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Spotlight | 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. [...]

Published on 19/07/2021 at 05:00 GMT Reading time 3 minutes

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Diplomacy

Read this article in our running story

“African Union: the battle of the giants”

Africa

African Union: the battle of the giants

Set up keyword notifications

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

Africa
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.

Subscribers only Diplomacy 07.02.2022

Ethiopia
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.

Subscribers only Politics 23.11.2021

Former Ethiopian Foreign Minister Berhane Gebre-Christos.

Ethiopia
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.

Subscribers only Diplomacy 19.11.2021

Horn of Africa
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.

Subscribers only Diplomacy 13.10.2021

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
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).

Subscribers only Diplomacy 27.08.2021

Djibouti
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.

Subscribers only Politics 26.07.2021

Ethiopia
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.

Subscribers only Diplomacy 13.07.2021

Spotlight | Ethiopia
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.

Subscribers only Politics 06.07.2021

Algeria, Sahel
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.

Subscribers only Defence, Diplomacy 01.07.2021

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

Spotlight | Djibouti, Egypt, Ethiopia
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.

Subscribers only Diplomacy 17.06.2021

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

Spotlight | Africa
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.

Subscribers only Diplomacy 24.05.2021

Russian President Vladimir Putin at the 2019 Russia-Africa summit in Sochi.

Africa
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.

Subscribers only Diplomacy 15.02.2021

Ethiopia
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.

Subscribers only Diplomacy 22.01.2021

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

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

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Spotlight | Africa
Abiy muzzles any AU discussion of Tigray

African Union: the battle of the giants

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African Union: the battle of the giants

Set up keyword notifications

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

Ethiopia
Berhane Gebre-Christos, Tigray rebels' top diplomat

Ethiopia
AU Peace and Security Council finally grapples with Tigray crisis

Horn of Africa
After Paris and Brussels, Obasanjo heads to New York

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

Djibouti
IOG fears Tigray war domino effect in Afar regions

Ethiopia
Ethiopian cold shoulder for EU envoy

Spotlight | Ethiopia
Tigray conflict puts Abiy's back against the wall

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

Spotlight | Djibouti, Egypt, Ethiopia
Sisi tries containment tactics against Abiy's Renaissance dam

Spotlight | Africa
Putin diligently prepares Russia-Africa summit

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

Ethiopia
Abiy lobbies hard to secure AU education portfolio for his protégée

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Africa Intelligence on social media

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About Africa Intelligence

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Indigo Publications' websites

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Spotlight | Africa Abiy muzzles any AU discussion of Tigray

African Union: the battle of the giants

This article may be accessed by subscribers

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African Union: the battle of the giants

Set up keyword notifications

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

Ethiopia Berhane Gebre-Christos, Tigray rebels' top diplomat

Ethiopia AU Peace and Security Council finally grapples with Tigray crisis

Horn of Africa After Paris and Brussels, Obasanjo heads to New York

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

Djibouti IOG fears Tigray war domino effect in Afar regions

Ethiopia Ethiopian cold shoulder for EU envoy

Spotlight | Ethiopia Tigray conflict puts Abiy's back against the wall

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

Spotlight | Djibouti, Egypt, Ethiopia Sisi tries containment tactics against Abiy's Renaissance dam

Spotlight | Africa Putin diligently prepares Russia-Africa summit

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

Ethiopia Abiy lobbies hard to secure AU education portfolio for his protégée

Set up keyword notifications

About Africa Intelligence

Subscription

Africa Intelligence on social media

Indigo Publications' websites

DRC
Washington deal: intricacies behind Tshisekedi's poker move

Namibia
Namibia oil utopia hangs on TotalEnergies' final investment decision

Spotlight | Africa
Abiy muzzles any AU discussion of Tigray

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

Ethiopia
Berhane Gebre-Christos, Tigray rebels' top diplomat

Ethiopia
AU Peace and Security Council finally grapples with Tigray crisis

Horn of Africa
After Paris and Brussels, Obasanjo heads to New York

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

Djibouti
IOG fears Tigray war domino effect in Afar regions

Ethiopia
Ethiopian cold shoulder for EU envoy

Spotlight | Ethiopia
Tigray conflict puts Abiy's back against the wall

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

Spotlight | Djibouti, Egypt, Ethiopia
Sisi tries containment tactics against Abiy's Renaissance dam

Spotlight | Africa
Putin diligently prepares Russia-Africa summit

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

Ethiopia
Abiy lobbies hard to secure AU education portfolio for his protégée