Rabat – The Kingdom of Morocco has officially taken over the presidency of the African Union’s (AU) Peace and Security Council (PSC) for a three-year term from 2022 to 2025. This transition, effective as of February 1, 2024, positions Morocco at the forefront of the AU’s critical decision-making body responsible for advancing peace, security, and stability across the continent.

This marks Morocco’s third stint at the helm of the Council since its return to the African Union in January 2017, as confirmed by a statement from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, African Cooperation, and Moroccan Expatriates.

Having previously presided over the Council in September 2019 during its initial term (2018-2020) and in October 2022 as part of the ongoing triennial mandate, Morocco’s renewed leadership underscores the nation’s steadfast commitment to fostering peace, security, and development in Africa.

The Moroccan approach to contributing to common African goals is guided by the visionary principles of HM King Mohammed
VI. These principles emphasize placing the noble causes of Africa and the vital interests of African citizens-pertaining to peace, security, and development-at the forefront of the pan-African agenda.

Morocco’s ascension to the presidency of the Peace and Security Council is an extension of its proactive engagement in addressing diverse security challenges facing the continent. The nation adopts a comprehensive and multidimensional approach grounded in the Peace-Security-Development Nexus, a strategy established during the 1st AU Political Conference held in Tangier in October 2022.

The month of February, coinciding with Morocco’s presidency, will witness a ministerial meeting of the PSC, on strengthening peace, security, and integration in Africa. This aligns with the larger agenda of fostering collaboration and unity on the continent.

The Moroccan monthly program also features a series of meetings of permanent representatives, focusing on crucial issues such as the fight against terrorism and violent ext
remism, the intersection of health security with peace and security, transitional justice, post-conflict peace-building, and efforts to prevent and combat the use of child soldiers. Additionally, discussions will encompass the follow-up to the Tangier Conference on the Peace, Security, and Development Nexus.

Source: Agency Morocaine De Presse

ISLAMABAD: Pakistan today called for the full implementation of the International Criminal Court (ICJ’s) ruling of provisional measures to stop the Israeli genocidal acts against the Palestinian people.

Pakistan stressed the need to implement the ICJ’s decision to uphold human rights and the identity of the Palestinian people as per the UN Charter, relevant resolutions and international law.

‘The implementation of these provisional measures requires an immediate and unconditional ceasefire to bring about an end to the suffering faced by the people of Gaza.” The UN Security Council should, therefore, play its mandated role to impose a ceasefire and protect the people of Gaza from ongoing atrocities,’ said Pakistan’s spokesperson of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Zahra Baloch in a press briefing.

‘Pakistan is deeply concerned about the ongoing oppression of the people of Gaza by the Israeli occupation forces,’ she said.

She affirmed pakistan’s strong condemnation of the Israeli forces’ attack inside the I
bn Sina Hospital in Jenin, which led to the killing of three Palestinians, noting that this attack is the latest in a series of inhumane attacks on hospitals that fall in the category of war crimes being perpetrated against the people of Palestine.

‘These ongoing atrocities go against the spirit of the provisional measures decided by the International Court of Justice to protect the people of Gaza.’

Regarding the announcement by several countries to suspend funding for UNRWA, she stated that the suspension of funding amid the ongoing aggression and suffering in Gaza also goes against the spirit of the ICJ’s provisional measures that called for the provision of essential services and humanitarian assistance to address the challenging conditions faced by the Palestinians in Gaza.

‘We urge reconsideration of the decision to suspend funding of UNRWA which has a crucial role in protecting and supporting the Palestinian people,’ said the spokesperson.

Source: Palestine news and Information Agency – WAFA