The African Union faces major reform challenges

Significance

The gathering came amid a wave of coups afflicting the continent, widespread pandemic-induced economic difficulties, continuing limits to the AU’s ability to make its presence felt in the international arena, and emerging concerns around a new ‘scramble for Africa’ as multiple external actors compete to secure zones of influence on the continent.

Impacts

• Inconsistency and an obsession with sovereignty will undermine the AU’s responses to coups and other violations of constitutional rule.
• A disorganised AU could undermine the benefits of the planned AU-EU Summit.
• The AU may struggle to develop common positions on climate justice ahead of the upcoming UN Climate Change Conference in Egypt.