Egypt re-elected member of the UN Peacebuilding Commission for 2021/2022

CAIRO – 15 December 2020: Egypt was re-elected member of the United Nations Peacebuilding Commission (PBC) on Monday as it received 170 votes out of 193 in the ballot held by the General Assembly (UNGA) on five seats for 2021/2022.

"The PBC is an intergovernmental advisory body that supports peace efforts in conflict affected countries," as indicated on the United Nations website. The commission comprises 31 members, and Egypt served for a two-year term that expires on December 31, 2020.

Egypt's Envoy to the United Nations Ambassador Mohamed Edris stated that the re-election of Egypt by such large number of votes reflects the international community's confidence in the country's capacity to continue its contributions in that vital realm.

Edris added that Egypt played an effective role in the establishment of the UN Peacebuilding Architecture (PBA) in 2005. The PBA is an understanding of the role that should be played by states to promote peace.

The ambassador underlined that Egypt has a legacy in peacekeeping in the United Nations; the UN Security Council in 2016/2017 as it was the coordinator of relations between the UNSC and the PBC; and, the African Union (AU) when it was chair in 2019 in tandem with being deputy chair of the PBC.  

The diplomat pointed out that Africa has always been a priority for Egypt during its membership of the PBC, particularly that the continent composed a large section of the commission's agenda.

When it was chairing the AU in 2019, Egypt backed the launching and activation of the African Union Policy on Post-Conflict Reconstruction and Development (PCRD).