Rabat – Morocco secured a seat on the African Union’s Peace and Security Council today in Addis Ababa, after obtaining the required majority in the first round of voting.
The country received 34 votes, surpassing the two-thirds threshold, during elections held as part of the 48th Ordinary Session of the AU Executive Council.
The result grants Morocco a two-year mandate within one of the union’s most influential bodies.
The Peace and Security Council serves as the African Union’s standing authority on conflict prevention, crisis response, and peacebuilding efforts across the continent.
Its members shape decisions related to mediation initiatives, sanctions, and peace support operations.
Election to the council often reflects political trust from fellow member states at a time when several regions in Africa face instability and security concerns.
Since its return to the African Union in 2017, Morocco has consolidated its presence within key institutions. The country previously held a two-year term from 2018 to 2020 and later completed a three-year mandate from 2022 to 2025.
During those terms, Rabat sought to refine procedural practices within the Council and encouraged coordination among member states on issues related to peace and institutional efficiency.
Morocco’s Foreign Minister Nasser Bourita leads Morocco’s delegation at the ongoing Executive Council session, which precedes the 39th AU Summit of Heads of State and Government set for February 14 and 15. The latest vote confirms Morocco’s continued role in continental diplomacy and places it once again at the center of African security deliberations.
Bourita on Morocco AU security seat
Speaking to the press in Addis Ababa after the vote, Minister Bourita described Morocco’s election as a clear recognition of King Mohammed VI’s role in promoting peace and stability across Africa.
He said the support expressed by member states reflects confidence in an approach to conflict resolution grounded in respect for international law, rational dialogue, and the pursuit of peaceful solutions.
Bourita noted that this marks the third time in nine years – since Morocco’s return to the African Union in 2017 – that the country has secured a seat on the Peace and Security Council.
He recalled that the council remains one of the union’s central organs, tasked with addressing crises, security challenges, and questions tied to continental stability. He said that peace and stability remain closely linked to development and cannot stand on their own.
According to the minister, the vote also signals endorsement of Morocco’s broader initiatives in mediation, peacekeeping, and diplomatic engagement aimed at narrowing differences between parties.
He pointed to what he described as a comprehensive vision that connects security efforts with economic and social development.
Drawing on experience from previous mandates within the council, Bourita said Morocco stands ready to strengthen its contribution to African peace and security during the new two-year term.