KIGALI - Rwanda and nine other African countries have been elected as the new members of the African Union (AU)’s Peace and Security Council (PSC) at the just concluded AU summit in Addis Ababa.

The 15-member committee will begin their new term on April 1, 2010.

Ambassador Eugene Munyakayanza, the Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Cooperation said yesterday that the development was good for Rwanda.

"Like the minister has already said, this is recognition for Rwanda which is contributing much to UN peacekeepers among other things and, being part of the decision-makers is a big step.

Other countries elected to the Council include Equatorial Guinea, Kenya, Libya, Zimbabwe, Burundi, Chad, Djibouti, Mauritania, Namibia, South Africa, Benin, Cote d’Ivoire and Mali.

The PSC is the organ of the AU in charge of enforcing decisions and it is patterned to some extent after the UN Security Council.

The Protocol relating to the establishment of the PSC notes that the objectives for which it was established include promoting peace, security and stability on the continent.

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