Union

The aspirations of former Senegalese President Macky Sall to ascend to the role of UN Secretary-General have hit an impasse following the African Union's (AU) decision to withhold formal endorsement. On March 27, the AU announced that 20 out of its 55 member nations either opposed Sall's candidacy or sought an extension on the tightly constrained 24-hour deadline. Djiby Sow, a Senior Researcher at the Institute for Security Studies (ISS), emphasized that this outcome does not reflect discord among African nations. Instead,…

Wednesday April 8, 2026 Addis Ababa (AX) — Somalia has secured a place on the African Union Peace and Security Council (AUPSC) for the first time since the body was created in 2003, a diplomatic breakthrough that signals the country’s rising profile on the continent. Somalia’s Ambassador to Ethiopia and the African Union, Abdullahi Warfaa, hoisted the Somali flag at the council’s headquarters on Tuesday, marking the start of Somalia’s responsibilities during the 2026–2028 term. Government officials described the moment as a…

Friday April 3, 2026 The African Union (AU) on Friday praised the China-Pakistan five-point initiative aimed at easing the current peace and stability crisis in the Gulf and Middle East. In a statement, AU Commission Chairperson Mahmoud Ali Youssouf said the plan “constitutes a timely and constructive contribution to ongoing international efforts to de-escalate tensions and advance a political and diplomatic pathway.” He said the initiative’s “emphasis on an immediate cessation of hostilities, the protection of civilians,…

Trump’s State of the Union sparks clash with Ilhan Omar over Somali community remarks WASHINGTON — President Donald Trump’s 2026 State of the Union address erupted into a sharp confrontation Tuesday night after he accused members of Minnesota’s Somali American community of large-scale fraud, prompting Rep. Ilhan Omar to interrupt the speech from the House floor and denounce his claims as lies. Trump, speaking before a joint session of Congress, singled out Minnesota as “the most stunning example” of what he called systemic…

President Donald Trump proclaimed a “golden age of America” in his State of the Union address, using a record-length speech to cast his stewardship as a run of uninterrupted victories even as polls show sagging approval and voter frustration over the cost of living ahead of November’s midterm elections. Heeding warnings from Republicans anxious about losing control of Congress, Trump centered the first hour on the economy, asserting he had slowed inflation, lifted the stock market to record highs, signed sweeping tax cuts…

African Union, Somalia condemn deadly Zamfara attack in Nigeria; demand release of abducted women, children The African Union and Somalia on Monday condemned a deadly attack in Nigeria’s northwestern Zamfara state that left at least 50 civilians dead and women and children abducted, urging the immediate, safe and unconditional release of all captives. AU expresses full solidarity with Nigeria, calls attacks grave human rights violations Somalia backs Nigeria’s efforts to pursue perpetrators and free abductees Assailants on…

European Commission presses U.S. to honor EU-U.S. trade deal after Trump lifts global tariffs to 15% The European Commission urged Washington to honor last year’s EU-U.S. trade deal after President Donald Trump temporarily raised the global duty on imports to 15%, a move announced a day after the Supreme Court curtailed much of his tariffs campaign. “A deal is a deal. As the United States’ largest trading partner, the EU expects the US to honour its commitments set out in the Joint Statement — just as the EU stands by its…

AU intensifies push for ceasefires in Sudan and eastern DRC, says Commissioner Bankole Adeoye The African Union has sharpened its diplomatic drive to secure ceasefires in Sudan and the eastern Democratic Republic of Congo, with Commissioner for Political Affairs, Peace and Security Bankole Adeoye outlining a renewed, African-led strategy to stem escalating violence and restore stability. Briefing reporters after the 39th Ordinary Session of the Assembly of Heads of State and Government, Adeoye said AU leaders reaffirmed…

AU reaffirms Somalia’s sovereignty, condemns Israel’s recognition of North Western State of Somalia ADDIS ABABA, Ethiopia — The African Union reaffirmed its full support for the sovereignty, unity and territorial integrity of Somalia on Sunday, issuing a sharp rebuke to what it called Israel’s unilateral recognition of North Western State of Somalia. In a joint communiqué at the close of the AU’s annual summit in Addis Ababa, member states warned that any unilateral recognition that contravenes the founding principles of the…

Addis Ababa (AX) — The African Union Commission chairperson, Mahmoud Ali Youssouf, reaffirmed the AU’s support for Somalia’s sovereignty and stability during talks Sunday with President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud on the sidelines of the 39th Ordinary Session of the Assembly of the Union in Addis Ababa. The meeting came amid heightened diplomacy after Somalia won election to the African Union Peace and Security Council for the 2026–2028 term, a development Youssouf hailed as a well-earned achievement that underscores Mogadishu’s…