Mogadishu (AX) — Like characters in the dynamic theater of geopolitics, nations vie for influence on the African stage, painting the canvas of history with choices and alliances. Recently, Ethiopia emerged as a pivotal protagonist by securing a seat on the African Union’s Peace and Security Council (AUPSC) for a three-year tenure. But how did this happen? And what significance does this hold for the continent? Ethiopia’s triumph at the 46th Executive Council meeting, held under the imposing shadows of Addis Ababa’s skylines, was no small feat. Garnering 38 votes, it overshadowed rivals Rwanda and Somalia, who got a mere one and ten votes, respectively. Was this merely a victory of numbers, or a testament to Ethiopia’s regional clout?
Tales of intrigue surround the rotating seats of the AUPSC. Five seats had laid their mandates at the altar of expiration, opening an arena for diplomatic arm-wrestling. Beyond Ethiopia, Cameroon (Central Africa), Eswatini (Southern Africa), and Nigeria (West Africa) emerged as victors. The North African seat, however, still awaits a worthy claimant after aspiring candidates failed to capture the two-thirds majority.
In the digital sphere, Ethiopia’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs heralded this achievement with a celebratory post on X (known to many as Twitter), noting: “Ethiopia’s election to the AUPSC acknowledges its unwavering commitment to peace, security, and development in Africa.”
The AUPSC, a formidable conclave of 15 member states, stands as the African Union’s bulwark against instability, tasked with the formidable responsibility of promoting peace and security across the vast expanse of the continent. Can Ethiopia’s fifth occupancy of this influential seat usher in a new era of stability? The nation’s leaders assert their dedication to this noble cause, drawing on a rich legacy of peacekeeping efforts.
Somalia, donning its diplomatic hat, played an intriguing role in this round of selections for the AU’s vacant positions. In the ethereal chambers of Addis Ababa, Somalia’s State Minister for Foreign Affairs, Ali Mohamed Omar (Balcad), chaired a high-level ministerial meeting. The goal? To fine-tune the selection process of African candidates for AU and other international roles.
Minister Ali Mohamed Omar, with a discerning eye, helmed the session at the African Union Executive Council meeting in Addis Ababa, wielding significant influence over the proceedings.
“In our deliberations, positions like the President of the African Development Bank and the Director-General of UNESCO were under scrutiny,” remarked Minister Ali Balcad, his voice resonating with a call for fairness and transparency in these critical decisions.
At this gathering, Minister Ali Balcad was supported by an entourage consisting of Hamza Adan, Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Ambassador Abdullahi Warfaa, and other Somali diplomats, all present to imbibe and contribute to the high-stakes decisions being made.
In parallel, whispers of resolution surfaced from Somali officials who confirmed the clearance of barriers that had impeded Ethiopia’s seamless participation in the African Union Transition Mission in Somalia (AUSSOM). With the shackles removed, the path is now clear for finalizing Ethiopia’s troop contributions and structural involvement in this mission, an endeavor pivotal to regional stability.
As the dust of this electoral skirmish settles, the stage is set for Ethiopia to wield its renewed influence within the AUPSC, a narrative that promises to unfold with each stride taken towards sustained peace and security on the African continent.
Edited By Ali Musa
Axadle Times international–Monitoring
