By Poloko Mokhele
Lesotho today assumed the African Union Peace and Security Council (AU PSC) one-month rotational chairmanship from Kenya.
According to a statement from Lesotho’s Embassy in Addis Ababa Ethiopia, “Lesotho assumes the one-month rotational chairmanship of the AU PSC under the chairmanship of His Excellency Professor Mafa Sejanamane, ambassador of Lesotho to the Federal Democratic Republic of Ethiopia and the African Union.
“During the month, the Peace and Security Council will engage extensively on several substantive sessions and thematic discussions aimed at promoting peace and security in Africa.”
These will include: open session on youth, peace and security in Africa; Consideration of the joint AU-UN proposal on the reconfigured mission to replace African Union mission in Somalia among others. The last session of the month will be a briefing by the African Commission on Nuclear Energy on the implementation of the Pelindaba Treaty. The embassy indicated that the sessions will be held virtually.
Furthermore, the council is expected to hold an induction for incoming member states of the council at the level of committee of experts (CoE) in Maseru from March 21 to 22.
“This will be followed by the induction of new member states at the ambassadorial level from March 23 to 25. The PSC and other relevant stakeholders will also hold a reflection forum on unconstitutional changes of government, which will be hosted by Ghana from March 15 to 17,” the embassy said.
Lesotho takes over from Kenya which was under the leadership of ambassador Jean Kamau.