As AU turns 20, it’s time to look at its capacity to prevent and resolve conflict
The AU may have suffered knocks to its credibility in recent times, but it remains the continent’s foremost peace and security body. ILLUSTRATION | JOHN NYAGA
When leaders met in Durban almost 20 years ago to create the African Union (AU), they made the promotion of continental peace and security a founding principle.
As they gather for the AU summit this week in Addis Ababa, ahead of anniversary celebrations planned for July, African leaders should reflect on the AU’s capacity to fulfil its promise to prevent and resolve conflict, especially after a turbulent 2021 in which the organisation’s response to coups, Islamist insurgencies, civil wars and other urgent crises has been mixed.
