Ambassador Hilale to Chair United Nations Peacebuilding Commission

United Nations (New York) – Morocco’s Permanent Representative to the United Nations in New York, Ambassador Omar Hilale, was elected by acclamation on Thursday to the presidency of the United Nations Peacebuilding Commission (PBC) for the year 2026.

The United Nations’ choice of the Kingdom of Morocco to assume this presidency is renewed recognition of the visionary leadership and bold initiatives of His Majesty King Mohammed VI in favor of peace, security, and stability at the regional and international levels. This designation underlines the Kingdom’s constant and multidimensional commitment to preventive diplomacy, mediation, post-conflict reconstruction, human dignity, and South-South cooperation. This international confidence is also based on the credibility acquired by Morocco thanks to its long-standing contributions to UN peacekeeping operations, its role as an influential actor in numerous issues, and its proven ability to forge consensus in an international environment marked by the rise of crises. Omar Hilale’s appointment comes in a particularly critical geopolitical context, marked by rapid changes in the international order, an erosion of multilateral consensus, and a shrinking of the space dedicated to the rule of law, dialogue, and diplomacy. In his inaugural address, the Ambassador outlined the vision of the Moroccan Presidency, which is based on an ambitious approach aimed at placing regional expertise and national ownership at the heart of its action. “Our Presidency will draw on the experiences of each region: Africa offers proven expertise in peacebuilding. Latin America has developed transitional justice processes that have transformed entire societies, and Asia brings its traditions of community dialogue and consensus-building,” he explained. In this context, the diplomat warned that the world “is currently experiencing an unprecedented peace crisis: more than 130 armed conflicts are ravaging our planet – double the number from 15 years ago.” “Behind these statistics lie two billion people living under the daily threat of violence, 305 million of whom depend on emergency humanitarian assistance for their survival”, he said. Mr. Hilale welcomed the fact that the Moroccan Presidency coincides with the celebration next June of the first edition of “Peacebuilding Week,” decided upon by the UN General Assembly, noting that this celebration will be an opportunity to raise awareness among the international community of peacebuilding efforts, to promote the sharing of best practices between regions, and to mobilize the necessary political attention and resources. This inaugural session of the Peacebuilding Commission was marked by the reading of a message from the UN Secretary-General, Antonio Guterres, and the participation of the President of the General Assembly, as well as all the members of the Commission’s Organizational Committee. Established in 2005 by the General Assembly and the Security Council, the Peacebuilding Commission has established itself as the fourth fundamental organ of the UN system. A true institutional bridge between the main UN organs, it plays a crucial advisory role by bringing together all relevant actors to build lasting peace in countries emerging from conflict. Morocco will thus chair a strategic body composed of 31 members, including the permanent members of the Security Council, the main financial contributors to the UN, and the major countries supplying military and police contingents to peacekeeping operations.