African Union
The African Union is a continental organisation comprising 55 member states that aims to promote unity, peace, security and socioeconomic development across Africa. Established in 2002 in Durban, South Africa, the AU succeeded the Organisation of African Unity, which had been founded in 1963 to advance decolonisation and solidarity among newly independent African states. The AU's headquarters are located in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, and its principal decision-making body is the Assembly of the African Union, composed of heads of state and government who meet at least once a year. The organisation's mandate encompasses conflict prevention and resolution, promotion of democratic governance and human rights, economic integration and the coordination of development policies across the continent. Key organs include the Pan-African Parliament, the African Court of Justice and Human Rights, the Peace and Security Council and the African Union Commission, which serves as the secretariat. The AU has deployed peacekeeping missions in conflict zones, mediated political crises and championed initiatives such as the African Continental Free Trade Area and AU Agenda 2063, a fifty-year development blueprint. Funding comes from member-state contributions, though the organisation has historically faced challenges with arrears and reliance on external donors. The AU plays a central role in representing African interests in global forums and fostering regional integration through partnerships with regional economic communities such as the Southern African Development Community. Its vision is of an integrated, prosperous and peaceful Africa driven by its own citizens.
African Union Updates
US gives UN more time to end support for Somalia peacekeepers
By: Reuters 18th September 2026 The United States has agreed to give the UN another year to wind down its support for African peacekeepers in Somalia, a document showed - a move... →
Cybercrime across borders: Navigating Africa’s fragmented legislative landscape – Part 1
18th September 2026 By the time you reach the end of this sentence, a cyberattack will have been launched somewhere on the African continent. That is not an... →
Credible elections are no longer possible in South Sudan – what next?
By: ISS, Institute for Security Studies 16th September 2026 Attention should shift to preserving the peace deal that underpins the current government and is key to averting large-scale violence. South... →
African Union peacekeeping is growing as UN missions decline: research finds a mixed record of success
15th September 2026 When violent conflict erupts in Africa, attention often turns to the United Nations, major powers, or external donors. Yet over the past two... →
Chad’s anti-corruption institutions buckle under political pressure
By: ISS, Institute for Security Studies 14th September 2026 An aborted oil sector audit exposes the gulf between Chad’s commitments and its willingness to investigate powerful interests. On 12 August, Chad’s... →
What the BRICS Summit Will Test About South Africa’s Influence
By: South African Institute of International Affairs 11th September 2026 Ahead of the 18th BRICS Summit, Gustavo de Carvalho shares five insights into how South Africa builds diplomatic influence and the limits of... →
Will monitoring of eastern DRC’s ‘ceasefire’ improve compliance?
By: ISS, Institute for Security Studies 10th September 2026 The first deployment of the monitoring mechanism is positive, but current conflict conditions should temper expectations. The first mission to... →
Can Africa take ownership of the AU-US infrastructure deal?
By: ISS, Institute for Security Studies 8th September 2026 Early momentum is real, but AU member states, private capital and wary US investors have yet to be brought on board. Since the African Union... →
Africa gets only 23% of the climate finance it needs – and pays too much for it
7th September 2026 African countries have committed themselves to cutting greenhouse gas emissions and protecting their people from the worsening effects of climate... →
Europe’s heatwave warning for Africa: fast-track a climate leapfrog
By: ISS, Institute for Security Studies 7th September 2026 A looming super El Niño makes Africa’s leap from fossil fuels to a renewables-dominated energy mix urgent. The heatwave that swept Europe this... →
