African Union Faces Calls for Urgent Reforms Amid Rising Conflicts
A new report has called for urgent reforms within the African Union (AU) to tackle rising conflicts across the continent. Titled African Politics, African Peace, the study was jointly released by the AU and the World Peace Foundation (WPF). It highlights a worrying trend: despite past progress, violence is again spreading due to political instability, extremism, and disputes between states.
The report marks the most detailed review of the AU's peace efforts to date. Researchers analysed case studies and consulted experts to assess the organisation's strengths and weaknesses. Their findings stress the need to revive the AU's original goals—collective security and democratic governance—amid growing instability.
Conflicts in Africa have surged in recent years. Causes include contested leadership changes, cross-border tensions, and militant groups. The continent currently hosts over 75% of all UN peacekeepers, underscoring its fragile security landscape. Key recommendations include reinforcing the AU's core peacekeeping tools and better coordinating with regional bodies. The report also proposes new frameworks for shared security challenges, such as those in the Mediterranean and Red Sea regions. However, it notes that recent progress in these areas remains limited, with only broad references to dialogue initiatives in East and West Africa. Former leaders have voiced concerns over the AU's struggles. South African President Theo Mbeki and Algerian diplomat Lakhdar Brahimi described the current state of affairs as 'a sad fact'. Both urged a return to the union's founding vision, established in 2000, when it first helped reduce armed conflicts on the continent.
The report sets out a clear path for the AU to regain its footing. Strengthening peace missions, improving regional partnerships, and addressing emerging threats are central to its proposals. Without action, the document warns, Africa's security challenges will likely worsen in the years ahead.
