The African Union (AU) develop into member states select a brand new leadership of the AU Commission in February 2025.
The commission was originally conceived as a secretariat of the AU. Over the years it has develop into the driving force of the Pan-African project.
The positions of the chairman and deputy of the AU Commission in addition to many of the six AU commissioners are controversial. The position of the Chair rotates between the five African regions; Now it's East Africa's turn. There are 4 candidatesall male. North Africa will propose candidates for deputy chairman.
According to the Articles of Association of the African Union (2002)the Chair of the AU Commission is the Chief Executive Officer of the AU, its legal representative and its accounting officer.
The chairman's duties are complex. Essentially, they deal with policy coordination and harmonization between the AU, member states and the eight officially recognized regional economic communities. The term of office is 4 years and could be prolonged once.
As a long-time observer of the African Union – including as editor of African Union Yearbook (Open Access at Brill Academic Publishers) – I actually have identified six areas where the coordination and harmonization role of the longer term chair might be of utmost importance.
These are:
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Renewing Member States' commitment to the The shared values of the AU
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Finalization of the policy on the division of labor between the AU and the regional economic communities
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Increase in number Common African positions on crucial global challenges
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Adopt a scientific approach to the AU's strategic partnerships with multilateral and bilateral actors
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Completion of the means of financial and institutional reform of the organization
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Promoting the event of a “civil union” – as provided for in Agenda 2063The Africa We Want, the blueprint for the longer term of the continent.
Structurally, these six areas form the core of the African Union's long-term policy development. Unless they’re systematically addressed, the pan-African agenda won’t make much progress.
Six big challenges
The shared values on human rights, the rule of law and the rights of girls, youth and minorities, which the AU has agreed on up to now, are in danger.
The reasons include the democratic recession on the continent since 2006, member states' policies of denying human rights violations or the specter of violent extremism and terrorism of their countries, and the increasing variety of so-called unconstitutional changes of presidency.
The AU's existing policy on unconstitutional changes of presidency not appears to be working. There is an absence of support from member states and regional economic communities. National sovereignty is defended at almost any cost.
The coups in Mali (2021), Burkina Faso (2022) and Niger (2023) are only essentially the most recent examples by which neither the AU nor the affected regional economic community (Ecowas) have been capable of bring a couple of return to constitutional order.
Second, the division of labor between the AU and the regional economic communities have to be finalized. The vital policy documents and associated practices aren’t yet in place. And there are constant contradictions in various policy areas. This applies particularly to peace and security, but additionally to trade. The African Continental Free Trade Agreement (AfCFTA) is just certainly one of many examples.
Third, the AU has developed several positions on key global challenges, including the reform of the UN Security Council and climate change. This is very important for influencing international forums similar to the United Nations and the G20 (where the AU works). became a member in September 2023).
The means of developing common African positions have to be more systematic. And the impact on AU member states must be defined more precisely.
The AU is currently developing a particularly essential position on the connection between climate change and peace and security.
Fourth, the AU Commission have to be clear concerning the criteria by which a world organization or country becomes a strategic partner and what practical implications this has. And there isn’t any mechanism to observe and evaluate strategic partnerships.
Fifth, the institutional and financial reform of the organization, which began in 2016/2017, remains to be ongoing. Progress has been made in restructuring the AU Commission, but financial reform has yet to be accomplished.
The AU has raised a further $341 million for the Peace Fund since 2017. However, it continues to depend on international partners. That was the case in the present budget assumed In Accra in July 2024, AU Member States and African institutions contribute 41.85% of estimated expenditure (mainly on salaries and maintenance) and international partners contribute 58.15% (mainly on program implementation and peacebuilding activities).
This continues to lift questions on personal responsibility, commitment and independence.
And finally, the ambition to develop into a “civil union” remains to be unfulfilled. This includes cooperation with civil society organizations, their role within the economic, social and cultural council and the possibly creative role of the Pan-African Parliament – established to make sure the total participation of Africans within the economic development and integration of the continent.
There are also issues similar to the free movement of individuals and the African passport, in addition to bridging the gap between the AU and what is occurring on the local level in member states.
African residents should experience the AU as relevant to their lives.
Complex agenda
This is a big and sophisticated agenda. There are the reason why most of the issues discussed here have been dragging on for years. And the brand new chairman of the AU Commission has only limited room for maneuver when coping with unwilling member states.
The future chairman will once more should forge a coalition of the willing and able – in relation to the member states, the regional economic communities and the AU commissioners.
image credit : theconversation.com