Egypt stepped into the rotating presidency of the African Union (AU) Peace and Security Council (PSC) on 1 February 2026 at a moment of heightened continental and regional tension. The protracted civil war in Sudan and the continuing insecurity in Somalia are placing Africa’s peace and security architecture under sustained pressure, demanding decisive and coordinated leadership. Beyond Africa’s immediate conflict zones, wider regional upheavals, including the unresolved Israel–Gaza conflict and its humanitarian implications, have further complicated the strategic environment in which the continent’s security decisions are now being made.
Against this backdrop, Egypt’s stewardship of the AU’s principal security organ will be assessed not by rhetoric, but by its ability to reinforce African-led solutions, sustain diplomatic momentum, and align continental priorities with an increasingly volatile global order. Cairo’s presidency arrives at a time when the AU’s peace and security mechanisms face renewed scrutiny over effectiveness, coherence, and political resolve.
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The AU Peace and Security Council sits at the heart of Africa’s collective security framework, mandated to prevent, manage, and resolve conflicts across the continent. Its work is closely aligned with Agenda 2063, the AU’s long-term development blueprint, which places peace and stability as foundational conditions for Africa’s political and economic transformation. Egypt has explicitly anchored its presidency within this framework, signalling an intention to strengthen preventive diplomacy and enhance coordination among member states.
Cairo has outlined a programme that prioritises high-level consultations on active conflict zones, particularly Sudan and Somalia, while also broadening the Council’s focus to include emerging security risks linked to climate stress, food insecurity, technological change, and political transitions. These themes reflect a growing recognition within the AU that contemporary conflicts are rarely driven by arms alone, but by structural pressures that erode state resilience over time.
Egypt’s presidency will also oversee the presentation of the PSC’s annual report to the AU Assembly of Heads of State and Government, an exercise that offers both accountability and an opportunity to recalibrate the Council’s strategic direction amid mounting demands on its capacity.
Sudan remains the most immediate and complex test of Egypt’s leadership. Since April 2023, fighting between the Sudanese Armed Forces and the Rapid Support Forces has devastated civilian life, displaced millions, and paralysed governance across large swathes of the country. Despite repeated international mediation efforts, the conflict has shown little sign of durable de-escalation.
Egypt’s engagement has been shaped by proximity, history, and security considerations. The war has driven large numbers of Sudanese civilians across borders, placing a humanitarian and economic strain on neighbouring states, including Egypt. Cairo has consistently emphasised the need to preserve Sudan’s territorial integrity and state institutions, arguing that a prolonged power vacuum would deepen regional instability.
At the multilateral level, Egypt has supported coordinated diplomatic efforts aimed at securing humanitarian ceasefires, protecting civilians, and restoring a political process under Sudanese ownership. Its participation in international mediation frameworks reflects an attempt to balance African leadership with global engagement, while resisting externally imposed solutions that risk further fragmenting Sudan’s political landscape. The challenge for Egypt during its PSC tenure will be sustaining pressure for dialogue in a conflict where military calculations continue to dominate.
Somalia presents a different, though no less demanding, security equation. While the country has made incremental political progress, persistent attacks by al-Shabaab and the fragility of federal institutions continue to undermine stability. The transition from the African Union Transition Mission in Somalia (ATMIS) to the AU Support and Stabilisation Mission in Somalia (AUSSOM) marks a critical phase in the AU’s long-running engagement.
Egypt has voiced strong support for Somalia’s sovereignty and the continuation of African-led security assistance, particularly as international funding pressures and donor fatigue threaten the sustainability of peace operations. Cairo’s position reflects a broader concern that premature disengagement could reverse hard-won gains and embolden extremist groups.
Beyond peacekeeping, Egypt’s approach underscores the importance of rebuilding national institutions capable of sustaining security independently. This emphasis aligns with the AU’s evolving doctrine, which increasingly prioritises governance reform and economic stabilisation alongside military support.
Beyond the Continent: Egypt’s Regional Leverage
While Egypt’s PSC presidency is firmly rooted in African priorities, its regional role in the Middle East inevitably shapes perceptions of its diplomatic capacity. Egypt has remained a central actor in mediation efforts related to the Israel–Gaza conflict, facilitating humanitarian access and ceasefire discussions amid one of the most destabilising regional crises in recent years.
The reopening of the Rafah crossing under a fragile ceasefire arrangement in early February 2026, enabling limited civilian movement and medical evacuations, highlighted Cairo’s continued relevance as a mediator. International partners, including the European Union, have acknowledged Egypt’s role in supporting humanitarian relief and advancing diplomatic engagement aimed at preventing wider regional escalation.
This external diplomatic engagement reinforces Egypt’s standing as a state accustomed to operating at the intersection of regional and global security politics. For the AU Peace and Security Council, such experience can be an asset, provided continental priorities remain clearly defined and insulated from external geopolitical pressures.
Weighing Expectations Against Reality
Egypt’s presidency of the AU Peace and Security Council is, by design, brief. Yet its symbolic and strategic significance should not be underestimated. As one of Africa’s most influential states and a long-standing advocate of multilateral diplomacy, Cairo carries expectations that extend beyond procedural leadership.
Success will depend less on headline initiatives than on Egypt’s ability to consolidate consensus among member states, reinforce the credibility of African-led peace efforts, and ensure continuity beyond its tenure. The persistence of conflicts in Sudan and Somalia, coupled with shifting global power dynamics, means that the Council’s effectiveness will remain under scrutiny long after February 2026 concludes.
In navigating these pressures, Egypt’s performance will offer a broader reflection on the state of Africa’s collective security project, its strengths, its constraints, and its capacity to adapt in an increasingly unsettled world.
