Headline.news reports that the African leaders gathered in the Ethiopian capital, Addis Ababa, for a two-day summit to address the escalating challenges of coups, conflicts, political crises, and regional tensions across the continent.
The summit, organized by the African Union, aimed to foster dialogue and collaboration in finding solutions to the complex issues facing many nations.
African Union Commission head, Moussa Faki Mahamat, expressed deep concern over the widespread violence affecting several countries in Africa and beyond.
He highlighted the dire situation in Sudan, characterized as being in “flames,” and drew attention to the persistent jihadist threat in Somalia, ongoing tensions in the Democratic Republic of Congo, the terrorist danger in the Sahel region, and the continuous instability in Libya.
During a pre-summit meeting with African foreign ministers, Mahamat emphasized the seriousness of military coups, pre- and post-electoral violence, and humanitarian crises linked to war and climate change.
“The AU has ambitious institutional commitments and tools for mediation and peacekeeping but lacks the political and financial strength to make the most of them,” noted the International Crisis Group in a briefing note.
The summit also included a mini-summit focused on revitalizing the peace process for the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC). Leaders from the DRC, including the Congolese leader and his Rwandan counterpart, engaged in discussions aimed at finding ways to bring stability to the region.
However, skepticism looms over the effectiveness of the African Union in taking decisive actions against conflicts and power struggles.
Nina Wilen, the director of the Africa program at the Egmont Royal Institute for International Relations in Brussels, expressed doubt about the possibility of strong decisions, citing the AU’s historical ineffectuality.
Notably absent from the summit were Gabon and Niger, both suspended due to coups last year. Mali, Guinea, Sudan, and Burkina Faso were also barred from attending.
The ongoing crisis in Senegal, triggered by President Macky Sall’s election postponement, was expected to be a topic of discussion.
Beyond the continent, the Israel-Hamas conflict in Gaza took center stage.
Moussa Faki described it as a “war of extermination.”
Palestinian Prime Minister Mohammad Shtayyeh attended the summit, while an Israeli delegation was notably absent, with the spokesperson confirming they were not invited.
Member states, grappling with their sovereign prerogatives, appear to be looking inward, showing reluctance to invest in collective security.
The AU’s ambitious commitments face hurdles as political and financial considerations take precedence.
The AU successfully averted a crisis related to the rotating chairmanship, which was held by Comoros President Azali Assoumani.
After months of negotiations, Mauritanian President Mohamed Ould Ghazouani is set to assume the chairmanship.
As the AU seeks to strengthen its global influence, challenges persist. Analysts emphasize the need for the AU to quickly develop a consensus on its role in the G20, where it aims to have a stronger voice.
The AU’s ability to maneuver might be constrained by the continent’s myriad security crises and geopolitical complexities.
The summit also addressed the AU’s transition to relying on African states to fund most of its budget rather than foreign donors.
With 19 presidential or general elections scheduled across the continent this year, the AU faces the task of balancing its ambitious institutional commitments with the political and financial challenges presented by its member states.
