African Union & Regional Bodies

This week on The Horn, guest host Elissa Jobson is joined by think-tank Director Philani Mthembu to discuss Africa’s mixed response to the Ukraine war.

This week on The Horn, guest host Elissa Jobson is joined by Dr Solomon Ayele Dersso to discuss the challenges facing the African Union (AU), as a wave of unconstitutional takeovers sweeps through the continent, threatening the AU’s long-held commitment to democracy. 

The African Union’s twentieth anniversary in the coming year gives it a chance to assess its achievements as well as reinvigorate its work to safeguard peace and security on the continent. This briefing points to eight conflict situations needing the organisation’s urgent attention.

In 2021, the African Union will continue working to contain COVID-19 and address its economic impact. Our annual survey identifies eight other situations where the organisation’s timely intercession could help resolve, mitigate or ward off conflict.

Speech by Comfort Ero, Program Director for Africa, to the 975th session of the African Union Peace and Security Council.

New financial structures will soon allow the EU to fund African military operations – including the supply of lethal weaponry – directly, instead of through the African Union. To avoid aggravating conflicts, Brussels should undertake robust risk assessments, constantly monitor its assistance, insist that recipient countries subordinate military efforts to political strategies and preserve African Union oversight.

In this week’s episode of The Horn, Alan Boswell examines peace and security challenges on the African continent with Hanna Tetteh, UN Under-Secretary-General and Special Representative to the Secretary-General to the African Union.

The African Union has been taking a larger role of late in addressing questions of peace and security on the continent. Our annual survey identifies eight situations where the organisation’s timely intercession could help resolve, mitigate or ward off conflict.

The African Union is best positioned to send peacekeepers to the continent’s various war zones. But it often lacks the funds available to the UN’s blue helmets. A compromise over co-financing peacekeeping missions would serve the conflict prevention goals of both institutions.