When Ethiopia stepped in to lead continental security discussions for April 2026, it marked a renewed return to a key role within the African Union’s decision-making structure on peace and conflict matters.
Ethiopia has officially taken over the monthly leadership of the African Union Peace and Security Council for April, beginning a term that the Ministry of Foreign Affairs says is its first since rejoining the Council in April 2025.
The country is expected to begin steering the Council’s activities on April 7, taking over from Eswatini, which handled the Council’s affairs during the month of March.
During its tenure, Ethiopia will oversee discussions covering a wide range of issues linked to peace and security across Africa. These include matters tied to specific countries as well as broader themes that affect stability, conflict prevention, and peace efforts on the continent.
The Ministry explained that the chairmanship places Ethiopia at the centre of coordinating deliberations among member states on key challenges affecting peace and security.
"Ethiopia will lead the Council’s deliberations on a range of key peace and security matters concerning the continent, encompassing both country-specific and thematic issues," the Ministry stated.
Ethiopia’s assumption of the role follows its renewed participation in the Council, where it previously served four separate terms since the body was created in 2004.
According to the Ministry, this return to leadership highlights the country’s continued involvement in supporting continental efforts aimed at managing conflicts and promoting stability.
"This marks the first time Ethiopia will chair the Council since rejoining it in April 2025," the Ministry said.
The African Union Peace and Security Council functions as the main body of the African Union responsible for making decisions on conflict prevention, management, and resolution across Africa.
It operates as part of the wider African Peace and Security Architecture, which brings together mechanisms designed to anticipate, address, and resolve conflicts while supporting long-term peacebuilding efforts.
The Council’s legal basis was established through a protocol adopted on July 9, 2002, in Durban, South Africa, which came into force in December 2003. It became fully operational in early 2004 and has since served as a central platform for coordinated responses to peace and security challenges on the continent.