"Now or never!" says @thecontinent .
While representatives of global superpowers were being lectured (scolded?) at the Munich Security Conference...African leaders were in the Ethiopian capital, for the annual African Union summit. As my longtime editor, friend and The Continent's founder Simon Allison explains...it's time for leaders to come to terms on a way forward, as Trump unleashes devastating USAID cuts, mass deportations impacting many Africans and a trade war against South Africa.
The summit in Addis Ababa was also expected to be an important avenue for discussing solutions to discussing the devastating conflicts in Sudan and Congo DR. The timeliness of this year's summit was critical: new world order, raging conflicts in Africa...and a new AU Chair to be appointed.
The leaders would have to reach a consensus on African issues, and then try to forge a united way forward for bracing for the changes Trump is enacting and will yet enact.
Unfortunately, as has happened time and time again, the AU showed itself as far too inept to deal with African issues.
Where to start: when it comes to solving the wars of the continent, the AU is seen as far too lackadaisical, biased, casual & unwilling to adopt a strong stance for fear of angering influential diplomats.
Instead of attending the AU summit, Congolese President Felix Tshisekedi was at the Munich Security Conference. Which says a lot.
Why? Well...
(Image : Michaela Stache/AFP)
President Felix Tshisekedi, whose country is threatened by advances made by the Rwandan backed M23 rebel group, was furious over the AU's refusal to outright condemn M23 & express support for DR Congo's sovereignty.
The M23 rebels, as has been widely reported by the UN and many credible outlets, is not only funded and armed by Rwanda...but often fights alongside Rwandan troops. The rebels smuggle highly sought after Congolese minerals to Rwanda. Some reading on that...
Rwandan President Paul Kagame has typically dismissed all credible reports linking his country to M23 as disinformation. In power since the end of the Rwandan genocide, and a highly influential African statesman, he has huge leverage at the AU, and the rest of the world. Which partially explains why few at the AU were willing to publicly recognize Rwanda's role in the DR Congo crisis, even after last month's capture of the city of Goma by rebels.
Kagame attended the summit.
Kagame has fostered a close relationship with Ethiopian PM Abiy Ahmed whose country holds unchallenged influence over the AU.
A delegation of 50 or so Congolese diplomats were in town. When they tried to to head to the summit, Ethiopian troops surrounded the hotels & blocked them from attending.
“The [incident] was unacceptable for a friendly country. It’s discrimination!” Congo's Amb. to the AU Ngandu Ilunga said.
https://www.theafricareport.com/376993/au-summit-kagames-anger-congolese-delegation-blocked/
It isn't the first bizarre incident involving Ethiopian security forces blocking diplomats from attending the summit.
During last year's summit...when ties between Ethiopia and Somalia were at their lowest in decades...Ethiopian troops prevented Somali President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud from attending the AU summit in similar fashion. Posted about it last year.
Anyways, it gives weight to claims made by Congo DR's government that the AU is biased in favour of Rwanda.
https://dair-community.social/@ZekuZelalem/111967984036449664
Exactly what happened in Addis Ababa is not clear. President Mohamud insists that Ethiopian security forces blocked access to the AU building, denying access to his personal security detail. "A soldier with a gun stood in front of us and denied us access to this facility," he said. Ethiopian spox Billene Seyoum said "As host country, the gov of 🇪🇹 is responsible for the security of all Heads of State while in the country." She accused the 🇸🇴 security detail of trying to enter with their weapons.
Earlier this month in the Tanzanian capital Dar es Salaam, a closed door pre summit meeting of African statesmen from East & Southern Africa took place, with Congo DR on the agenda.
Shortly after the intros, just as private discussions were to be held, the AU Chairman Moussa Faki Mahamat was literally kicked out of the room, reportedly upon request of Congo DR, who felt he was too biased to contribute.
In diplomatic circles, it hardly gets more humiliating.
So as predicted...absolutely no new ground was made on DR Congo.
And Sudan? Well...
Guess who was represented at the summit? The UAE.
On the sidelines of the summit...the UAE brought together leaders of Ethiopia, the UN, IGAD (an East African body of nations) and AU representatives. There, the UAE called for a Ramadan ceasefire.
The problem with this? The UAE is accused of financing a genocide in Sudan. It is widely documented to be the main backer of the RSF rebel faction, responsible for mass rape & killings of non Arab tribes.
Zecharias Zelalem
Meron Estefanos