African Union (AU): Insights and policy

Ethiopia’s ambition to secure Red Sea access, Eritrea’s interference in Ethiopia’s internal affairs and a power struggle in Tigray could explode into a wider regional war. Mediation is urgently needed.

In this episode, Professor Carlos Lopes discusses what the African Union’s G20 membership means for Africa’s economic and geopolitical influence on the global stage.

Chinese engagement with Africa is on an uptick after a period of decline.

The declaration of the rapidly spreading mpox outbreak in Africa as a public health emergency will test global solidarity in the wake of COVID-19 – and could provide a litmus test for the effectiveness of a future pandemic treaty.

Millions are at risk as a result of Sudan’s devastating civil war, but attention lies largely elsewhere. Has the world failed the people of Sudan?

With multiple military coups in the region, signs that the presidential election in Senegal is back on track are being greeted with cautious optimism by some

Leading African Union member states continue to delay ratification of the Malabo convention, limiting harmonized African policymaking on cybersecurity.

The discussion series brings together African stakeholders to discuss the continent’s response to geopolitical trends.

Its civil war is a vortex of transnational conflicts, but regional rivals must find a consensus to avoid an even worse calamity, writes Alex de Waal.

The president of the Crisis Group tells Roxanne Escobales why war is trumping diplomacy and why South Africa’s legal case against Israel matters.

Many countries are shaking off old allegiances to the West and enjoying new wealth, influence and optimism, writes Kishore Mahbubani.

From a year of elections, to multiple summits, as well as conflict hotspots and debt burdens, 2024 will bring mixed fortunes for the African continent.

Mutual interest keeps Kenya–UK ties vibrant, but painful colonial history and Kenya’s assertive global agency leave no room for complacency in the state visit.

Martin Fayulu, opposition leader and former presidential candidate in the DRC, on the challenges for achieving free and fair elections in 2023, the security crisis in eastern DRC, and his vision for the country’s regional identity and future global role.

African leaders who went to St Petersburg expecting tangible results from Putin’s promised new programme of support for Africa will undoubtedly have concluded that Russia is unable to offer what they need.

H.E. Dr Workneh Gebeyehu, executive secretary of the Intergovernmental Authority on Development (IGAD), highlights efforts by the regional body to improve stability and further integration.

Alleged cyberattacks spotlight China’s role in Kenya’s debt problems, but must not be allowed to overshadow the country’s broader failings in its financing.

A special episode with HE Ambassador Bankole Adeoye, African Union (AU) Commissioner for Political Affairs, Peace and Security (PAPS).

Episode 23 of our weekly podcast examines the crisis overtaking Sudan since intense fighting broke out between the Sudanese army and the Rapid Support Forces (RSF).

Ahmed Soliman talks to Yusuf Hassan about what needs to happen to resolve Sudan’s latest conflict, and how to move its transition to civilian government forwards.

The supply chain of a seemingly innocuous cash crop – sesame – has intersected with transnational conflict dynamics, exacerbating tensions between Ethiopia and Sudan.

Despite the promise of technology and new legislation, Nigeria’s tightly contested elections have resulted in growing mistrust and revealed deepening divides.

International pressure is essential to reach an agreement that establishes a credible civilian government.

Nigeria’s presidential transition offers US and UK policymakers a chance to reset their relations with Abuja.

Ahead of Nigeria’s most technologically advanced election, the security of its election infrastructure is under intense scrutiny.

Episode ten discusses Africa and the complex role China plays on the continent, and how the world should be responding to the major conflicts of 2023.

Despite few African trade and financial links with Russia and Ukraine, the war in Ukraine will cause civil strife in Africa due to food and energy inflation.

The UK needs to get the tone right as South African president Cyril Ramaphosa is welcomed by King Charles III for the first state visit of his reign.

Increasing maritime awareness has already delivered impact, but consistency and continental leadership are needed to realize the sector’s full potential.

Change is necessary not only in global economic structures and attitudes – but in African governance too.

Tanzania’s rising economic influence and its ambitions for major cross-border infrastructure projects demand a more proactive approach to foreign policy. The policy review currently under way is a chance for the country to reach its potential as a regional leader and reliable global partner.

Amid civil war and territorial rivalry on both sides of the Ethiopia–Sudan border, sesame has become central to a conflict economy that perpetuates violence and political instability.

This paper explores the regional dimensions of the two-year civil war in Ethiopia’s Tigray region and the potential for successful implementation of the November 2022 peace agreement.

More cohesive international engagement is needed to support stability in Ethiopia and Sudan and resolve damaging cross-border disputes that jeopardize security and development across the Horn of Africa.

The number of people living in fragile and conflict-affected states where relations between national authorities and major donors are estranged is rising. This research paper from Chatham House and NYU’s Center on International Cooperation identifies emerging best practice and strategic shifts in donor approaches to reflect this new reality.

Zambia’s recent approach to international relations has boosted the country’s prominence, but further domestic focus is needed to make this a sustainable policy shift.

A global approach is the only way to tackle debt distress in Africa. This will require strategic cooperation between China, the West and African nations.

This paper finds that the transition perspectives of Central and Eastern European member states can help shape the EU’s evolving partnership with Africa.

Trade between Central and Eastern Europe and sub-Saharan Africa has increased significantly in the last decade and a half. There is a strong case to be made for greater economic re-engagement, especially in terms of investment, that has the potential to support inclusive growth in both regions.