Provisional Programme of Work of the Peace and Security Council for March 2025
Provisional Programme of Work of the Peace and Security Council for March 2025
Date | March 2025
In March, the Kingdom of Morocco will chair the African Union (AU) Peace and Security Council (PSC), taking over the role from Equatorial Guinea. According to the rules on rotation of the monthly chairperson of the PSC in alphabetical order – Article 8 (6) of PSC Protocol and Rule 23 of the PSC Rules of Procedure – The Gambia was set to be the chairperson for March 2025. However, due to the conclusion of the duty of the ambassador, the typical alphabetical rotation could not be applied this month. While initially Sierra Leone was engaged to step in as the stand-in-Chairperson and a program of work for March was adopted on that basis, this changed just before the start of the month and Morocco became the stand-in-chairperson for March.
The provisional program of work for the month, prepared following Morocco’s assumption of the role of step-in-Chairperson, envisages a total of six substantive sessions. All the sessions, except one planned to take place at ministerial level, are scheduled to be held at ambassadorial level. Of the six sessions, except the informal consultation on countries in transition, all others are on thematic issues. As March is a transition month before the newly elected members of the PSC assume their seats in the PSC on 1 April, the provisional program, as per PSC practice, stipulates a plan for the induction of new members elected for three-year term during the 38th AU Summit.
The first meeting of the PSC introduced by the Chairperson of the month will be on ‘Climate Change: Challenges to Peace and Security in Africa,’ scheduled to take place on 6 March. It is to be recalled that this theme was on the agenda of the PSC when Morocco chaired the PSC in October 2022. Apart from the 22 October session, this month’s session is expected to build on the discussions from the last session of Council on ‘Consultations on the Common African Position vis-à-vis climate change, peace and security’ held on 30 October 2024, as its 1240th session. From the meeting, the PSC emphasised the need to ‘ensure that climate change responses are conflict-sensitive and security sensitive and that they mainstream peacebuilding efforts, as well as the need for holistic approaches that address the interlinkages between climate change and human mobility in conflict-affected settings, with a view to informing the design and implementation of policies and interventions that tackle climate-induced displacements in Africa.’
On 11 March, the PSC will receive a briefing on the activities of the AU Panel of the Wise and its subsidiary bodies, FemWise and WiseYouth. It is worth noting that the 6th members of the Panel of the Wise were elected during the 38th AU summit in February 2025. Accordingly, the summit re-elected Domitien Ndayizeye of Burundi, Effie Owuor of Kenya, and Phumzile Mlambo-Ngcuka of South Africa. For the membership to the Panel from North and West Africa, the AU Assembly directed ‘the incoming Chairperson of the Commission to consult with the Western and North African regions to select one (1) candidate per each region based on consensus for these vacant positions and submit to the 47th Ordinary Session of the Executive Council’ and to this end it delegated to ‘the 47th Ordinary Session of the Executive Council the authority to appoint representatives from the Western and North African regions to complete the composition of the 6th Panel of the Wise.’
It is anticipated that the Panel of the Wise will provide an update to the PSC on its activities, including on files in respect of which the PSC tasked the Panel to engage in peace efforts. While FemWise, established in 2017, has traditionally been addressed by the PSC within the context of its Women, Peace and Security (WPS) agenda, this session will be an opportunity for the PSC to engage with FemWise and WiseYouth within the broader framework of its collaboration with the Panel of the Wise.
On the same day, 11 March, the PSC is scheduled to consider and adopt the program of work for the month of April.
The next session taking place on 13 March will be dedicated to ‘Deradicalisation as leverage in the fight against violent extremism in Africa.’ PSC 1111th meeting held in October 2022 underlined the need for ‘expedited implementation of all decisions adopted by Council and the Assembly of the Union, particularly Decision [Ext/Assembly/AU/Dec. (XVI)] adopted by the 16th Extraordinary Session of the AU Assembly held on 28 May 2022, in Malabo, Equatorial Guinea.’ In addition, this session is expected to build upon the call during this 1111th session on the need for reviewing all AU counter-terrorism frameworks and instruments. In this context, the AU Commission was requested by Council to include countering radicalisation and extremist ideologies in the envisaged review of the African Plan of Action on the Prevention and Combating of Terrorism and Violent Extremism.
On 18 March, the PSC will have the ‘Informal Consultation with Burkina Faso, Gabon, Guinea, Mali, Niger and Sudan.’ It should be recalled that informal consultations with countries undergoing political transitions were incorporated into the PSC’s aptitude for working methods following its decision during the 14th Retreat on working methods, held from 17 to 19 November 2022. The conclusions of the retreat introduced these consultations as a mechanism to facilitate direct engagement with representatives of countries suspended from participation in the AU due to unconstitutional changes of government, in line with Article 8(11) of the PSC Protocol. Since then, two such consultations have been held – in April and December 2023. This engagement was, however, supposed to happen in December 2024 but did not. It was re-introduced on the PPoW in January, but similarly did not happen.
As of the beginning of 2025, the latest political developments in Burkina Faso, Gabon, Guinea, Mali, Niger and Sudan reflect countries marked by ongoing instability and military-led transitions. As pointed out in an edition of Insights on the PSC on this subject, one of the reasons for the use of informal consultation is to provide a platform for engagement between the PSC and the affected countries. Since the introduction of this format, the engagement between the PSC and these countries has shown improvements. However, it remains unclear how these engagements have changed the dynamics of the AU’s role in relation to these countries.
The last session of the month will be held on 20 March at the Ministerial level. The session will be committed to ‘Artificial Intelligence (AI) and its impact on Peace, Security and Governance in Africa.’ We can recall that during the 44th Ordinary Session of the AU Executive Council held on 14 and 15 February 2024, in an effort to explore the role of AI in promoting peace, security and development nexus in Africa, the Council through Decision [EX.CL/Dec.1233-1264(XLIV)], endorsed the ‘Conceptual Framework of the Continental Artificial Intelligence (AI) Strategy’ and requested the AU Commission to ‘Expedite the development of the Continental Cybersecurity strategy and the Continental Artificial Intelligence (AI) strategy with their implementation roadmaps.’ This was followed by a ‘Multistakeholder Consultative Sessions on the Development of a Continental Strategy on Artificial Intelligence (AI)’ from 19 to 24 April 2024’ to support and guide the development of a continental approach and strategy on AI that responds to Africa’s context, address its needs and position the continent as an active player at global level. Consequently, AUDA-NEPAD published a White Paper on ‘Regulation and Responsible Adoption of AI in Africa Towards Achievement of AU Agenda 2063’ alongside the AUDA-NEPAD AI Roadmap for Africa. The 1214th PSC session held in June 2024 further requested the AU Commission, ‘in particular the Political Affairs Peace and Security Department, in coordination with the Department of Infrastructure and Energy, to establish a multidisciplinary Advisory Group on Artificial Intelligence, peace, security and good governance in Africa; and to propose options for Continental Artificial Intelligence governance, including its military application and to report to Council every six months.’ It is expected that this upcoming PSC session will serve to receive an update on whether there is progress in this respect.
Aside from these substantive sessions, the induction of the new members of the PSC, elected at the 46th Ordinary Session of the Executive Council and endorsed by the 38th Ordinary Session of the Assembly, is expected to be the last activity of the PSC for the month of March 2025. The induction program of the Committee of Experts and the newly elected PSC members is scheduled to be held from 22 to 28 March in Arusha, Tanzania. The program of work also envisages (on the footnote) a possible briefing by PSC Chairs for January, February and March 2025 on the activities of the PSC during their respective chaired months, as well as a dinner reception on 31 March by the Chairperson of the month.
Monthly Digest on The African Union Peace And Security Council - January 2025
Monthly Digest on The African Union Peace And Security Council - January 2025
Date | January 2025
In January 2025, the African Union (AU) Peace and Security Council (PSC) undertook its activities under the chairship of the Republic of Cote d’Ivoire. During the month, the Council had a scheduled program of work consisting of seven substantive sessions covering eight agenda items, with only one session dedicated to conflict-specific situation. The Provisional Program of Work (PPoW) underwent two revisions during the month. As a result, the Council held five substantive sessions covering seven agenda items, with only one addressing conflict-specific situation. All sessions except one held at the ministerial level were held at the ambassadorial level. The Council also had an Open Session to commemorate the third Africa Day of Peace and Reconciliation.
The 2025 Election of the Five Members of the PSC: Conduct and Outcome of the Elections
The 2025 Election of the Five Members of the PSC: Conduct and Outcome of the Elections
Date | 25 February 2025
INTRODUCTION
The election of the 5 members of the Peace and Security Council (PSC) of the African Union (AU) was held on 12 February 2025 at the 46th Ordinary Session of the Executive Council in line with its delegated power pursuant to Decision Assembly/AU/Dec.106(VI) of the sixth Ordinary Session of the AU Assembly. The outcome of the elections was endorsed by the 38th Ordinary Session of the Assembly held on 15 and 16 February 2025. While providing an update on the conduct and outcome of the election, this policy brief also highlights some of the dynamics that transpired during the election and the new composition of the PSC.
The outcomes of the 38th AU Summit: Turning point for repositioning the AU for a new era?
The outcomes of the 38th AU Summit: Turning point for repositioning the AU for a new era?
Background and Rationale
The 38th ordinary session of the AU Assembly took place at a historic moment when tectonic changes and challenges both on the continent and globally in recent years have brought the AU to a critical crossroads. Apart from the relevant decisions on institutional reform, peace and security and leveraging of AU’s membership in the G20 particularly in the context of South Africa’s presidency, the AU summit’s election of the new leadership of the African Union (AU) marks a pivotal moment for the continent, offering a unique opportunity to redefine the Union’s approach and mode of work to the pursuit of its strategic objectives as set out in its founding instruments and key strategic instruments including Agenda 2063. If this leadership transition breaks from the business-as-usual approach to the profound changes and challenges, it can enable Africa not only to fend off and minimize the adverse impacts of these changes and challenges and to leverage its immense potential, driven by the world’s youngest population, huge reserve of renewable energy, vast arable land and a growing middle class.
Economic pressures, including soaring debt levels, a worsening cost-of-living crisis, punishingly expensive cost of access to development finance are eroding some of the gains made in recent decades as millions of people are pushed into extreme poverty. Meanwhile, conflicts are reaching unprecedented levels in both scale and geographic spread, further destabilizing the continent as outlined in two major Amani Africa research reports (here and here). Efforts toward regional integration are also facing setbacks, exemplified by rising inter-state tensions and the recent withdrawal of the three Sahel countries from ECOWAS, signaling a fragmentation of regional blocs. While demand for a democratic and accountable system of governance continues to rise and several countries show electoral democratic resilience in the face of challenges, democratic governance and constitutional rule remain under strain, with disputed elections and a resurgence of military coups threatening stability. At the same time, the global order is shifting, marked by the rise of multipolarity, rapid technological advancements, and evolving trade and economic dynamics.
These changes and challenges present both opportunities and risks for Africa, requiring a proactive and adaptive AU leadership to navigate them with robust technical competence, imaginative diplomacy and strategic clarity as well as mobilization of will and strategy for policy implementation.
In this context, Amani Africa Research and Media Services (Amani Africa) jointly with the AU Economic, Social and Cultural Council (ECOSOC) with participation of UNDP is convening a policy dialogue forum on 27 February 2025. This forum will serve as a critical platform to assess the implications of the AU’s leadership transition and identify strategic priorities for the organization’s future.
Objectives and Key Themes
This policy dialogue aims to analyze the key takeaways from the 38th AU summit and the significance of and the opportunities from the AU leadership transition that will define the Union’s role in the coming years. In light of the pressing issues facing the continent, there is a need for providing leadership by the AU on some of the most pressing issues. One such issue is addressing the challenges to development finance and addressing the debt burden. In her powerful address at the 38th AU Summit, H.E. Mia Mottley, Prime Minister of Barbados, emphasized that
“…reparations must also ensure fair access to development and compensation because our journey to independence started with a chronic deficit—a deficit of resources, fairness, and opportunity…”
This statement underscores the need to address both historical injustices and contemporary barriers that perpetuate inequality. How can the new AU leadership advocate for reforms in the international financial architecture that address Africa’s underrepresentation, inequitable access to financial assistance, and reform of sovereign debt challenges? having regard to the African Union’s 2023 theme of ‘Justice for Africans and People of African Descent Through Reparations.’
Another key focus will be on the AU’s engagement with the G20 under South Africa’s presidency, particularly in leveraging Africa’s full membership to drive global governance reforms and advance the continent’s development agenda. Central to the discussion will be the acceleration of Agenda 2063, a blueprint for Africa’s socio-economic transformation, which requires strong institutional leadership and coherent policy implementation.
On the peace and security front, the discussion will reflect on both the outcomes of the PSC summit on Sudan and DRC and the proposals on resetting the African Peace and Security Architecture within the framework of the AU institutional reform in view of the vision of the new AU leadership.
Expected Outcomes
By bringing together policymakers, the event seeks to generate a deeper understanding of the outcome of the 38th AU summit, the opportunities that the election of the new leadership of the AU presents and how to take forward the outcomes of the 38th AU summit and how to build on them for charting a strategic vision for the next four years for repositioning the continental body in order to make it fit for mobilizing collective action that the current challenges demand. In so doing, the dialogue aims to contribute to a deeper understanding of Africa’s evolving role in global governance and the necessary institutional reforms to enhance the effectiveness of the AU.
Fight against the Use of Child Soldiers
Fight against the Use of Child Soldiers
Date | 19 February 2025
Tomorrow (20 February), the African Union (AU) Peace and Security Council (PSC) is expected to meet to discuss the theme, ‘fight against the use of child soldiers.’
Following opening remarks by Miguel Ntutumu Evuna Andeme, Permanent Representative of the Republic of Equatorial Guinea to the AU and Chairperson of the PSC for February 2025, Bankole Adeoye, Commissioner for Political Affairs, Peace and Security (PAPS), is expected to make a statement. Robert Doya Nanima, Special Rapporteur on Children and Armed Conflict, is also likely to make a statement. In addition, other invited speakers include Virginia Gamba, Special Representative of the UN Secretary-General for Children and Armed Conflict (CAAC), Laila Omar Gad, representative of the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) to the AU and representatives from the African Platform on Children affected by Armed Conflicts (AP CAAC) (as Co-Chair), the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) and Save the Children.
The recruitment and use of child soldiers by both state and non-state actors continue to be a widespread issue in Africa despite ongoing local and international efforts to address and eliminate the practice. Regardless of the methods of recruitment or the roles they are forced into, child soldiers are victims whose involvement in conflict has profound effects on their physical and emotional health. They often endure abuse and are frequently exposed to death, killing and sexual violence. Many are coerced into committing violent acts, leaving them with lasting psychological scars. Facilitating the reintegration of these children into civilian society is a crucial aspect of supporting their recovery and helping them rebuild their lives.
The session will take place in the context of ongoing widespread forcible recruitment and use of children in armed conflicts across Africa. These children are robbed of their innocence and forced to confront the brutalities of war. They are coerced into fighting and exploited in various roles, such as messengers, porters, spies and pawns in political struggles. Many endure unimaginable trauma, including sexual violence, with girls particularly facing increased risks. Despite efforts to end this practice, the fight is far from over. Persistent conflicts, widespread poverty, inadequate access to education and ongoing political instability continue to foster conditions in which children remain susceptible to such exploitation. Against this backdrop, this session is expected to give an update on the state of recruitment and use of children by armed forces and armed groups in conflict situations on the Continent. Moreover, the Council is expected to agree on best practices for the disarmament, demobilisation and reintegration of children formerly associated with armed forces and armed groups.
The 2024 Report of the UNSG on children and armed conflict highlighted a notably high increase in child recruitment, primarily by non-state armed groups, estimating that 8,655 children were recruited for conflicts in 2023. The exploitation of children in armed conflicts remains alarmingly widespread across Africa, with Burkina Faso, the Central African Republic (CAR) and the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) emerging as epicentres of recruitment. In Burkina Faso, terrorist groups recruited 169 boys in 2023, while CAR documented 103 cases, including 23 instances of government and pro-government forces deploying children for logistical support. The DRC reported a staggering 1,861 recruited children—326 of them girls—though the UN noted progress in curbing recruitment by state security forces. Mali recorded 691 cases, including 79 linked to Malian security forces, prompting UN calls for criminalising child soldier use under the military junta. In Nigeria, terrorist groups abducted and exploited 680 children (431 girls), while Somalia saw 658 children recruited, predominantly by al-Shabaab (559 cases), though regional and federal forces were also implicated. South Sudan documented 152 cases, including 65 tied to the national army, while Sudan reported 209 cases—87 by the Rapid Support Forces, with 112 children forced into combat roles. Even Mozambique, often overlooked, faced 40 cases in Cabo Delgado, where insurgents weaponised children in resource-rich regions. These figures underscore a regional crisis, marked by both non-state extremism and state complicity, demanding urgent, context-specific interventions to protect children from becoming pawns in Africa’s fragmented conflicts.
Conversely, the PSC has a longstanding history of addressing the critical issue of child soldiers, marked by significant discussions and actions in several meetings. It should be recalled that the PSC, during its 420th session held on 18 February 2014, Council, among other decisions, ‘…agreed to hold, each year, an open session of the PSC, devoted to issues of children on the continent.’ The last time the Council convened on this theme was on 27 February 2024, which came as its 1202nd meeting. As highlighted in Amani Africa’s Insight on that session, a recurring question Council members are also expected to reflect on during tomorrow’s session is ‘What effective measures could be deployed to prevent children from being the victims of recruitment and use as child soldiers?’ It is to be recalled that from the adopted communique of the 1202nd session, the Council requested the AU Commission, in collaboration with relevant stakeholders, to develop a Continental Mental Health and Psychosocial Support Framework to address the psychosocial well-being of children in conflict settings, including those formerly associated with armed forces and armed groups.’ The session also saw the PSC tasking the Commission to ‘operationalise the Child Protection Architecture as a convening platform to coordinate existing initiatives of relevant actors in the realm of protecting children’s rights in situations of conflict, thereby prompting a continental approach which aims to trigger an integrated response to the multi-dimensional challenges faced by children in conflict situations.’ Moreover, the session also saw the PSC tasking the Commission to ‘develop a best practice document of reference to prevent and end the recruitment and use of child soldiers by armed groups.’ This upcoming PSC session presents the opportunity to follow up on the implementation of these decisions and provides a platform for the Council to reflect on the conclusions of the Banjul Process, which took place in December 2023. During this ministerial, high-level session, participants agreed on the imperative to ‘develop a Continental Child Justice Framework addressing both punitive measures and, as well as the recourse and restitution elements for child survivors.’
It is worth noting that this session is being convened just days after the commemoration of the World Red Hand Day, which is observed annually on 12 February. The day is designated to raise awareness and act against the use of children in armed conflict. The campaign encourages global participation by inviting people to make red handprints and send them to political leaders and UN agencies as a symbol of solidarity.
The expected outcome of the session is a communiqué. The PSC may call on Member States which have not yet done so to sign, ratify and domesticate the African Charter on the Rights and Welfare of the Child and other international instruments, such as the Safe Schools Declaration and the Optional Protocol to the Convention on the Rights of the Child with regard to the inclusion of children in armed conflicts. The PSC may also call on Member States to endorse, domesticate and implement the Safe Schools Declaration. Relatedly, the PSC is expected to call on the Member States that have not yet done so to sign, ratify and domesticate the African Charter on the Rights and Welfare of the Child and other related international instruments. The PSC may also reiterate the need for Member States, Regional Economic Communities and Regional Mechanisms (RECs/RMs), as well as the AU Commission, to mainstream child protection in early warning mechanisms and conflict prevention, conflict resolution, peacemaking and peace-building processes, as well as in post-conflict reconstruction and development. A recurring request of the PSC that is also expected to feature in the discussion is for the Chairperson of the AU Commission to appoint a Special Envoy for Children Affected by Armed Conflicts in Africa to facilitate the effective implementation of the AU Child Rights Agenda.
