Addis Ababa — 19 February 2026
At a time when Africa is navigating intensifying geopolitical rivalries, persistent conflicts, and mounting economic and climate pressures, a critical question emerges: Is the African Union (AU) prioritising the right actions for the continent’s future?
Convened in Addis Ababa following the 39th AU Summit, policy experts and diplomats gathered to assess key peace and security outcomes and evaluate prospects for AU action in 2026 particularly under this year’s theme on sustainable water and sanitation within Agenda 2063.
Continental Leadership in a Shifting Global Order
The discussion, moderated by Dr Joseph Sany, Senior Research Fellow at the Institute for Security Studies (ISS) and former Vice President of the United States Institute of Peace, highlighted that the African Union stands at a defining crossroads.
Global power competition is increasingly influencing:
- African conflicts
- Economic alignments
- Diplomatic positioning
Participants agreed that African institutions must move beyond declarations and strengthen operational capacity, especially in:
- Mediation
- Early warning systems
- Preventive diplomacy
In an increasingly multipolar world, continental leadership must translate into tangible results.
Diplomats Call for Stronger Coordination
Ambassador Willy Nyamitwe of Burundi and Ambassador Lilly Stella Ngyema Ndong of Gabon, both Permanent Representatives to the AU, stressed that fragmented responses often undermine continental effectiveness.
They argued that institutional reforms must go beyond structural adjustments and produce measurable operational efficiency. Without coordinated action between AU organs and member states, rapid crises risk overwhelming continental mechanisms.
Credibility, they noted, depends on visible outcomes for African citizens.
Peace, Governance and Development: An Interdependent Triangle
Michelle Ndiaye, Africa Director at the Open Society Foundations and former Special Representative of the AU Commission in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, emphasised that conflict prevention is inseparable from governance and development.
She underlined that sustainable peace depends on:
- Accountable national institutions
- Public trust
- Transparency and legitimacy
Without domestic legitimacy, continental interventions face structural limitations.
Water Security Enters the Peace Agenda
The AU’s 2026 theme — sustainable water and sanitation under Agenda 2063 — was also analysed through a strategic lens.
Speakers noted that:
- Climate change
- Rapid urbanisation
- Competition over water resources
are no longer solely development concerns, but increasingly core security issues.
Effective water governance could reduce:
- Localised tensions
- Forced displacement
- Cross-border instability
Water security is emerging as a strategic peacebuilding priority.
From Commitments to Implementation
The seminar concluded that the AU’s priorities are broadly aligned with Africa’s structural challenges. Peace, governance and development remain deeply interconnected.
However, the decisive factor lies in execution.
Key recommendations included:
- Strengthening coordination with Regional Economic Communities
- Ensuring sustainable financing for African-led solutions
- Enhancing accountability and monitoring mechanisms
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RussAfrik Analysis:
The 39th AU Summit reflects a continent aware of systemic vulnerabilities in a rapidly evolving global order. Yet in a competitive geopolitical environment where global powers intensify their strategic engagement in Africa, the AU’s credibility will depend on its ability to transform frameworks into measurable impact.
2026 may become a defining year.
The test is no longer rhetorical; it is operational.
The message from Addis Ababa is clear:
Continental leadership will not be measured by policy documents alone, but by tangible improvements in peace, stability and the daily lives of African citizens.
Africa’s moment requires implementation, not declarations.
⸻
Eyob Salemot
International Correspondent
