African Union: the battle of the giants
An African Union summit of heads of state and government in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia. © Li Yan/Xinhua News Agency/Newscom/MaxPPP

Running story
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.

African Union: the battle of the giants
An African Union summit of heads of state and government in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia. © Li Yan/Xinhua News Agency/Newscom/MaxPPP

Africa
Panel for shortlisting future AU commissioners still one short

One of the five regions is still not represented on the panel, which will have the tough task of shortlisting candidates for the post of African Union commissioner. African leaders will vote on the final choice in February 2025.

LogoSubscribers only Diplomacy 18.03.2024

Madagascar
Hery Rajaonarimampianina sees himself as next AU Commission chairperson

The former head of state has been positioning himself for some months to succeed Chad's Moussa Faki Mahamat. He will, however, need the backing of President Andry Rajoelina, which he is by no means sure to get.

Hery Rajaonarimampianina during a meeting of opposition candidates in Antananarivo, October 21, 2023.
LogoSubscribers only Politics, Diplomacy 13.03.2024
Hery Rajaonarimampianina during a meeting of opposition candidates in Antananarivo, October 21, 2023.

Inner circles | Africa
Ghazouani marshals his AU presidency team

To make his mark at the head of the African Union, the Mauritanian president can count on a host of officials who know the organisation well. Some will stay in Nouakchott, while others are already based at its Addis Ababa headquarters.

President of Mauritania Mohamed Ould Ghazouani in the African Union headquarters in Addis Ababa on 17 February 2024.
LogoSubscribers only Diplomacy 08.03.2024
President of Mauritania Mohamed Ould Ghazouani in the African Union headquarters in Addis Ababa on 17 February 2024.

Congo
Sassou-Nguesso aims for AU presidency in 2026

Congolese President Denis Sassou-Nguesso used an African Union summit last month to take over the second vice-presidency of the bureau, and thus sought to put himself in pole position to take the helm of the pan-African institution in 2026.

LogoSubscribers only Politics 06.03.2024

Spotlight | Africa
Nairobi bets on AU reform to place Odinga as commission head

The pan-African organisation wants to introduce a new system for allocating its top jobs. Some states, such as Kenya, are very much in favour of this, but others, like Nigeria, are likely to oppose it to protect their own interests.

Kenya's former prime minister Raila Odinga.
LogoSubscribers only Diplomacy 04.03.2024
Kenya's former prime minister Raila Odinga.

Kenya
Potential Odinga bid to chair AU Commission divides allies and foes

The Kenyan opposition leader has expressed an interest in the government's proposal that he run for the presidency of the African Union's executive arm. But his allies smell a trap, while some in power don't like the idea of him regaining his international standing.

Kenyan opposition leader Raila Odinga on 2 May 2023.
LogoSubscribers only Politics, Diplomacy 15.02.2024
Kenyan opposition leader Raila Odinga on 2 May 2023.

Spotlight | Africa
Panel tasked with shortlisting future AU commissioners struggles to take shape

Three regions have already chosen their representatives, but two have yet to decide. Heads of state will have to validate the final panel list at the African Union summit on 17 and 18 February.

President of the African Development Bank, president of Zambia, prime minister of Ethiopia, president of Kenya and chairman of the African Union Commission, on 20 November 2023 in Berlin, Germany.
LogoSubscribers only Diplomacy 13.02.2024
President of the African Development Bank, president of Zambia, prime minister of Ethiopia, president of Kenya and chairman of the African Union Commission, on 20 November 2023 in Berlin, Germany.

Spotlight | Africa
Probe accuses African Union head Faki of flouting recruitment rules

Africa Intelligence has obtained a copy of an audit that strongly criticises the recruitment practices of AU Commission chair Moussa Faki and his deputy Monique Nsanzabaganwa.

The Chairperson of the African Union Commission, Moussa Faki.
LogoSubscribers only Diplomacy 25.01.2024
The Chairperson of the African Union Commission, Moussa Faki.

Mauritania
Ghazouani approached over African Union chairmanship

No consensus has yet been reached regarding the 2024 presidency of the African Union. The Mauritanian leader is now apparently willing to take on the role.

LogoSubscribers only Diplomacy 11.01.2024

Africa
More twists and turns in AU top lawyer saga

The sacking in September of the African Union's legal counsel, Guy-Fleury Ntwari, triggered a fresh recruitment process. But the much-coveted job is again the subject of an appeal to the organisation's administrative court, this time by interim incumbent Mohamed Khalil.

The Vice Chairperson of the African Union Commission, Monique Nsanzabaganwa.
LogoSubscribers only Politics 11.01.2024
The Vice Chairperson of the African Union Commission, Monique Nsanzabaganwa.

Angola, Botswana
Luanda seeks to outmanoeuvre Botswana in race for 2025 AU presidency

President João Lourenço is nurturing hopes of beating Botswana to the African Union presidency in 2025 and is already lobbying behind the scenes.

LogoSubscribers only Diplomacy 20.10.2023

African Union
AU court slams commission's hiring process

In an exceptionally harshly worded ruling, the African Union Administrative Tribunal has found the Commission guilty of corruption, obstruction of justice and has annulled the appointment of its legal adviser. Yet there is a hint of score settling in the decision.

The Chairperson of the African Union Commission, Moussa Faki, in Addis Ababa, on 18 February 2023.
LogoSubscribers only The Continent, Politics, Diplomacy 08.09.2023
The Chairperson of the African Union Commission, Moussa Faki, in Addis Ababa, on 18 February 2023.

Africa, African Union
Jostle for influence over 2025 AU Commission kicks off

The first stages of the process to select the Pan-African organisation's future executive will soon be underway. The current balance of power between the bloc's various regions may play out once more.

A delegate arrives at the African Union Commission (AUC) headquarters during the 35th ordinary session of the Assembly of the African Union in Addis Ababa, on 6 February 2022.
LogoSubscribers only Diplomacy 28.08.2023
A delegate arrives at the African Union Commission (AUC) headquarters during the 35th ordinary session of the Assembly of the African Union in Addis Ababa, on 6 February 2022.

North Africa
North Africa demands better representation at African Union

The 42nd Ordinary Session of the African Union's Executive Council opened on 15 February with behind-the-scenes negotiations on the distribution of Peace and Security Council seats.

LogoSubscribers only Diplomacy 17.02.2023

Africa, Comoros islands
Allies eye opportunity as Assoumani takes African Union helm

Comoros President Azali Assoumani, who is about to take the helm of the pan-African institution, risks coming under pressure from states that have traditionally been a friend to his archipelago nation. Rwanda, Morocco, DR Congo and France will all be jockeying for advantage from his chairmanship of the African Union.

Comorian president Azali Assoumani.
LogoSubscribers only Diplomacy 13.02.2023
Comorian president Azali Assoumani.

Egypt
Cairo throws hat into ring to chair African Union in 2024

For several weeks the North Africa region has been unable to choose between Morocco and Algeria for the first vice presidency of the African Union. Cairo has now thrown its hat into the ring in the hope of resolving the impasse.

LogoSubscribers only Diplomacy 10.02.2023

Spotlight | African Union, Algeria, Morocco
Algiers and Rabat battle for 2024 African Union presidency

A few weeks before the pan-African organisation's next conference, which marks the start of the Comoros presidency, rivalry is intensifying between the two north African heavyweights vying for the AU presidency in 2024.

Algeria's president Abdelmadjid Tebboune (left) and King Mohammed VI of Morocco
LogoSubscribers only Diplomacy 19.01.2023
Algeria's president Abdelmadjid Tebboune (left) and King Mohammed VI of Morocco

Africa
Wiliam Ruto and Azali Assoumani play cat and mouse over AU 2023 chairmanship

The presidents of Kenya and the Comoros both want to propel their country to the head of the African Union for 2023, but they have been avoiding each other and their advisors have not been able to reach any agreement.

LogoSubscribers only Politics, Diplomacy 05.12.2022

Spotlight | Africa
Comorian president steps up campaign for AU chair

In his quest to take over the helm of the pan-African body, Azali Assoumani has deployed his envoys on a charm offensive aimed at winning over his peers. Meanwhile, Kenya's William Ruto has yet to get his own campaign off the ground.

Le président des Comores, Azali Assoumani.
LogoSubscribers only Diplomacy 07.10.2022
Le président des Comores, Azali Assoumani.

Africa
Ructions over appointment of new AU legal counsel

With Guy-Fleury Ntwari tipped to be the bloc's next legal counsel, the also-rans' backers have made their ire known to the head of the AU Commission.

Free access Politics 29.09.2022

Stay updated on this topic

An African Union summit of heads of state and government in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia.

Running story
African Union: the battle of the giants


Sign up for real-time alerts and be notified of new editions!  

Once registered, you will be notified by a short message on your computer or mobile phone as soon as a new edition of our publication or an alert is published. Stay informed anytime, anywhere!