PSC Interview: The PSC is adapting its working methods in difficult times
Prof Mafa Sejanamane, Lesotho’s ambassador to the African Union and May PSC chairperson, shares his insights.
Despite the challenges posed by COVID-19 restrictions, the Peace and Security Council (PSC) has attempted to continue with its work virtually. The PSC Report spoke to Prof. Mafa Sejanamane, Lesotho’s ambassador to the African Union (AU) and chairperson of the PSC for May 2020, about the country’s aims and priorities for this month.
What has been the impact of COVID-19 on the AU’s theme of the year and its Roadmap to Silencing the Guns?
COVID-19 is not only the biggest health challenge in a century, but also presents the biggest social, economic and security dilemma the world has seen. All the plans which the AU and the rest of the world had for 2020 have effectively been shelved.
As you’ll recall, as part of the strategy of silencing the guns, an extraordinary summit had been planned in South Africa at the end of May 2020. The summit was meant to bring together all the plans and to consolidate the efforts by African countries to banish and/or reduce wars and other conflicts. This is no more. Terrorists in the Sahel, northern Mozambique and southern Tanzania, among other areas, continue to destabilise the continent. COVID-19 has brought about major disruptions in the planning and execution of plans to fight terrorism and other conflicts in Africa.
COVID-19 has brought about major disruptions in the planning and execution of plans to fight terrorism and other conflicts in Africa
How will the AU and PSC continue to effectively respond to peace and security threats during the pandemic?
As demonstrated in April 2020 under the leadership of Kenya, the PSC has been hobbled but not disabled. The council has continued to lead in a number of initiatives, including dealing with the renewal of the mandate of the G5 Sahel. It has also been able to consider the implications of COVID-19 on peacekeeping, etc. We will continue to meet virtually and make the necessary decisions. In emergencies, extraordinary measures can be taken, like using the airlift capacities of member states to move troops if the situation arises. Terrorists have not so far shown that they will exercise restraint and prudence during this period. On the contrary, they are trying to take an opportunistic advantage. But the PSC will remain alert throughout this period.
The PSC will remain alert throughout this period
In what way has the PSC adapted its working methods and priorities to mitigate the challenges posed by the pandemic?
This has partly been responded to above. Let me emphasise that the PSC has adapted by dealing with the challenges virtually and online. It’s not as efficient because of the network capacity and limited debate period, but it has served us well so far. It is clear that this is a difficult time, but all institutions are beginning to adjust and adapt their working methods.
Will other major AU initiatives such as the African Continental Free Trade Area, the AU reform agenda and issues related to sustainable financing of the AU be postponed until the end of the pandemic?
This is a broader AU issue that requires others rather than the chair of the PSC for the month of May.
What is being done by the PSC to mitigate new threats to peace and security associated with COVID-19, such as human rights abuses during lockdowns, the worsening plight of refugees and the postponement of peace initiatives owing to travel restrictions?
The PSC is not oblivious to the challenges brought about by COVID-19 to vulnerable groups. This is why the question of the plight of refugees was the last item handled under the chairmanship of Kenya last week. Both the commissioner for political affairs and the commissioner for social affairs, together with the president of the International Committee of the Red Cross, addressed those issues. Broadly speaking, it is clear that whatever responses we have to focus on in dealing with COVID-19 must be inclusive and within the broad framework of human rights. As we try to save lives and our civilisation, we must at the same time recognise that the rights of our people are protected. They must be included in all programmes, since leaving anyone out will ensure that the pandemic spreads. As long as one person is sick the rest will be infected.
