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Africa
Nigeria twists ECOWAS' arm to get its African Union commissioner candidate elected

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“African Union: the battle of the giants”

Africa

African Union: the battle of the giants

The pan-African intergovernmental organisation headquartered in Addis Ababa has increasingly become a political arena where the continent's heavyweights South Africa, Algeria, Egypt, Morocco and Nigeria jostle for power. In order to impose their views and place representatives in key positions in the African Union and other international organisations, these nations compete for influence and build coalitions. On the sidelines of these strategic manoeuvres, a few smaller countries such as Rwanda are carving out a niche for themselves. [...]

On the eve of the elections that will determine who runs the African Union for the next four years, Nigeria and Rwanda are expected to secure key roles. [...]

Published on 05/02/2021 at 06:00 GMT Reading time 3 minutes

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Diplomacy

Read this article in our running story

“African Union: the battle of the giants”

Africa

African Union: the battle of the giants

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African Union organisation
Bankole Adeoye public figure
Economic Community of West African States organisation
Monique Nsanzabaganwa public figure
Moussa Faki Mahamat public figure
Muhammadu Buhari public figure
Paul Kagame public figure
Yoweri Museveni public figure
Covid-19
Fatoumata Jallow-Tambajang
Hasna Barkat Daoud
Martha Ama Akyaa Pobee
Mohamed Idriss Farah
National Bank of Rwanda
National Planning Authority of Uganda
Pamela Mbabazi

Africa
Kagame and Buhari keep a grip on AU intelligence

Intelligence gathering in African countries is the poor relation of the African Union. It has been managed for some years by two omnipresent member countries, Rwanda and Nigeria.

Subscribers only Diplomacy 26.05.2022

Rwandan president Paul Kagame and his Nigerian counterpart Muhammadu Buhari.

Africa
AU security commissioner Bankole Adeoye hires heavyweight advisers

The African Union's most sought-after commissioner, Bankole Adeoye, has finally found a way to hire advisers to help him manage a portfolio where crises and coups are piling up dangerously.

Subscribers only Diplomacy 21.02.2022

African Union, Chad
Divided over dynastic Déby succession, AU sends delegation to N'Djamena

The unconstitutional replacement of late Chadian president Idriss Déby by his son Gen Mahamat Idriss Déby has split the African Union into two camps, with some keen to condemn the new ruling military council and others willing to work with the new authorities as soon as possible.

Subscribers only Diplomacy 29.04.2021

Africa
North and West Africa jostle for two remaining AU Commission seats

After failing to reach an agreement during the votes in February, the two regions vying for one of the two African Union Commission seats still available are quietly preparing to do battle.

Subscribers only Diplomacy 29.03.2021

West Africa
Portuguese-speaking countries discreetly lobby for ECOWAS presidency

Portuguese-speaking countries have been busy behind the scenes trying to get their voices heard in ECOWAS, which is dominated by French- and English-speaking members. The president of Guinea-Bissau has even reached out to foes Alassane Ouattara and Alpha Condé.

Subscribers only Diplomacy 25.03.2021

Bissau-Guinean President Umaro Sissoco Embaló and his Cape Verdean counterpart Jorge Carlos Fonseca, 19 January 2021.

Africa
Too many caretakers: AU's new peace and security commissioner finds department in disarray

The African Union's Peace and Security Department is the bit of the bloc most coveted by the continent's major powers. But as Nigeria's newly installed commissioner, Bankole Adeoye, is finding out, it suffers from a surfeit of interim bosses.

Subscribers only Diplomacy 15.02.2021

Africa
African Union: battle for last commissioners' posts goes into extra time

The heavyweight tactics used by Nigeria to obtain the key post of commissioner for peace and security have blocked the process of filling the last remaining seats on the African Union Commission

Subscribers only Diplomacy 09.02.2021

Nigeria
Buhari names diplomats for capitals of UN Security Council states

President Muhammadu Buhari has finally made public the names of the 95 ambassadors who will be in their postings until his mandate ends in 2023, with special attention paid to the five permanent members of the United Nations Security Council.

Subscribers only Diplomacy 08.02.2021

Ghana
Akufo-Addo pulls out all the stops to secure AU number two job for Ghana

With Ghana looking set to lose two of its most strategically important posts at the UN and the African Union in 2021, Akufo-Addo is redoubling his efforts to get Martha Ama Akyaa Pobee appointed as deputy chair of the AU Commission.

Subscribers only Diplomacy 28.01.2021

Ethiopia
Abiy lobbies hard to secure AU education portfolio for his protégée

With the virtual summit of African Union heads of state scheduled for 6 and 7 February, the Ethiopian prime minister is working hard to bag a commissioner post for one of his loyal allies.

Subscribers only Diplomacy 22.01.2021

Hirut Woldemariam, Ethiopian candidate for the post of African Union Commissioner for Education, supported by Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed Ali.

Africa
Pretoria still opposed to fellow AU member Rabat's stance on Western Sahara

Even as support for the Polisario Front on the continent dwindles, there is still a small group of SADC countries that have taken Algeria's position against Morocco's presence in Western Sahara.

Subscribers only Diplomacy 13.01.2021

In Focus | Africa
Former Cameroonian prime minister Philémon Yang leads the AU's oh-so difficult search for new commissioners

Although Moussa Faki looks certain to be re-elected as chairperson of the African Union Commission, his deputy and six commissioners have still to be found among the 90 applicants for the different posts.

Subscribers only Diplomacy 21.09.2020

Member States have submitted more than 90 candidates for vacant posts on the African Union Commission.

Spotlight | Africa
Time's up: Nigeria set to end Algeria's lock on top African Union security post

Since the position of African Union commissioner for peace and security was created in 2003, it has been held by an Algerian. But now there's near-unanimous agreement that the job, with expanded responsibilities, should go to another African powerhouse: Nigeria.

Subscribers only Politics 10.06.2020

The last African Union summit in February 2020.

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African Union organisation
Bankole Adeoye public figure
Economic Community of West African States organisation
Monique Nsanzabaganwa public figure
Moussa Faki Mahamat public figure
Muhammadu Buhari public figure
Paul Kagame public figure
Yoweri Museveni public figure
Covid-19
Fatoumata Jallow-Tambajang
Hasna Barkat Daoud
Martha Ama Akyaa Pobee
Mohamed Idriss Farah
National Bank of Rwanda
National Planning Authority of Uganda
Pamela Mbabazi

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Washington deal: intricacies behind Tshisekedi's poker move

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Namibia oil utopia hangs on TotalEnergies' final investment decision

Africa
Nigeria twists ECOWAS' arm to get its African Union commissioner candidate elected

African Union: the battle of the giants

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African Union: the battle of the giants

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Africa
Kagame and Buhari keep a grip on AU intelligence

Africa
AU security commissioner Bankole Adeoye hires heavyweight advisers

African Union, Chad
Divided over dynastic Déby succession, AU sends delegation to N'Djamena

Africa
North and West Africa jostle for two remaining AU Commission seats

West Africa
Portuguese-speaking countries discreetly lobby for ECOWAS presidency

Africa
Too many caretakers: AU's new peace and security commissioner finds department in disarray

Africa
African Union: battle for last commissioners' posts goes into extra time

Nigeria
Buhari names diplomats for capitals of UN Security Council states

Ghana
Akufo-Addo pulls out all the stops to secure AU number two job for Ghana

Ethiopia
Abiy lobbies hard to secure AU education portfolio for his protégée

Africa
Pretoria still opposed to fellow AU member Rabat's stance on Western Sahara

In Focus | Africa
Former Cameroonian prime minister Philémon Yang leads the AU's oh-so difficult search for new commissioners

Spotlight | Africa
Time's up: Nigeria set to end Algeria's lock on top African Union security post

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Indigo Publications' websites

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Africa Nigeria twists ECOWAS' arm to get its African Union commissioner candidate elected

African Union: the battle of the giants

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African Union: the battle of the giants

Set up keyword notifications

Africa Kagame and Buhari keep a grip on AU intelligence

Africa AU security commissioner Bankole Adeoye hires heavyweight advisers

African Union, Chad Divided over dynastic Déby succession, AU sends delegation to N'Djamena

Africa North and West Africa jostle for two remaining AU Commission seats

West Africa Portuguese-speaking countries discreetly lobby for ECOWAS presidency

Africa Too many caretakers: AU's new peace and security commissioner finds department in disarray

Africa African Union: battle for last commissioners' posts goes into extra time

Nigeria Buhari names diplomats for capitals of UN Security Council states

Ghana Akufo-Addo pulls out all the stops to secure AU number two job for Ghana

Ethiopia Abiy lobbies hard to secure AU education portfolio for his protégée

Africa Pretoria still opposed to fellow AU member Rabat's stance on Western Sahara

In Focus | Africa Former Cameroonian prime minister Philémon Yang leads the AU's oh-so difficult search for new commissioners

Spotlight | Africa Time's up: Nigeria set to end Algeria's lock on top African Union security post

Set up keyword notifications

About Africa Intelligence

Subscription

Africa Intelligence on social media

Indigo Publications' websites

DRC
Washington deal: intricacies behind Tshisekedi's poker move

Namibia
Namibia oil utopia hangs on TotalEnergies' final investment decision

Africa
Nigeria twists ECOWAS' arm to get its African Union commissioner candidate elected

Africa
Kagame and Buhari keep a grip on AU intelligence

Africa
AU security commissioner Bankole Adeoye hires heavyweight advisers

African Union, Chad
Divided over dynastic Déby succession, AU sends delegation to N'Djamena

Africa
North and West Africa jostle for two remaining AU Commission seats

West Africa
Portuguese-speaking countries discreetly lobby for ECOWAS presidency

Africa
Too many caretakers: AU's new peace and security commissioner finds department in disarray

Africa
African Union: battle for last commissioners' posts goes into extra time

Nigeria
Buhari names diplomats for capitals of UN Security Council states

Ghana
Akufo-Addo pulls out all the stops to secure AU number two job for Ghana

Ethiopia
Abiy lobbies hard to secure AU education portfolio for his protégée

Africa
Pretoria still opposed to fellow AU member Rabat's stance on Western Sahara

In Focus | Africa
Former Cameroonian prime minister Philémon Yang leads the AU's oh-so difficult search for new commissioners

Spotlight | Africa
Time's up: Nigeria set to end Algeria's lock on top African Union security post