Deep Dive: Morocco Elected for Third Time to AU Peace and Security Council, Akhannouch Says

Morocco's third election to the African Union Peace and Security Council (AUPSC, the AU's primary body for preventing, managing, and resolving conflicts across Africa) at the 39th AU Summit in Addis Ababa underscores its growing influence in continental diplomacy. From a geopolitical lens, this reflects Morocco's strategic push to reassert its African credentials after rejoining the AU in 2017 following a 33-year absence prompted by the recognition of Western Sahara's independence by the organization. Key actors include Morocco, led by King Mohammed VI and Prime Minister Aziz Akhannouch, whose government promotes South-South cooperation, and the AU, where 54 member states (minus Morocco during its boycott) now back Rabat's role in peace efforts. Historically, Morocco's AU return was tied to its bid to counter Algeria's support for the Polisario Front in the Western Sahara dispute, a core regional flashpoint involving territorial claims, refugee crises, and migration routes. Culturally, Morocco bridges Arab-Berber North Africa with sub-Saharan dynamics, positioning it as a mediator on issues like irregular migration—exacerbated by Sahel instability—affecting Europe via Spain and Italy. Akhannouch's remarks from Addis Ababa highlight Rabat's model of stability amid coups and insurgencies elsewhere. Cross-border implications extend to Sahel nations like Mali and Niger, where AUPSC decisions on sanctions or missions impact peacekeeping; Europe faces moderated migration flows through Moroccan-led pacts; and global powers like the US and France, with interests in counterterrorism, gain from a North African voice. This bolsters Morocco's soft power, potentially shifting AU dynamics away from Algerian dominance, while challenging pan-African unity narratives.