Sunday February 1, 2026
Cairo (HOL) — Egypt on Sunday assumed the rotating presidency of the African Union’s Peace and Security Council, pledging to prioritise efforts to address the protracted conflicts in Sudan and Somalia.
The one-month presidency, which began Feb. 1, comes as Africa faces what Cairo described as escalating and overlapping challenges, ranging from armed conflict and fragile political transitions to food insecurity and climate stress. Egypt’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Emigration and Egyptian Expatriates Affairs outlined the agenda in a statement.
Sudan and Somalia will dominate discussions. Egypt plans to host informal ministerial-level consultations with Sudan’s foreign minister, followed by two separate ministerial sessions dedicated to developments in Sudan and Somalia, the ministry said.
Egypt says its stewardship of the council will seek to strengthen the body’s effectiveness through a comprehensive approach linking peace, security and governance. The aim, according to the statement, is to help resolve conflicts, bolster stability and advance the African Union’s long-term development blueprint, Agenda 2063.
Cairo said its leadership would be guided by the AU Constitutive Act, stressing respect for state sovereignty and territorial integrity, the protection of national institutions and non-interference in the internal affairs of member states principles that often sit at the heart of debates within the council.
The presidency’s programme includes thematic sessions on the security implications of climate change, the impact of artificial intelligence and the persistent challenges of political transitions across Africa. Egypt will also steer discussions on post-conflict reconstruction and development, a portfolio it currently leads within the union.
Egypt’s delegation is expected to present the council’s annual activity report to the upcoming AU summit of heads of state and government. The presidency will also feature field visits and consultations with regional and international partners, the ministry said, aimed at tightening coordination on peace and security efforts across the continent.