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AFRICA

Abiy muzzles any AU discussion of Tigray

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“African Union: the battle of the giants”

AFRICA

African Union: the battle of the giants

The pan-African intergovernmental organisation headquartered in Addis Ababa has increasingly become a political arena where the continent's heavyweights South Africa, Algeria, Egypt, Morocco and Nigeria jostle for power. In order to impose their views and place representatives in key positions in the African Union and other international organisations, these nations compete for influence and build coalitions. On the sidelines of these strategic manoeuvres, a few smaller countries such as Rwanda are carving out a niche for themselves.

Ethiopian Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed at the 33rd African Union summit in Addis Ababa in February 2020. © STR/EPA/Newscom/MaxPPP

Ethiopia has carefully orchestrated pressure within the African Union so that the organisation never gets involved in its host country's affairs. [...] (722 words)

Issue dated 19/07/2021 Reading time 3 minutes

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Diplomacy

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Abiy Ahmed Ali
African Union
Bankole Adeoye
Gebreegziabher Mebratu Melese
Hailemariam Desalegn
Idriss Déby
Mahamat Idriss Deby
Meles Zenawi
Moussa Faki Mahamat
Neema Chusi
Organisation of African Unity
Tesfaye Yilma Sabo
Tigray Defense Forces
Tigray People's Liberation Front

Behind the scenes at the election for the African Union's powerful Peace and Security Council

While some countries were assured of winning a seat on the African Union Peace and Security Council, there were several surprises in the run-up to the vote and the election itself on 3 February.

ETHIOPIA Politics 23/11/2021

Berhane Gebre-Christos, Tigray rebels' top diplomat

Ethiopia's former ambassador to the US and the EU orchestrated the early November creation of an enlarged rebel coalition. Based in Washington, Berhane has the support of international networks forged over his 45-year career.

Former Ethiopian Foreign Minister Berhane Gebre-Christos.

ETHIOPIA Diplomacy 19/11/2021

AU Peace and Security Council finally grapples with Tigray crisis

The war between the Ethiopian central government and the Tigray People's Liberation Front has been a banned topic within the African Union, but upon the insistence of Egypt, Ethiopia's enemy, the topic has finally been addressed.

HORN OF AFRICA Diplomacy 13/10/2021

After Paris and Brussels, Obasanjo heads to New York

The African Union High Representative for the Horn of Africa is coordinating with his Western partners on the strategy to be adopted to encourage the parties to the Ethiopian conflict to negotiate.

Olusegun Obasanjo, African Union (AU) special envoy to the Horn of Africa, was received on October 7, 2021 by French President Emmanuel Macron (right).

DRC ETHIOPIA Diplomacy 27/08/2021

Abiy sends watchdog to monitor DRC's chairmanship of the African Union

The new Ethiopian ambassador to DRC Woinshet Tadesse is well acquainted with the workings of the pan-African institution, having previously served as Addis' permanent representative to the African Union (AU).

DJIBOUTI Politics 26/07/2021

IOG fears Tigray war domino effect in Afar regions

With the war in Tigray starting to spill over into the Afar region, interethnic tensions have been resurfacing either side of the border between Ethiopia and Djibouti amid a struggle for control of the Addis-Djibouti corridor.

ETHIOPIA Diplomacy 13/07/2021

Ethiopian cold shoulder for EU envoy

Tension is rising between Brussels and Addis Ababa. In the midst of intense dialogue, notably on the issue of the war in Tigray, the EU's new special envoy for the Horn of Africa, Annette Weber, is still waiting to meet with the Ethiopian autoritites.

Ethiopian Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed Ali © Terje Bendiksby/EPA/Newscom/MaxPPP

Spotlight

ETHIOPIA Politics 06/07/2021

Tigray conflict puts Abiy's back against the wall

The government has announced a unilateral ceasefire in Tigray, which has been in the grip of a civil war since last November. The prime minister has half-heartedly acknowledged the debacle suffered by the Ethiopian army in the region.

ALGERIA SAHEL Defence Diplomacy 01/07/2021

Army chief Chengriha turns to the Sahel after mammoth Russian shopping trip

Chief of staff Said Chengriha has travelled to Moscow to clinch an astronomical arms deal, worth up to $7bn. In discussions with the Russian defence minister, he also outlined a possible Algerian intervention in the Sahel, starting with Mali.

Algerian Chief of Staff Said Chengriha and Russian Defense Minister Sergey Shoygu.

Egyptian President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi was received on 27 May 2021 in Djibouti by his counterpart Ismail Omar Guelleh. © Ismaïl Omar Guelleh/Facebook

Spotlight

DJIBOUTI EGYPT ETHIOPIA Diplomacy 17/06/2021

Sisi tries containment tactics against Abiy's Renaissance dam

In his race to stop Ethiopia from filling its huge Renaissance dam, the Egyptian president is rallying the Nile Basin countries to his cause one by one.

Spotlight

AFRICA Diplomacy 24/05/2021

Putin diligently prepares Russia-Africa summit

Moscow is working hard to ensure that the second Russian-African summit, scheduled for 2022, is a success. Picking the country to host it, organising a committee of experts, and deciding who should sit at the round tables are all being meticulously planned.

AFRICA Diplomacy 15/02/2021

Too many caretakers: AU's new peace and security commissioner finds department in disarray

The African Union's Peace and Security Department is the bit of the bloc most coveted by the continent's major powers. But as Nigeria's newly installed commissioner, Bankole Adeoye, is finding out, it suffers from a surfeit of interim bosses.

ETHIOPIA Diplomacy 22/01/2021

Abiy lobbies hard to secure AU education portfolio for his protégée

With the virtual summit of African Union heads of state scheduled for 6 and 7 February, the Ethiopian prime minister is working hard to bag a commissioner post for one of his loyal allies.

Hirut Woldemariam, Ethiopian candidate for the post of African Union Commissioner for Education, supported by Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed Ali.

Set up email notifications for these topics

Abiy Ahmed Ali
African Union
Bankole Adeoye
Gebreegziabher Mebratu Melese
Hailemariam Desalegn
Idriss Déby
Mahamat Idriss Deby
Meles Zenawi
Moussa Faki Mahamat
Neema Chusi
Organisation of African Unity
Tesfaye Yilma Sabo
Tigray Defense Forces
Tigray People's Liberation Front

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Algerian secret services in survival mode in North Mali

As fight against M23 continues, Kigali and Kinshasa wage war of intelligence

Abiy muzzles any AU discussion of Tigray

African Union: the battle of the giants

This article may be accessed by subscribers and e-wallet holders (USD 19.50)

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Set up email notifications for these topics

Behind the scenes at the election for the African Union's powerful Peace and Security Council

Berhane Gebre-Christos, Tigray rebels' top diplomat

AU Peace and Security Council finally grapples with Tigray crisis

After Paris and Brussels, Obasanjo heads to New York

Abiy sends watchdog to monitor DRC's chairmanship of the African Union

IOG fears Tigray war domino effect in Afar regions

Ethiopian cold shoulder for EU envoy

Tigray conflict puts Abiy's back against the wall

Army chief Chengriha turns to the Sahel after mammoth Russian shopping trip

Sisi tries containment tactics against Abiy's Renaissance dam

Putin diligently prepares Russia-Africa summit

Too many caretakers: AU's new peace and security commissioner finds department in disarray

Abiy lobbies hard to secure AU education portfolio for his protégée

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Abiy muzzles any AU discussion of Tigray

African Union: the battle of the giants

This article may be accessed by subscribers and e-wallet holders (USD 19.50)

2 options offered to continue reading

Create your free account

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Set up email notifications for these topics

Behind the scenes at the election for the African Union's powerful Peace and Security Council

Berhane Gebre-Christos, Tigray rebels' top diplomat

AU Peace and Security Council finally grapples with Tigray crisis

After Paris and Brussels, Obasanjo heads to New York

Abiy sends watchdog to monitor DRC's chairmanship of the African Union

IOG fears Tigray war domino effect in Afar regions

Ethiopian cold shoulder for EU envoy

Tigray conflict puts Abiy's back against the wall

Army chief Chengriha turns to the Sahel after mammoth Russian shopping trip

Sisi tries containment tactics against Abiy's Renaissance dam

Putin diligently prepares Russia-Africa summit

Too many caretakers: AU's new peace and security commissioner finds department in disarray

Abiy lobbies hard to secure AU education portfolio for his protégée

Set up email notifications for these topics

First visit

Contacts

Tools

Follow us

A website produced by

Indigo Publications also publishes: