The 38th African Union (AU) Summit is underway in Addis Ababa, bringing together leaders from 55 member states to address key political, security, and economic issues. Major highlights of the summit include:
1. Election of AU Leadership – A new AU Commission Chairperson is set to be elected, with Kenya’s Raila Odinga and Djibouti’s Mahamoud Ali Youssouf emerging as frontrunners. Several new AU commissioners have also been chosen under revised electoral rules.
2. Security and Conflict Resolution – The AU is focusing on peace and security, particularly conflicts in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) and Sudan. The council also voted to replace five members in the Peace and Security Council (PSC).
3. Coup Response – With recent military coups in the Sahel region, the AU is reviewing strategies to counter unconstitutional regime changes.
4. Africa’s Global Positioning – The AU is discussing its role in international institutions, including its recent G20 membership, and how to strengthen Africa’s trade position.
5. Climate Change – The summit will review a climate change report, calling for increased funding from wealthier nations ahead of COP30.
6. Reparations and Justice – The theme of this year’s summit focuses on historical reparations for African nations affected by colonialism and slavery.
7. Continental Unity – While leaders push for unity, tensions remain, particularly between Morocco and Algeria over Western Sahara.
For a detailed breakdown of the 10 key issues at the summit, read the full article here: The Africa Report