African Union: a 2024 summit between continental and international crises

In Ethiopia, the African Union summit continues on February 17 and 18, 2023 with the Conference of Heads of State and Government. For this 37th edition, around thirty leaders from the continent are announced in Addis Ababa. Throughout the weekend, they will focus on the alarming situation in Africa, increasingly shaken by coups, unconstitutional changes and conflicts.

The headquarters of the African Union, in Addis Ababa. AFP - MICHELE SPATARI

By: Sidy Yansané Follow

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As per protocol, the official agenda will only be established after closed-door plenary sessions between heads of state and government.

But, with the particularly worrying situation in the large regions of the continent, and following the

alarmist speech

at the opening of the Executive Council of the

African Union

two days ago by Moussa Faki Mahamat, president of the organization's Commission, it is doubtful whether burning issues such as the wars in Sudan and Libya, the violence on the border of the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) and Rwanda, the withdrawal of the Economic Community of African States from the West (ECOWAS) of Burkina Faso, Mali and Niger, and the political crisis in Senegal.

Handover between the Comoros and Mauritania at the head of the AU

In his speech, Moussa Faki Mahamat placed great emphasis on this accumulation of crises which, according to him, seriously compromise the future of African regional institutions.

Notably ECOWAS, although a champion in terms of regional integration, but which has been going through a strong period of instability for several years, a consequence of the combined effects of repeated anti-constitutional changes, successive military coups and the expansion of jihadism. .

Read alsoMauritania officially candidate for the presidency of the African Union

This weekend, we will also witness the handover between the Union of the Comoros, which held the rotating presidency of the AU, and Mauritania, which should be confirmed at the head of the organization for the next twelve months .

The war in Gaza will also be discussed

International news will also be part of the debates, especially since the

African Union joined the G20

in September 2023, giving it more weight on global issues.

Brazilian Head of State Luis Inacio Lula Da Silva, who currently chairs the G20, is the guest of honor at this 37th AU summit. 

The

war in Gaza

will also be discussed with the announced presence of the president of the Palestinian Authority, Mahmoud Abbas. The African Union, which called from the first days for an immediate ceasefire and which condemns Israel's bombings on the enclave, also rejected the Jewish state's request to attend the summit. as an observer.

Read alsoAfrican Union Summit: the new members of the Peace and Security Council designated

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  • African Union

  • Moussa Faki Mahamat

  • ECOWAS

  • Senegal

  • Mali

  • Burkina Faso

  • Ethiopia