ADDIS ABABA – The African Union Commission (AUC) Chairperson, Moussa Faki Mahamat, issued a stark warning on Saturday during the 39th Ordinary Session of the AU Assembly of Heads of State and Government. Speaking at the AU headquarters in Ethiopia’s capital, he declared that Africa’s peace and security architecture hangs by a thread, with silencing the guns across the continent emerging as a monumental task.
The assembly, attended by leaders from 55 member states, unfolded amid escalating geopolitical tensions. ‘Our continent and the world are navigating turbulent times,’ Mahamat stated. ‘Particularly in Africa, the challenge of silencing the guns remains daunting.’ He attributed this persistent instability to deep-seated political and institutional frailties in African nations.
Mahamat highlighted the resurgence of open and covert conflicts turning chronic, alongside a disturbing return of non-constitutional changes reminiscent of post-independence turmoil. Pointing to crises in Sudan, eastern Democratic Republic of Congo, and Somalia, he emphasized, ‘Our people are paying a heavy price for this instability.’
The global order’s upheaval has profoundly impacted Africa, he noted, as unilateral policies and protectionism test multilateralism. ‘Africa must strengthen its union to withstand external shocks,’ Mahamat urged. As part of the Global South, Africa must assert its unique identity through accelerated political and economic integration.
He called for redoubling efforts in pan-African institutions to advance Agenda 2063, envisioning a strong, autonomous, and prosperous Africa. Ethiopian Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed echoed these sentiments, stressing the need to harness Africa’s demographic dividend for holistic development.
‘Many African economies are among the world’s fastest-growing, yet growth alone isn’t enough,’ Abiy remarked. ‘Our greatest asset is our people. By 2035, Africa will contribute more youth to the global workforce than the rest of the world combined. This demographic reality must be channeled purposefully toward prosperity.’
As leaders deliberate, the path forward demands unified resolve to transform challenges into opportunities for a stable, thriving continent.