Egypt to Receive AU PSC Chairmanship Thursday

Egypt's Ambassador to Ethiopia and its Permanent Representative at the African Union (AU) Osama Abdel Khalek said on Wednesday Egypt will receive its one-month presidency of the AU Peace and Security Council (PSC) on Thursday.

In a statement released by the Foreign Ministry, Abdel Khalek pointed out that Egypt would have the honor of leading the work of the major African body, which is concerned with the peace and security issues in Africa.

"Intensive work and consultations were held over the past few weeks between the Egyptian Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the African Union Commission (AUC) to crystallize Egypt's program during its PSC chairmanship," Abdel Khalek noted.

The ambassador pointed out that Egypt's program during its anticipated PSC chairmanship reflects its great and firm interest in the anti-terrorism and extremism issues in Africa and worldwide.

"As part of Egypt's program, a session will be devoted to reviewing means of activating a proposal, submitted by President Abdel Fattah El Sisi in the conclusion of his AU chairmanship, on creating an African counter-terrorism force to be a part of the African Standby Force (ASF)," he said.

The post-conflict reconstruction and development file also represents a major priority for the Egyptian PSC chairmanship, he said.

He also affirmed the main priority given by the Egyptian presidency to the post-conflict reconstruction and development file, especially with President Sisi's leading of this file continentally.