MBABANE – The Kingdom of Eswatini is hosting the induction ceremony for newly elected members of the African Union Peace and Security Council from March 26 to April 1, 2026, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation has announced.
The week long programme is being held in Mbabane as Eswatini serves as Chair of the Peace and Security Council for March 2026. The event brings together more than 100 participants drawn from three segments of the council structure, namely Ambassadors, the Military Staff Committee and the Committee of Experts.
Among the key figures attending is Ambassador Bankole Adeoye, the African Union Commissioner for Political Affairs, Peace and Security, who is officiating at the opening of the induction programme for the new council members.
According to the ministry, the gathering is aimed at strengthening the operational effectiveness and strategic coordination of the Peace and Security Council, which serves as the African Union’s decision making body on conflict prevention, management and resolution across the continent.
The induction programme is designed to equip incoming members with a detailed understanding of their responsibilities, working methods and the broader African Peace and Security Architecture.
Senator Pholile Shakantu, Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation, is expected to officially open the meeting of Ambassadors during the week.
Shakantu stated that “the Government of the Kingdom of Eswatini reaffirms its support for the work of the African Union and its organs, and remains committed to contributing meaningfully to collective continental efforts aimed at silencing the guns and fostering sustainable peace and development.”
Discussions throughout the programme are focusing on conflict prevention, mediation, peace support operations, post conflict reconstruction and development, as well as the promotion of democratic governance and constitutional order.
On the sidelines of the induction, Commissioner Adeoye held engagements with Eswatini’s Elections and Boundaries Commission, the Border Restoration Committee and the Human Rights Commission, institutions that fall within the Political Affairs, Peace and Security sector of the African Union. He is also scheduled to meet other key stakeholders in the country during his visit.
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