The election grants Mogadishu a direct role in shaping decisions concerning conflict prevention, mediation and regional stability, indicating increasing diplomatic momentum following years of internal security difficulties.

Somalia has won a seat on the African Union Peace and Security Council (PSC) for the 2026–2028 period, representing the first instance that this Horn of Africa nation will participate in the continent’s principal peace and security body.

The election grants Mogadishu a direct role in shaping decisions concerning conflict prevention, mediation and regional stability, indicating increasing diplomatic momentum following years of internal security difficulties.

Currently representing Africa at the United Nations Security Council, Somalia has been struggling with the Al-Shabaab insurgency and considers the PSC position as a venue to promote enhanced counter-terrorism coordination throughout the Horn and across the broader continent.

“Honored to have led Somalia’s delegation at the African Union Headquarters in Addis Ababa as our country was elected to the African Union Peace and Security Council (2026–2028), a historic first for Somalia,” stated Foreign Minister Abdisalam Ali on X following the vote.

“Grateful to AU Member States for their confidence and to our Eastern Africa region for their solidarity,” he added, committing that Somalia would serve “with responsibility and resolve advancing peace, security, and African unity.”

The Eastern Africa region possessed two available positions, but three candidatesSomalia, Djibouti and current Ugandainitially competed for the spots.

The competition was realigned after Kenya and Rwanda withdrew their candidacies shortly before foreign ministers gathered in Addis Ababa, reducing what had been one of the summit’s most fierce regional contests.

The PSC’s rotational membership framework distributes positions across Africa’s five regions: three for West Africa; two each for Central, Eastern and Southern Africa; and one for North Africa. Ten members’ terms conclude on March 30, ending their two-year tenures as representatives elected during the AU’s 37th Ordinary Assembly in February 2024.

Among the departing members, the Democratic Republic of Congo, Uganda, Côte d’Ivoire and Sierra Leone sought re-election, while North and Southern Africa began the new cycle without returning representatives.

Somalia’s admission to the council demonstrates both regional support and a wider diplomatic repositioning, enabling the nation to influence continental security discussions while it continues to face domestic insurgency issues.