At the conclusion of the 39th African Union (AU) Summit in Addis Ababa, AU Chairperson Evariste Ndayishimiye and Commission Chairperson Mahmoud Ali Youssouf unveiled a reinforced continental strategy to stabilize the Eastern Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) and the volatile Sahel region.
The leaders emphasized a shift toward “African-led mediation,” aiming to ensure that the continent takes the primary role in resolving its own security challenges rather than relying solely on external interventions.
In the Democratic Republic of Congo, the AU is navigating a two-fold crisis involving diplomatic tensions between the DRC and Rwanda, alongside the persistent threat of local armed groups. President Ndayishimiye noted that while the ceasefire agreement reached in Washington provides a binding framework, a deep climate of mistrust remains. To move forward, the AU is calling for concrete implementation mechanisms, including the disengagement of forces, the withdrawal of all foreign troops, and the urgent launch of disarmament, demobilization, and reintegration (DDR) programs for combatants. Complementing these efforts is a high-level mediation team led by Togolese President Faure Gnassingbe, supported by distinguished facilitators such as Olusegun Obasanjo and Sahle-Work Zewde.
The security situation in the Central Sahel—specifically Mali, Burkina Faso, and Niger—was described as an increasingly complex challenge characterized by cross-border terrorism. President Ndayishimiye, acting as the AU Special Envoy for the Sahel, urged regional solidarity against a “common enemy,” explicitly ruling out negotiations with terrorist organizations. While the AU remains firm in its opposition to unconstitutional changes of government, the leadership acknowledged the need for a pragmatic dialogue with transitional authorities to facilitate a return to constitutional order.
Looking ahead, the AU is reviewing the potential reintegration of Sahelian countries and has announced an initiative involving 18 nations to create a unified security platform. This platform is designed to coordinate responses against the proliferation of traffickers, secessionist movements, and terrorist groups in the coming months. By mobilizing a secretariat in Addis Ababa and leveraging the influence of former heads of state, the African Union intends to transform international agreements—such as the Doha Declaration—into tangible stability for the continent’s most affected populations.
AC/Sf/fss/abj/APA