Africa-Press. U.S. President Donald Trump has launched a new international initiative called the “Peace Council,” presented as a practical alternative to the United Nations Security Council. The move has drawn wide international attention, particularly regarding African representation, as only two African nations — Egypt and Morocco — were invited to join, out of roughly 58 countries contacted, in a complete omission of Sub-Saharan Africa.
The first membership papers for the Peace Council were signed on the sidelines of the World Economic Forum in Davos, held from 20 to 22 January 2026, in the presence of heads of state, government officials, and ministers from various countries, in order to formally establish participation in the new international body.
According to the White House, 35 countries agreed to participate in the Peace Council, with 19 officially joining on day one — representing about 33% of those invited — while additional states are expected to finalize their procedures later.
Morocco was among the first to join. In a statement on 19 January 2026, the Moroccan Foreign Ministry said King Mohammed VI had “gladly” accepted President Trump’s invitation, confirming that the kingdom would ratify the founding charter.
Morocco — along with Bahrain — became one of the first signatories, making it the first African country to join the new institution as a founding member with a special status including permanent membership, in exchange for a financial contribution of one billion U.S. dollars.
Egypt also accepted the invitation, with President Abdel Fattah el-Sisi confirming the country’s participation, reinforcing Cairo’s prominent role in regional security and stability, particularly in the Middle East.
By contrast, no invitations were sent to major African powers such as South Africa, Nigeria, or Ethiopia, raising questions about the selection criteria. Analysts attribute the omission either to strained political relations with Washington or to sharp diplomatic divergences.
According to U.S. media, Egypt and Morocco were the only African states whose leaders received official invitations, while the White House has yet to publish a final list, though the Wall Street Journal estimated the invited countries at 58.
According to the founding charter, the Peace Council aims to resolve global conflicts through practical cooperation and results-oriented partnerships, amid what its proponents describe as the UN Security Council’s inability to fulfill its traditional role.
Council decisions are taken by majority vote but require final approval by its president, Donald Trump, and membership is granted exclusively through direct invitation by the U.S. president.
