Rwanda was yesterday elected to the African Union Peace and Security Council (PSC) as a member, for a period of two years, according to the Minister of Foreign Affairs and Cooperation, Louise Mushikiwabo.

In a tweet on her timeline, Mushikiwabo said that Rwanda’s election to the 15-state body came up during the pre-summit of the PSC member states, which has brought together ministers of foreign affairs in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia.

The PSC is the AU’s standing decision-making body responsible for the maintenance of continental peace and security.

All the fifteen members are elected by the AU Executive Council on regional basis with three countries from Central Africa; three from Eastern Africa; two from North Africa; three from Southern Africa; and four from West Africa.

Members are elected for three-year (five members) or two-year (ten members) terms and can be re-elected immediately for another term, according to information from the AU.

There are no permanent members and no veto powers, while the PSC chairmanship rotates on a monthly basis in alphabetical order of the English-language names of member states.

editorial@newtimes.co.rw