The 2026 election for the 10 members of the African Union (AU) Peace and Security Council (PSC) was held by the Executive Council on 11 February 2026 at its 48th Ordinary session, in line with the power vested in it pursuant to Decision Assembly/AU/Dec.106 (VI) of the Sixth Ordinary Session of the Assembly. The outcome of the election was endorsed by the Assembly during its 39th ordinary session on 14 and 15 February. The result of the election produced a significant change in the composition of the PSC, bringing to the PSC more than 1/3 new members, including Morocco and South Africa.

In a notable development, Somalia became the latest AU member state to be elected to the PSC for the first time, after three earlier unsuccessful attempts. Also notable was the large number of withdrawals between the closing of the submission of candidacy and the day of the election. The number of candidates shrank by nine (9) at the time of voting. As a result, there were only two AU regions (North Africa and Southern Africa) that had a list of candidates that was in excess of the number of seats available.

This policy brief provides an analysis of the conduct and outcome of the elections. It also highlights the key dynamics that transpired in the lead-up to and during the election, as well as the ways in which the new composition of membership would affect the PSC between rejuvenation and persisting decline in effectiveness and impact.

30 March 2026 will mark the end of the mandate of 10 members of the African Union (AU) Peace and Security Council (PSC) who were elected for a two-year term in February 2024 during the 37th ordinary session of the AU Assembly. Since the election for the three-year term was held during the 38th AU Assembly in February 2025, the 2026 election of the PSC will be limited to these ten two-year term seats in the Council. Unlike the three-year term seats, which are allocated equally to the five regions of the AU, the regional allocation of the ten two-year term seats is based on the number of states in the different regions at the time of the adoption of the PSC Protocol. Thus, pursuant to the Protocol Establishing the PSC and the Modalities on the Elections of the PSC, the two-year term membership of the PSC is allocated for the five regions as follows: three seats for West Africa, two seats for Central, East and Southern Africa regions, and one seat for North Africa.

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 mandate of the five (5) Members of the African Union (AU) Peace and Security Council (PSC), who were elected for a three-year term in February 2022 during the 35th AU Summit, will end on 31 March 2025. The rotating three-year term five seats are accordingly up for grabs during the 38th Ordinary Session of the AU Assembly scheduled to take place on 12-16 February 2025 in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia.

The elections of the African Union (AU) Commission leadership are expected to dominate the 38th Ordinary Session of the African Union (AU) Assembly (AU Summit) scheduled to take place from 12 to 16 February 2025. The elections of the AU Commission leadership are significant on their own, considering the influence that they wield in the decision-making processes of the AU. Additionally, and perhaps more significantly, these elections occupy special significance on account of the timing and geopolitical context in which they are being held.