Somalia Assumes AU Peace and Security Council Seat in Diplomatic Milestone

GOOBJOOG NEWS | MOGADISHU: Somalia has formally assumed a seat on the African Union Peace and Security Council for the first time since its establishment in 2003, marking a milestone in the country’s regional diplomatic standing.

Somalia was elected to the council in February 2026 for a two-year term, a move that reflects growing confidence among African states in the country’s role in promoting peace and security.

Somalia’s ambassador to Ethiopia and the African Union, Abdullahi Warfaa, formally raised the national flag at the council’s headquarters, signaling the country’s assumption of its new responsibilities.

The council is the African Union’s top decision-making body on conflict prevention, crisis management and peace support operations, giving Somalia a platform to shape regional responses to security challenges.

The development comes as Somalia continues to rebuild state institutions and expand its diplomatic engagement after decades of conflict, while also remaining on the front line of efforts to combat Al-Shabaab.

Somalia is also transitioning from the long-running African Union Mission in Somalia to the new African Union Support and Stabilisation Mission in Somalia, a shift aimed at gradually handing over security responsibilities to Somali forces.

The council seat could strengthen Somalia’s voice in continental security affairs at a time when the Horn of Africa faces overlapping challenges, including insurgencies, political tensions and cross-border security threats.