The African Union condemns the coups, avoids a heated debate on Israel

According to diplomatic sources, this hotly debated topic among the 55 Member States was suspended and the debate scheduled for Sunday afternoon postponed, avoiding an unprecedented crisis within the pan-African organization adept at consensus.

In the many subjects of this busy summit, the coups that have rocked the continent over the past year – the last in Burkina Faso two weeks ago – were inevitable.

During the meeting of the Peace and Security Council, every African leader in the assembly unequivocally condemned […] the wave of unconstitutional changes of governmentsaid its leader Bankole Adeoye.

Malian soldiers march in Bamako during a military parade organized to mark the country’s 60th independence anniversary on September 22, 2020.

Photo: Getty Images/AFP/MICHELE CATTANI

L’African UnionAU will not tolerate any military coup in any formhe added, recalling that all countries that have experienced putschs have been suspended.

: Mali, Guinea, Sudan and Burkina Faso”,”text”:”At no time in the history of the African Union have we had four countries suspended in 12 months: Mali, Guinea, Sudan and Burkina Faso”}}”>At no time in the history of the African Union have we had four countries suspended in 12 months: Mali, Guinea, Sudan and Burkina Fasohe added.

In a speech on Saturday, the President of the Commission of theAfrican UnionAUMoussa Faki Mahamat, had also mentioned the fatal wave of coups d’etat and underlined known causal links with terrorism.

Israel’s controversial accreditation

L’African UnionAU on the other hand chose not to display its dissensions on the highly sensitive subject of the accreditation of Israel.

This decision taken in July by Moussa Faki divides the organization.

Several Member States, including South Africa and Algeria, have risen up, believing that this choice goes against the declarations of the organization supporting the Palestinian Territories.

The two countries lobbied to put this topic on the summit agenda. A debate was scheduled for Sunday afternoon. He was suspendeddiplomatic sources told AFP, and a committee will be created to study the issue.

This committee will include South Africa and Algeria, but also Rwanda and the Democratic Republic of Congo, which support Mr. Faki’s decision, as well as Cameroon and Nigeria, according to the diplomats interviewed.

This postponement avoids the possibility of a vote which, according to many analysts, could have caused a split unprecedented in the history of theAfrican UnionAUwhich celebrates its 20th anniversary.

In a speech Saturday, Palestinian Prime Minister Mohammed Shtayyeh called on African leaders to withdraw Israel’s accreditation.

Moussa Faki had defended his choice and called for a calm debate.

He assured that the commitment of theAfrican UnionAU in the quest for independence of the Palestinians was unchanging and can only continue to grow stronger. But the accreditation of Israel can constitute, according to him, an instrument in the service of peace.

Tigray, a file that embarrasses the host country

It is unclear whether the summit, most of whose sessions were held behind closed doors, addressed the issue of the war raging in the host country.

Ethiopians fleeing fighting in Tigray arrive by boat in Sudan.

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Photo: Reuters/BAZ RATNER

Northern Ethiopia has been ravaged for 15 months by a conflict between pro-government forces and rebels of the Tigray People’s Liberation Front (TPLF), which has left thousands dead and, according to theUnited NationsUNbrought hundreds of thousands of people to the brink of starvation.

Bankole Adeoye assured that all conflict situations were on the agenda of the summit.

L’African UnionAUheadquartered in the Ethiopian capital, finds itself in a particularly delicate position on this conflict.

Mr. Faki waited until last August – nine months after the start of the fighting – to appoint former Nigerian President Olusegun Obasanjo as special envoy in charge of wresting a ceasefire.

A rebel fighter pictured in the spring on a street in Hawzen, Ethiopia.

Photo: AP/Ben Curtis

Ethiopia also continued to serve on the Peace and Security Council of theAfrican UnionAU during the conflict. However, she was not reappointed this week for a new term, diplomats said.

Adeoye said on Sunday that he was not not true what’African UnionAU was slow to respond.

AU does not engage in such a situation, precisely given its situation in Ethiopia”,”text”:”It was impossible for the AU not to engage in such a situation, precisely given its situation in Ethiopia”} }”>It was impossible for theAfrican UnionAU does not engage in such a situation, precisely given its location in Ethiopiahe said, emphasizing the role of quiet diplomacy, shuttle diplomacy, which generally cannot be reported.

Obasanjo is due to visit war-affected areas this week, he said.