and security challenges. These include unconstitutional changes of government, a trend that has persisted since 2020, as well as terrorism and violent extremism that have claimed thousands of civilian lives.
During its term, South Africa plans to prioritise peaceful conflict resolution, inclusive dialogue, and negotiations to help conflicting parties reach durable solutions.
The country’s approach aligns with its foreign policy, which emphasises Africa’s peace, stability, and development.
Dirco said South Africa is committed to contributing to a continent that is peaceful, prosperous, and embodies pan-African ideals, adding that the commitment is “evident in the numerous peace and security initiatives” the country has participated in, including its role as interim Chair of the Southern African Development Community (SADC).
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