financial inertia

African Union: Stuck between political blockages and a lack of finances

In depth
This article is part of the dossier: Are Africans losing faith in the AU?

By Marie Toulemonde

Posted on Thursday, 4 August 2022 11:46, updated on Tuesday, 11 October 2022 11:16

Still underfunded and heavily dependent on foreign aid, the AU is struggling to implement the major projects it set itself in 2015. The causes of this inertia are decoded in these infographics.

This is part 3 of a 4-part series

Two decades after the creation of the African Union (AU), the cogs of this complex machine still do not seem to be well oiled, the results after twenty years of activity seem very minimal… Especially in terms of security.

READ MORE Security, mandates, finances, governance... African Union: 20 years for nothing?

The continent, particularly West Africa, has become the global epicentre of terrorism, and coups d’état have become commonplace, without the organisation managing to make its voice heard.

Also in this in Depth:
lost illusions

Do Africans still believe in the African Union?

At 20 years old, the African Union is still seen by Africans as ineffective and unreliable. This stems from a lack of political will from its heads of state, who are reluctant to bolster the organisation's power, which is the only way to re-establish a bond of trust with the continent's populations.

Security, mandates, finances, governance… African Union: 20 years for nothing?

A Commission under scrutiny, a powerless Peace and Security Council, a neglected instrument of self-evaluation... A journey to the heart of an organisation where pious appeals for good governance poorly mask a realpolitik that reigns supreme.

wide lens

Mahamat: ‘We must go beyond narrow sovereignties to see the bigger picture’

Tensions between the DRC and Rwanda, coups d'état, constitutional changes... An interview with Chadian Moussa Faki Mahamat, the Chairman of the Commission of the African Union (AU).

Digital subscription
Digital subscription

Give yourself a headstart:
Get full access to The Africa Report on all your devices.