African Union Summit in Ethiopia: Renewed Focus on Unity, Security and Development

Why in News ?

The African Union recently hosted its annual summit in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, bringing together leaders of its 55 member states to deliberate on regional security, economic integration, climate resilience, and Africa’s role in global governance.

The summit gains importance amid global geopolitical shifts, debt crises in several African nations, and Africa’s growing voice in multilateral forums.

Background and Evolution

The African Union (AU) is a continental body comprising all 55 countries of Africa.

• It was officially launched in 2002.
• It replaced the Organization of African Unity, which was founded in 1963.

While the OAU primarily focused on decolonisation and ending apartheid, the AU expanded its mandate to include economic integration, peace and security, democratic governance, and sustainable development.

Primary Objectives of the African Union

• Promote unity and solidarity among African states
• Accelerate political and socio-economic integration
• Defend sovereignty and territorial integrity of member states
• Promote peace, security, and stability
• Advance Africa’s collective interests globally

Headquarters: Addis Ababa, Ethiopia

Governance Structure of the African Union

1. Assembly

• Highest decision-making body
• Composed of Heads of State and Government
• Determines overall policy direction

2. Executive Council

• Comprises Foreign Affairs Ministers
• Prepares agenda and recommendations for the Assembly
• Coordinates sectoral policies

3. AU Commission

• Administrative and executive arm
• Implements decisions of the Assembly and Executive Council
• Headquartered in Addis Ababa

4. Peace and Security Council (PSC)

• Responsible for conflict prevention, management, and resolution
• Oversees peacekeeping missions and crisis response
• Plays a key role in addressing civil wars, coups, and terrorism

5. Participatory Bodies

The AU encourages citizen participation through:

• Pan-African Parliament
• Economic, Social and Cultural Council (ECOSOCC)

These bodies aim to strengthen democratic governance and civil society engagement.

Contemporary Significance of the AU Summit

1. Peace and Security Challenges

Africa continues to face:

• Military coups in the Sahel region
• Terrorism and insurgency
• Civil conflicts and humanitarian crises

The AU’s Peace and Security Council is central to stabilisation efforts.

2. Economic Integration and AFCFTA

The AU is driving the implementation of the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA), aimed at creating the world’s largest free trade area by number of countries.

Economic integration is viewed as essential for:

• Reducing intra-African trade barriers
• Strengthening regional supply chains
• Enhancing bargaining power globally

3. Africa’s Global Voice

• Africa’s growing demographic and economic importance has strengthened its claim for greater representation in global institutions.
• The AU’s inclusion as a permanent member of the G20 in 2023 marked a milestone in global governance reforms.

4. Climate and Development Agenda

African countries are among the most vulnerable to climate change despite contributing minimally to global emissions.

The AU advocates:

• Climate finance
• Debt restructuring
• Just energy transition

Significance for India

India maintains strong diplomatic and developmental ties with Africa through:

• Capacity-building initiatives
• Lines of credit
• South-South cooperation

Engagement with the AU enhances:

• India’s strategic presence in the Global South
• Cooperation in multilateral forums
• Trade and energy partnerships

Challenges Facing the African Union

• Limited financial autonomy (heavy dependence on external funding)
• Political instability and unconstitutional changes of government
• Implementation gaps between policy and ground realities
• Coordination challenges among diverse member states

Way Forward

• Strengthening institutional capacity
• Enhancing financial self-reliance
• Deepening continental economic integration
• Reforming global institutions to reflect Africa’s demographic and geopolitical weight