African Union Addresses Conflicts and Elects New Leadership at 38th Summit

The 38th annual African Union summit is currently underway in Addis Ababa. The organization faces criticism regarding its effectiveness in addressing ongoing conflicts across the continent. Moussa Faki Mahamat, the Chairperson of the African Union Commission, is concluding his second and final term. In a speech before the African Union's Executive Council, he highlighted the organization's achievements, including advancements in healthcare through Africa CDC, modernization of education with a focus on innovation and artificial intelligence, operationalization of the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA), consolidation of African positions on climate, and progress in infrastructure and energy sectors. Despite these advancements, significant challenges remain, particularly concerning violent conflicts in regions such as Sudan and the eastern Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC). The summit is expected to address these conflicts, potentially overshadowing the official theme of "Justice for Africans and people of African descent through reparations." Three candidates are vying to succeed Moussa Faki Mahamat: Raila Odinga of Kenya, Richard Randriamandrato of Madagascar, and Mahamoud Ali Youssouf of Djibouti. Angola's President João Lourenço is set to assume the rotating AU chairmanship. Congolese President Félix Tshisekedi, speaking at the Munich Security Conference, accused the Congolese opposition of destabilizing the country by aligning with Rwanda. He specifically implicated his predecessor, Joseph Kabila, as the "real instigator" behind the opposition's actions. Tshisekedi also condemned Rwanda's "expansionist ambitions" and called for international action. The European Parliament has urged the EU to suspend its mining agreement with Kigali and halt financial support for the Rwandan army. German Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock stated that there is "no military solution in eastern DRC" and pointed to the summit of Southern and Eastern African leaders in Dar es Salaam as a path forward. Tshisekedi is not expected to attend the AU summit. Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi's recent visit to France culminated in Marseille, presented by President Emmanuel Macron as a European entry point for trade via the India-Middle East-Europe Economic Corridor (IMEC). Unveiled at the 2023 G20 summit, the IMEC aims to enhance trade between India and Europe through a network of rail and sea routes via Israel, the UAE, and Saudi Arabia. Macron described the IMEC as a "fabulous catalyst" for projects and investments. While Saudi Arabia has pledged significant investment, experts note challenges including funding, infrastructure development, and regional instability. Modi then traveled to the United States, where Donald Trump indicated that the U.S. would increase defense sales to India by “billions.”