By Ephraim Agbo
The 2025 African Union (AU) Summit in Addis Ababa was another grand gathering of Africa’s political elite—full of speeches, handshakes, and lofty declarations. But let’s be real: Africa’s biggest challenges—conflict, economic instability, and global irrelevance—are still being recycled in the AU’s endless cycle of meetings.
LEADERSHIP TRANSITION: MORE OF THE SAME?
The big news was the election of Mahamoud Ali Youssouf from Djibouti as the new AU Commission Chairperson, replacing Chad’s Moussa Faki Mahamat. His main competitor, Kenya’s Raila Odinga, was seen as a reformist, but in the end, Francophone power blocs secured Youssouf’s victory.
Will he change anything? That’s the million-dollar question. AU leaders always promise institutional reforms, but the organization remains bogged down by bureaucracy, inefficiency, and external dependency. If history is any indicator, this leadership shift is unlikely to disrupt the status quo.
SECURITY: AFRICA IS STILL A MESS
While AU leaders debated policy in air-conditioned halls, Africa’s security crises raged on.
- Eastern DRC is still a warzone, with M23 rebels and accusations of Rwandan interference fueling instability.
- Sudan’s civil war between SAF and RSF is dragging on, with no real progress toward peace.
- The Sahel is in chaos, with jihadists, military coups, and failed governments leaving millions vulnerable.
- Ethiopia remains fragile post-Tigray conflict, as ethnic tensions continue to simmer.
The AU’s security response? More discussions, more pledges, and the same old reliance on external funding for peacekeeping missions. At this point, calling the AU a “peace and security” organization is a stretch—it’s more of a reactionary observer.
ECONOMY: THE TALK OF DEVELOPMENT, BUT WHERE’S THE GROWTH?
The AU continues to sell Agenda 2063—Africa’s long-term vision for prosperity. But with struggling economies, massive debt burdens, and external financial dependence, how realistic is this dream?
The big announcement was the launch of the African Financial Stability Mechanism (AFSM)—a $20 billion initiative to help countries avoid debt crises. It sounds promising, but let’s be honest: Africa’s financial autonomy is a myth as long as global lenders like the IMF and China remain the continent’s lifelines.
AFRICA ON THE GLOBAL STAGE: STILL FIGHTING FOR A SEAT AT THE TABLE
A recurring theme at AU summits is the push for Africa to get permanent seats on the UN Security Council. It’s a justified demand, given Africa’s population and geopolitical significance. But global power players aren’t taking Africa seriously.
Yes, the AU secured G20 membership, but that alone won’t shift global dynamics unless Africa stops acting like a fragmented bloc with competing interests. Until then, expecting Western and Asian powers to hand Africa more influence is wishful thinking.
REFORMS: A PIPE DREAM?
The AU talked big about institutional reforms, promising:
- Financial independence (unlikely as long as donors fund over 80% of AU operations)
- Merit-based recruitment (let’s see if nepotism and political patronage disappear—spoiler: they won’t)
- Gender parity (good optics, but the deeper issue remains leadership competence, not just representation)
BOTTOM LINE: WILL ANYTHING CHANGE?
The 2025 AU Summit was yet another cycle of speeches, resolutions, and ambitious declarations. Meanwhile, Africa’s biggest problems—war, economic stagnation, and geopolitical irrelevance—remain unresolved.
For Africa to truly move forward, the AU needs more than just new leadership and strategic roadmaps. It needs bold action, real accountability, and a break from its dependency syndrome. Otherwise, next year’s summit will be another exercise in futility.
Africa deserves better. But whether its leaders will actually deliver is another story.
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