Events in Guinea-Bissau and Madagascar set the tone for the start of the African Union’s (AU) 48th Executive Council meeting in Addis Ababa Ethiopia, held ahead of the summit of heads of state and government.
Opening the session, AU Commission Chairperson Mahamoud Ali Youssouf cautioned that the continent is experiencing a worrying slide in political stability and security. He observed that efforts to resolve conflicts and curb unconstitutional changes of government are advancing slowly, despite years of commitments by member states.
The political situations in Guinea-Bissau and Madagascar were highlighted as reminders of the ongoing governance challenges confronting parts of the continent and the strain placed on regional peace and security frameworks.
Angolan academic and political analyst Faustino Henrique said the discussion at the Executive Council reflects deeper concerns about the AU’s ability to respond decisively to political crises among its member states.
“What we are seeing is a test of the AU’s credibility. When instability persists in countries like Guinea-Bissau and Madagascar, it raises questions about how effectively continental mechanisms are being applied to prevent political backsliding,” Henrique said.
He added that while the AU has established strong principles against unconstitutional changes of government, implementation often lags behind rhetoric.
“The frameworks exist, but enforcement remains inconsistent. The AU must move beyond declarations and ensure that its instruments for peace, security and governance are applied in a timely and firm manner,” he noted.
–ChannelAfrica–
