Egypt Chairs AU Peace, Security Council

African leaders and delegates attend the Africa Union Peace and Security Council (File photo: Reuters)
African leaders and delegates attend the Africa Union Peace and Security Council (File photo: Reuters)
TT

Egypt Chairs AU Peace, Security Council

African leaders and delegates attend the Africa Union Peace and Security Council (File photo: Reuters)
African leaders and delegates attend the Africa Union Peace and Security Council (File photo: Reuters)

Egypt is exerting all efforts to combat extremism and terrorism during its presidency of the Peace and Security Council of the African Union (AU) this November.

The AU announced that Egypt will chair the presidency of Peace and Security Council in light of Egypt's "diplomatic successes and efforts to play an effective role in supporting and strengthening the peace and security in the African continent."

The Peace Council said that Egypt's efforts would focus on managing disasters in Africa and finding lasting solutions to confront challenges such as terrorism, illegal immigration, and the repercussions of climate change on continental peace and security.

The Peace and Security Council is scheduled to discuss the report of the Chairperson of the African Union Commission on continental efforts to prevent and combat terrorism.

The Council provides an opportunity for members to develop a strategy to enhance efforts to combat terrorism and extremism through its various research and studies centers.

The Peace and Security Council is an organ of the African Union for the prevention, management, and resolution of conflicts and follows the model of the UN Security Council. It has 15 members with equal voting powers, elected by the AU Executive Council and endorsed by the AU Assembly during its ordinary sessions.

Egypt holds the membership of the Council for the North African region between 2020 and 2022.

Since assuming the presidency in 2019, Cairo has intensified its presence within the institutions of the Union and strengthened its relationship with the countries through initiatives and cooperation agreements covering all fields.

Meanwhile, the Egyptian Armed Forces concluded Sunday three training programs delivered to 67 military personnel from 18 African states.

The programs were held in collaboration with the Egyptian Agency of Partnership for Development, affiliated with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

A ceremony was held Saturday evening to distribute the certificates in the presence of several Egyptian commanders, and African ambassadors, and military attaches.

The Head of the Armed Forces Training Authority delivered a speech where he addressed all activities and areas of cooperation that prepared and qualified students from African countries.

Assistant to Minister of Defense Major General Medhat al-Nahas delivered a speech asserting Egypt's keenness to concert efforts with African countries and work jointly to boost cooperation and development on the African continent in various fields.



EU Urges Immediate Halt to Israel-Hezbollah War

European Union foreign policy chief Josep Borrell, left, meets with Lebanese parliament speaker Nabih Berri, right, in Beirut, Lebanon, Sunday, Nov. 24, 2024. (AP)
European Union foreign policy chief Josep Borrell, left, meets with Lebanese parliament speaker Nabih Berri, right, in Beirut, Lebanon, Sunday, Nov. 24, 2024. (AP)
TT

EU Urges Immediate Halt to Israel-Hezbollah War

European Union foreign policy chief Josep Borrell, left, meets with Lebanese parliament speaker Nabih Berri, right, in Beirut, Lebanon, Sunday, Nov. 24, 2024. (AP)
European Union foreign policy chief Josep Borrell, left, meets with Lebanese parliament speaker Nabih Berri, right, in Beirut, Lebanon, Sunday, Nov. 24, 2024. (AP)

Top EU diplomat Josep Borrell called for an immediate ceasefire in the Israel-Hezbollah war while on a visit to Lebanon on Sunday, as the group claimed attacks deep into Israel.  

The Israeli military said Iran-backed Hezbollah fired around 160 projectiles into Israel during the day. Some of them were intercepted but others caused damage to houses in central Israel, according to AFP images.  

A day after the health ministry said Israeli strikes on Beirut and across Lebanon killed 84 people, state media reported two strikes on Sunday on the capital's southern suburbs, a Hezbollah stronghold.

Israel's military said it had attacked "headquarters" of the group "hidden within civilian structures" in south Beirut.

War between Israel and Hezbollah escalated in late September, nearly a year after the group began launching strikes in solidarity with its Palestinian ally Hamas following that group's October 7 attack on Israel.

The conflict has killed at least 3,754 people in Lebanon since October 2023, according to the health ministry, most of them since September.  

On the Israeli side, authorities say at least 82 soldiers and 47 civilians have been killed.  

Earlier this week, US special envoy Amos Hochstein said in Lebanon that a truce deal was "within our grasp" and then headed to Israel for talks with officials there.  

In the Lebanese capital, Borrell held talks with parliamentary speaker Nabih Berri, who has led mediation efforts on behalf of ally Hezbollah.

"We see only one possible way ahead: an immediate ceasefire and the full implementation of United Nations Security Council Resolution 1701," Borrell said.  

"Lebanon is on the brink of collapse", he warned.  

Under Resolution 1701, which ended the last Hezbollah-Israel war of 2006, Lebanese troops and UN peacekeepers should be the only armed forces present in the southern border area.  

The resolution also called for Israel to withdraw troops from Lebanon, and reiterated earlier calls for "disarmament of all armed groups in Lebanon."