The African Union… Stung Twice from the Same Hole

No one truly knows what role the African Union Commission plays in sanitation projects or artificial intelligence applications. Nor is it clear what kind of “partnership” the statement refers to.

A joint statement issued by the United Arab Emirates and the African Union Commission was published on the website of the UAE Ministry of Foreign Affairs. According to the statement, the UAE and the African Union Commission held a high-level meeting in the Ethiopian capital, Addis Ababa, on January 6, 2026. The meeting brought together H.E. Mahmoud Ali Youssouf, Chairperson of the African Union Commission, and H.E. Sheikh Shakhboot bin Nahyan Al Nahyan, Minister of State. This meeting followed up on the first round of political consultations held in Abu Dhabi on September 13, 2025, within the framework of the Memorandum of Understanding signed in 2019. The two sides reaffirmed their shared commitment to further strengthening the partnership between the UAE and the African Union.

Regarding Sudan, the statement noted that both sides emphasized the need for an immediate and unconditional humanitarian truce, a permanent ceasefire, unhindered access for humanitarian assistance to all parts of Sudan, accountability for those involved in violations of international humanitarian law, and the formation of an independent, civilian-led government that meets the aspirations of the Sudanese people.

The two sides also referred to the joint statement issued by the African Union Commission and the Intergovernmental Authority on Development (IGAD) on September 14, 2025, and welcomed the joint statement issued by the Quad Group on September 12, 2025. They further referred to the high-level humanitarian conference held on the sidelines of the African Union Summit in February 2025, commended regional and international efforts to address the humanitarian crisis, and condemned the atrocities committed by the warring parties against civilians. They reaffirmed their support for Sudan’s sovereignty and territorial integrity, and the necessity of reaching a peaceful settlement.

The African Union knows with certainty that its endorsement and welcome of the Quad Group’s statement in September 2025 was among the main reasons for the failure of the meeting that had been scheduled for October 2025. Undoubtedly, the Chairperson of the Commission committed a grave error by dragging the African Union into the dispute between the UAE and Iran, as reflected in the statement which read: “The two sides stressed that Iran’s continued occupation of the UAE’s three islands—Greater Tunb, Lesser Tunb, and Abu Musa—constitutes a violation of the UAE’s sovereignty and the principles of the UN Charter, and renewed their support for the UAE’s call to reach a peaceful solution to the dispute over the three islands.”

This is a political position related to a dispute between two states, which requires consultation with and approval from the member states of the Union. Such a stance may have created an internal crisis within the African Union and represents a clear تجاوز of the powers granted to the Chairperson of the Commission under the Constitutive Act.

Just one week earlier, on December 30, 2025, the Chairperson of the African Union Commission, Mahmoud Ali Youssouf, welcomed the Sudanese peace initiative presented by Prime Minister Kamel Idris to the UN Security Council, calling for inclusive dialogue and international support. He described the initiative as a comprehensive and forward-looking framework that demonstrates a deep understanding of the acute crisis facing Sudan and its people, as well as a genuine commitment to ending hostilities, halting violence, alleviating humanitarian suffering, and preserving Sudan’s unity, sovereignty, and territorial integrity.

The Chairperson further noted that the African Union attaches great importance to the political, humanitarian, and security elements outlined in the proposal, considering them a reliable foundation for achieving sustainable peace. He stressed that constructive engagement with the initiative is indispensable to any comprehensive solution, to efforts aimed at ending the armed conflict, restoring security and stability, and protecting social cohesion and national unity in Sudan.

These are two contradictory positions. No one, of course, can predict or anticipate the African Union’s stances, amid mounting questions about whether the Commission truly represents the will of the Union’s member states. No one knows what role the Commission plays in sanitation projects or artificial intelligence applications, nor what kind of partnership between the African Union and the UAE the statement refers to.

Can any African state issue a joint statement with the Commission demanding that the UAE withdraw from Somali territory, cease its blatant interference in Sudan, or stop its unlimited support to militias with weapons and mercenaries?

Mr. Mohamed Belashir, the African Union Ambassador to Sudan, should clarify to the Chairperson of the Commission that such actions constitute a flagrant violation of the African Union’s Constitutive Act. He should also convey our deep dissatisfaction with the exploitation of the African Union Commission to harm a member state and a founding member of the Union, and emphasize that these actions undermine and squander all the efforts exerted by the Ambassador himself.