The annual African Union (AU) summit, held in Ethiopia’s capital, Addis Ababa, has raised questions about its ability to contribute to stabilizing the continent. Despite peace and security being key topics at the gathering of African leaders, experts remain skeptical about the summit’s impact on resolving conflicts, instead pointing to international partnerships as crucial to de-escalation efforts.
The summit, which began at the AU headquarters, saw Angola take over the AU presidency from Mauritania for 2025. Over two days, leaders are set to elect key officials, including the AU Commission chairperson, deputy chairperson, and six commissioners. Discussions are also focused on pressing issues such as Sudan, Libya, the eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC), justice, food security, digital transformation, and economic integration.
The opening discussions were marked by developments in Gaza, with Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas, UN Secretary-General António Guterres, and AU Commission Chairperson Moussa Faki in attendance. Abbas warned that calls for the displacement of Palestinians from Gaza were meant to divert global attention from war crimes, settlement expansions, and attempts to annex the West Bank. He cautioned that such actions would perpetuate cycles of violence rather than foster peace.
Meanwhile, Guterres urged a de-escalation of tensions in eastern DRC, warning that ongoing conflicts threatened the country’s overall stability. According to UN reports, the alliance between Rwanda and the M23 rebel movement has led to violent clashes in cities such as Goma and Bukavu, resulting in dozens of deaths and thousands of displaced civilians.
The situation in eastern DRC is just one of several conflicts on the AU’s agenda, alongside Sudan, the Horn of Africa, and Libya. However, Sudanese journalist Abdulmunim Abu Idris argues that the AU lacks the financial resources and diplomatic leverage needed to influence warring factions effectively. He noted that the AU consistently relies on international partners to address conflicts in Sudan, eastern DRC, and the Sahel.
The summit is also drawing attention to Sudan’s suspended AU membership, which was revoked following the 2021 military coup. Sudan’s Foreign Ministry recently sent a letter to AU Peace and Security Council member states requesting reinstatement, citing the military’s expanding territorial control. Some countries, including Egypt and Algeria, have supported Sudan’s return, though the issue is not a priority for all African delegations.
The AU suspended Sudan’s membership in October 2021 and later extended similar measures to Burkina Faso, Mali, Guinea, Niger, and Gabon due to military takeovers. Some African nations are now calling for a review of AU suspension mechanisms, given the increasing number of member states affected.
Mekki El-Maghribi, director of international relations at the Sudan Center for Thought and Strategic Studies, believes AU interventions have had little impact on Sudan’s war and tensions in the Horn of Africa, emphasizing that international actors have played a more decisive role.
Egyptian Africa expert Rami Zouhdi echoed these concerns, arguing that the AU lacks the tools to effectively resolve conflicts, as demonstrated by its limited role in Libya and the Sahel. He suggested that while African nations are best positioned to address their crises, some governments lack the political will to do so.
Zouhdi also pointed to the complexities of Africa’s conflicts, making them difficult for any regional or international body to resolve. He highlighted global polarization over the Middle East and the Palestinian issue as further obstacles to a decisive African role in continental conflicts. However, he noted that some African initiatives—such as South Africa’s legal case against Israel at the International Court of Justice over alleged genocide in Gaza—have drawn significant international attention.
The ongoing AU summit underscores both the organization’s ambitions and its limitations in addressing Africa’s persistent security challenges.