Is the African integration project facing an existential crisis? The ECOWAS “divorce” and the existential threat to Africa’s unity
The African integration project stands at a perilous crossroads. The inability to reintegrate three member states into the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) has shocked the continent, fuelling fears of broader fragmentation and eroding trust in Africa’s key institutions responsible for the governance of its integration. While ECOWAS has responded with maturity, the […]
Trump’s Aid Pause: A Turning Point for Africa’s Future?
President Donald Trump’s decision to pause and potentially reconfigure US aid to various countries—including those in Africa—has sparked an intense debate among policymakers, academics, NGOs, and citizens. While critics contend that withholding funds could disrupt essential development programs, risking setbacks in poverty alleviation and health services, supporters see it as an opportunity for African countries […]
The price of unity: Consensus decision-making and its implication for member states’ funding of the African Union
1. Introduction Countries create international organisations (IOs) to address complex issues that transcend national boundaries and require collective action to achieve results that individual states cannot achieve alone. IOs offer a structured forum where states can pool their resources, expertise, and political will, amplify the voices and influence of less powerful nations on global issues, […]
Season’s greeting from us to you our esteemed partners!
Peacekeeping’s Prospects: Ending or Evolving?
The 27th Annual Conference of the International Association of Peacekeeping Training Centres was held from November 6–10, 2023, in Nairobi, Kenya. Under the theme of leveraging partnerships in training for complex peace operations environments, this conference came at a very opportune time. For over half a century, peacekeeping operations have undergone considerable evolution, shifting from […]
Does the African Union need a Foreign Policy?
Download PDF Introduction Whether one supports or opposes it, the African Union (AU) is progressively establishing itself as an effective advocate for continental positions on various issues. It is gaining traction as an emerging global player. The AU symbolizes Africa’s collective identity globally and its aspirations for a peaceful, prosperous, and integrated continent. The AU’s […]
Unity in Neutrality: Strategic Neutrality as Africa’s Answer to Global Polarization
As the cradle of humanity, Africa holds a distinct place in our shared history. The continent’s destiny, rich in ancient civilization, transcends being a mere pawn or cherished asset in the power struggles between the East and West. Given its historical, cultural, geographical, and resource significance, a deeper purpose emerges. Africa’s optimal path in these […]
Insights from the African Union Engagement in Addressing Conflict in Ethiopia
Refining the “African Solutions to African Problems” Principle and Preconditions to Promote Continental Integration From Hope to War: The two-year civil war between the Ethiopian Federal Government and its allies (including Eritrea) and the Tigray People’s Liberation Front (TPLF) was Africa’s most significant civil war in recent decades. It was brought to an end in […]
Does ECOWAS have a firm legal basis under International Law for military intervention in Niger?
ECOWAS took an unprecedented step, in the African context, during its Second Extraordinary Summit on the Political Situation in Niger. The organisation ordered “the Committee of Chiefs of Defence Staff to immediately activate the ECOWAS Standby Force with all of its elements;” and the “deployment of the ECOWAS Standby Force to restore constitutional order in […]
Who Is in Charge of Africa’s Integration?
Africa is currently engaged in the ambitious process of transferring core elements of national sovereignty to the African Union (AU). This aggregation of sovereignties at the continental level has resulted in the establishment of authoritative institutions and a network of policy-making actors above the nation-state. Going forward, laws and decisions made by the AU are […]
