The 39th African Union summit concluded with a bold declaration: silencing the guns and rejecting unconstitutional power changes. But how credible is this commitment? Regional security expert Paul-Simon Handy, representing the Institute for Security Studies (ISS) for East Africa, shared his insights from Addis Ababa as a featured guest on Africa Midi.

Challenging the African Union’s zero-tolerance policy

During the summit, African leaders reiterated their stance against unconstitutional power transfers. Handy, however, questioned whether electoral processes could truly exclude individuals linked to recent coups. “It is unacceptable for coup plotters to be democratically elected,” he emphasized, highlighting the paradox between policy declarations and political realities.

Regional stability at stake

The ISS regional director stressed that the continent’s credibility hinges on consistent enforcement of these principles. Failure to act decisively, he warned, could embolden further instability across Africa’s fragile regions.

Key takeaways from the summit

• Silencing the guns: A renewed push for peace initiatives across conflict zones.
• Zero tolerance for coups: Leaders pledged to isolate regimes born from unconstitutional means.
• Regional cooperation: Emphasis on collective action to address governance crises.

By Mariama Hamani — Analyst