Angola Promotes the Cause of African Peace

The Republic of Angola since yesterday assumed the presidency of the Rotary Peace and Security Council of the African Union (AU), a mechanism created with the aim of promoting peace, security and stability in Africa.

Angola's presidency of the Council of the AU Peace and Security comes at a time when there are still some areas of tension in the continent such as Darfur in Sudan, the situation prevailing in Madagascar and the recent coup in Mali. 

On the agenda of Angola to the front of this body, which will focus on managing and finding solutions to these major crises that disturb and affect the development of the African continent, are also the stabilization of Guinea-Bissau, the situation in Somalia, where the AU has a contingent of peacekeepers (AMISOM), as well as the "dossier" Libya as a result of so-called Arab Spring. The political crisis in Madagascar, the electoral processes in Africa and the issue of violence against women and children in situations of conflict on the continent are also among the priorities of the presidency of Angola's Peace and Security Council of the African Union. 

Angola was elected to the Council for Peace and Security at the 17th Summit Conference of Heads of State and Government of the AU, held in January 2012 in Addis Ababa (Ethiopia), for a term of two years. Besides Angola, the other countries that are involved in the Peace and Security Council of the African Union, established in May 2004,  are Libya, Equatorial Guinea, Kenya, Nigeria, Zimbabwe, Egypt, Djibouti, Cameroon, Congo, Tanzania, Ivory Coast , The Gambia and the Kingdom of Lesotho.  Five of the 15 Member States are elected for a term of three years and the remaining ten for a term of two years. 
The Peace and Security Council responsible for promoting security and stability on the continent, secure protection and welfare of the population and work to peacekeeping, including missions of good offices. It is also the mission of the board, promote and implement peace-building and post conflict reconstruction. 

The Council of the AU Peace and Security has been involved in a political, diplomatic and military in various conflicts that still persist in Africa. This is the second time that the Republic of Angola is elected to the Council for Peace and Security of the African Union, having been elected in 2007 for a term of three years. (ANGOP)