The Brief, No 16
02 Feb 2022
The Africa Union (AU) will host the 35th ordinary Session of the AU Assembly (Heads of State and Government Session) in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia on 5-6 February 2022.
This year's meeting will have a jam packed agenda:
1. AU turns 20 years this year. It was launched in Durban, South Africa in 2002. The organisation will be dedicating this year to celebrate this milestone.
2. 2021/2022 has had a number of coups particularly in West Africa. Moreover, political instability remains in most countries in the continent, particularly in the Sahel.
3. The presidency of the AU will also be rotating once again this year. The President of Senegal, Mack Sall ,will assume the presidency after a disastrous tenure of President Felix Tshekedi of the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC).
4. However the elephant in the room will be undoubtedly the observer status that was "granted to Israel without consultation". South Africa and Algeria have been most outspoken against that decision. This matter is likely likely to dominate the meeting. It is also likely to polarise the AU.
5. The Chairperson of the AU Commission (AUC) Mousa Faki Mohamet is likely to get a flak from opposing member states for the decision.
Africa Asia Dialogies (Afrasid) will be monitoring the meeting closely and will be available for commentary and analysis.