Somalia President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud congratulated the Somali people and the country’s national institutions on the historic achievement. He described the victory as a symbol of Somalia’s diplomatic progress and its restored leadership role at both the continental and global levels.

"The trust and support that Somalia has received from AU Member States is evidence of the positive changes underway in our country and the strengthening of cooperative relations,” President Mohamud said. "We are now members of both the United Nations Security Council and the African Union Peace and Security Council. This victory reflects solidarity, friendship, and a shared vision for a peaceful, stable, and prosperous Africa.”

The election, at the African Union headquarters in Addis Ababa, reflects growing continental confidence in Somalia’s political stabilization, institutional reforms, and renewed engagement in multilateral diplomacy.

Somalia’s Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation, Abdisalam Ali, who led the Somali delegation during the vote, described the result as a historic achievement.

"This is a proud moment for Somalia,” he said. "We are deeply grateful to AU Member States for their trust and to our Eastern Africa region for their solidarity. Somalia will serve with responsibility and resolve, advancing peace, security, and African unity.”

Somalia, a founding member of the Organization of African Unity (OAU) — the AU’s predecessor — hosted the 11th OAU Summit in Mogadishu in 1974. Its return to one of the African Union’s most influential bodies follows years of state-building efforts, security sector reform, and strengthened governance institutions.

Somalia’s Prime Minister Hamza Abdi Barre framed the election as part of a broader national transformation.

"This is more than a seat at the table,” he said. "It signals that Somalia is not defined by its past trials, but by its present strength and its determination to contribute solutions to continental and global challenges.”

The development comes on the heels of Somalia’s election to the United Nations Security Council and its recent presidency of that body — further underscoring its expanding diplomatic footprint.

With its election to the Peace and Security Council, Somalia transitions from being primarily a focus of international stabilization efforts to playing a more active role in shaping Africa’s peace and security agenda — reflecting a broader narrative of national recovery and re-engagement on the global stage.

The Peace and Security Council is the African Union’s principal decision-making body for the prevention, management, and resolution of conflicts — widely regarded as the continental counterpart to the United Nations Security Council. Its mandate includes conflict mediation, peace support operations, and promoting long-term stability across Africa.