In June 2025, the United Republic of Tanzania assumes the role of chairing the African Union (AU) Peace and Security Council (PSC). The Council’s Provisional Programme of Work for the month envisages six substantive sessions. Of these, three are dedicated to thematic issues, while the remaining three will address conflict/region-specific issues. All sessions are expected to be at an ambassadorial level.

The first session of the month, scheduled for 4 June, will feature a briefing on the synergies between the Global Framework for Through-life Conventional Ammunition Management and existing regional arms and ammunition control instruments. Adopted by the United Nations General Assembly in December 2023 through Resolution 78/47, the framework complements key continental agreements, such as the Nairobi Protocol, the ECOWAS Convention, and the Kinshasa Convention. Previous PSC communiqués, notably the 788^th session in August 2018, convened in preparation for Africa Amnesty Month and the 1029^th session marking the 2021 commemoration, have emphasised the need to align the framework’s objectives with regional mechanisms. This alignment is essential to effectively address the continued illicit proliferation, diversion, and misuse of small arms and light weapons (SALW) and ammunition, which remain key drivers of conflict, terrorism, and violent extremism across the continent. A critical focus for the session is expected to be the need to enhance national and regional capacities for stockpile management. As previously highlighted during the 14 March 2019 briefing on SALW proliferation, this requires harmonising the framework’s focus on safety, security, and sustainability with regional initiatives in order to prevent unplanned explosions and the diversion of weapons to unauthorised actors. The session is also expected to explore how to better integrate gender mainstreaming into regional arms control strategies, in accordance with Objective 14 of the framework.

On 10 June, the second session will focus on an update regarding the activities of the Multinational Joint Task Force (MNJTF) and a review of the Regional Strategy for the Stabilisation, Recovery, and Resilience (RSS) of Boko Haram-affected areas in the Lake Chad Basin (RS-SRR) of the Lake Chad Basin. The last time the PSC discussed the MNJTF was during its 1254^th session in January 2025, where it renewed the Force’s mandate for an additional 12 months. Furthermore, it urged the LCBC to step up diplomatic engagement with Niger to ensure its full reintegration into the MNJTF, while advocating for a comprehensive, inclusive, and multi-sectoral approach to stabilisation—particularly through strengthened civil-military cooperation to enable the return of displaced communities. The PSC also requested regular progress updates from the AU Commission and the LCBC Secretariat to maintain oversight and ensure accountability. Apart from following up on these issues and the review of the security and operational situation of the MNJTF, the session is expected to receive an update on the revised regional stabilisation strategy. It is to be recalled that on 20 September 2024, the 5th meeting of the Steering Committee for the implementation of this regional strategy took place virtually. The meeting approved the adjusted Regional Strategy and Community-based Reconciliation and Reintegration Policy for 2025-2030.

The PSC is expected to convene its third substantive session on 12 June, dedicated to an update on the Situation in South Sudan, marking the third time it has convened on the matter since the outbreak of violence triggered by the 4 March attack on the South Sudan People’s Defence Force base in Nasir. The political and security environment in South Sudan is notably deteriorating, further compounded by the arrest and continued detention of First Vice President Dr. Riek Machar Teny on 26 March 2025 in Juba. This upcoming session is expected to build on key decisions and challenges highlighted in PSC’s Press Statement that was adopted by the 1270^th meeting held on 31 March 2025 and the communiqué of the 1265^th meeting, held on 18 March 2025. In its Press Statement adopted at the 1270^th session, the PSC urged the AU Commission Chairperson to urgently deploy a high-level delegation to South Sudan, led by the Panel of the Wise, and called on the C5 to enhance its engagement with all actors in support of AU and IGAD efforts toward lasting peace and stability. In response, the Chairperson, Mahmoud Youssouf Ali, promptly deployed a high-level delegation from the Panel of the Wise to Juba to help ease tensions and encourage dialogue. In addition to the deployment of the Panel of the Wise, the Chairperson of the AU Commission conducted an official visit to Juba, in coordination with the IGAD, from 5 to 6 May 2025 to engage South Sudanese leadership on the evolving political and security landscape. During the visit, the Chairperson held high-level talks with President Salva Kiir Mayardit and senior officials, focusing on protecting the gains of the Revitalised Agreement on the Resolution of the Conflict in South Sudan, advancing inclusive national dialogue, ensuring the credible and timely implementation of the transitional roadmap, and strengthening governance institutions. The upcoming session is expected to revisit these priorities in line with ongoing efforts by regional and continental actors, including the AU High-Level Ad Hoc Committee on South Sudan (C5). It is also expected that the PSC will consider the report of the Panel of the Wise.

On 17 June, the PSC will hold its fourth session, which will focus on a briefing on the status of the implementation of the Common African Defence and Security Policy (CADSP) and other relevant AU instruments related to continental defence and security. This session is being held in line with the 1159^th PSC communique that requested the AU Commission Chairperson to regularly brief the PSC on the status of the implementation of the policy and other relevant AU instruments on defence and security on the Continent. Although the CADSP has been in existence for two decades, it only received focused attention from the PSC for the first time during its 1159^th session held on 22 June 2023. That session included a briefing not only on the CADSP’s implementation but also on the operationalisation of the African Standby Force (ASF). During the discussion, the CADSP was underscored as the ‘bedrock of Africa’s collective defence and security,’ and the PSC stressed the urgent need to reinvigorate and operationalise all pillars of the continental peace and security architecture, including the ASF. The CADSP, which complements the AU Peace and Security Protocol, sets out objectives, principles and frameworks aimed at advancing a collective security approach for the continent. Gaps in the implementation of key CADSP pillars, including conflict prevention, peacebuilding, and the integration of regional defence mechanisms, as well as foreign military activities on the continent, remain unattained. Therefore, this upcoming session presents an opportunity to assess progress, identify gaps, and reaffirm commitments in the implementation of CADSP.

The PSC will have consultations with the African Commission on Human and Peoples’ Rights (ACHPR) on 19 June. The consultative meeting is being held in accordance with Article 19 of the PSC Protocol, which envisions close collaboration between the PSC and the ACHPR in the promotion of peace, security, and stability across the continent. In addition to the provision of the Protocol, during the 866^th session, the PSC, as a means to enhance and institutionalise its collaboration with the ACHPR, decided to hold annual joint consultative meetings between the two organs. The last such consultation took place in August 2021. During that 1019^th session, the communique on the consultation, among others, underscored ‘the importance of mainstreaming human rights throughout conflict prevention, management, stabilisation, resolution to post-conflict reconstruction and development.’ Despite the absence of formal consultations in recent years, the PSC has continued to adopt decisions relevant to the ACHPR’s mandate. Notably, during its 1213^th session in May 2024, the PSC requested the ACHPR for an investigation into the human rights situation in El Fasher and other areas of Darfur, and requested a report with recommendations to ensure accountability for perpetrators. As such, an update on the status and progress of this investigation is expected to feature in the upcoming discussions. The discussion will likely address pressing concerns such as impunity, gender-based violence, and widespread human rights violations in conflict-affected regions, including the DRC, South Sudan, Sudan, and the Sahel. The PSC is also anticipated to engage with ACHPR reports on abuses linked to terrorism and unconstitutional changes of government, and may urge Member States to implement key instruments such as ACHPR Resolution 448 (2020), which outlines the human rights dimensions of conflict situations. Further emphasis may be placed on enhancing early warning systems through closer collaboration with ACHPR’s monitoring and reporting frameworks.

The last session for the month, which is scheduled for 25 June, will focus on providing an update on ‘the implementation of the PSC and EAC/SADC decisions on the situation in Eastern Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC).’ Since the beginning of the year, the conflict in the DRC has intensified as a result of the renewed violence involving the Mouvement du 23 Mars (M23) rebel group, its seizure of Goma, and mounting diplomatic tensions between the DRC and Rwanda. In response to the deteriorating situation, the PSC, EAC and SADC have undertaken diplomatic efforts resulting in several key decisions. Among these is the Communique issued at the Joint EAC and SADC Summit of Heads of State and Government held on 8 February 2025 in Dar es Salaam, which called for an immediate ceasefire, the withdrawal of foreign forces, and the merger of the Luanda and Nairobi Processes. It also proposed the inclusion of additional facilitators to enhance the peace process and urged the resumption of direct dialogue with all armed groups, including M23, under the unified framework. The PSC, for its part, convened the 1256^th emergency ministerial session on 28 January 2025 and its 1261^st session on 14 February 2025. During the 1261^st session, the Council endorsed the outcomes of the Joint EAC-SADC Summit of 8 February 2024, the Extraordinary SADC Summit of 31 January 2025, and the 24^th Extraordinary EAC Summit of 29 January 2025—each of which addressed the worsening crisis in eastern DRC. To further strengthen coordination, the PSC also decided to establish a Joint AU/EAC/SADC Coordination Mechanism to provide technical support, foster collaboration with other Regional Economic Communities and mechanisms and ensure the harmonisation of implementation of peace initiatives. Subsequently, during the 2^nd Joint EAC-SADC Summit of Heads of State and Government held on 24 March 2025, the joint summit appointed the facilitators of the merged Luanda-Nairobi peace process, which is composed of five former Presidents. On the other side, the AU designated the President of Togo, Faure Gnassingbé, as the AU Mediator, taking over from the President of Angola. Apart from the convening in Lome, Togo, of the Mediator and the EAC-SADC Facilitators on 17 May, the US launched talks between Rwanda and DRC as well. It is anticipated that the session will take stock of the conflict situation and the state of peace efforts both within the AU, EAC-SADC frameworks and the alignment of other initiatives with the regional efforts.   Furthermore, given the situation that has been further exacerbated by a deepening humanitarian crisis marked by mass displacement and increasing incidents of sexual and gender-based violence, which underscores the critical need for unimpeded humanitarian access, it is expected that the session will discuss mechanisms for a coordinated response.

The PSC Committee of Sanctions is also scheduled to meet on 24 June to provide updates on the activities of the Committee.