Insecurity: Two-day AU PSC induction opens in Abuja

A two-day induction and training programme for members of the African Union (AU) Peace and Security Council (PSC) Committee of Experts commenced in Abuja on Monday as part of ongoing continental efforts to address insecurity and strengthen peace-building mechanisms across Africa.

The programme is being hosted by the National Counter Terrorism Centre under the Office of the National Security Adviser (NCTC-ONSA).

Speaking at the opening ceremony, the Chairperson of the Peace and Security Committee of Experts, Mr. Victor Makwe, urged participants to remain committed to the responsibilities entrusted to them, stressing the critical role of the committee in the operations of the AU Peace and Security Council.

ALSO READ: No imminent agreement with US despite progress in negotiations — Iran

According to him, members of the committee serve as the “engine room” of the council and act as a bridge between the AU secretariat and ambassadors representing member states.

“As we are gathered here, we should be mindful of the fact that we are the engine room of the PSC. We stand between the secretariat and our ambassadors,” Makwe said.

“So, if the Peace and Security Council is going to achieve its mandate, it depends largely on those of us in this room. How much we will achieve within the year also depends on those of us here.”

Makwe explained that the activities and achievements of the committee within the year would form part of the AU’s reflection and assessment process ahead of the next African Union summit scheduled for January next year.

“Sometime in December, if not earlier, because next year’s AU summit will be in January, we will start having a reflection,” he stated.

“What will be the content of that report will be what we achieve within the year, and what the council will achieve depends on each and every one of us here.”

The committee chairman noted that participants already possess practical experience from the past two months of operations of the Peace and Security Council following previous engagements in Eswatini.

According to him, the training programme provides an opportunity for members to evaluate what has worked, identify challenges, and improve the council’s operations.

“We are here to be educated by those serving, those who served, and those who have been there by virtue of employment on how the Peace and Security Council, especially at our level, operated in the past and is currently operating,” he said.

“We will do a combination of analysis of both and find ourselves somewhere in the middle on how best to actualise our mandates.”

Makwe encouraged participants to take full advantage of the two-day programme, describing it as a rare opportunity to learn and engage freely without fear of making mistakes.

“So, I’ll advise that you make good use of these two days. These are the only two days that you have in the entire history of your period in the council to make mistakes without shame,” he added.