Mauritania’s President, Mohamed Ghazouani, assumed the role of Chairman for the African Union in 2024, succeeding President Azali Assoumani of Comoros.
The transition took place during the 37th Ordinary Session of the AU Heads of State and Government in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, resolving a prolonged dispute over the rotating chairmanship.
This transfer of leadership, initially hindered by tensions between Morocco and Algeria, underscores internal divisions within the AU, despite its aspirations for a more influential global presence, including in the G20, where it gained membership in September.
“The AU has ambitious institutional commitments and tools for mediation and peacekeeping but lacks the political and financial strength to make the most of them,” the International Crisis Group said in a briefing note.
“Member states are looking inward, closely protecting their sovereign prerogatives rather than investing in collective security.”
Anticipated discussions at the summit include the AU’s shift towards greater self-reliance by relying more on African states for funding rather than foreign donors.
In December, the UN Security Council passed a resolution to finance AU-led peace missions, yet limited its contribution to 75 percent of the budget.
