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African Union

November 21, 2025

When courts become weapons: how Chad jailed its opposition leader

Michael Asiedu Chad's 20-year conviction of opposition leader Succès Masra reveals how African courts have become weaponised against dissent. Across the continent, writes Michael Asiedu, from Benin to Uganda, authoritarian regimes are increasingly using fabricated charges to silence opponents. This, he says, masks repression behind democratic facades, erodes judicial independence, and weakens the prospects for genuine democratic transition Read more

February 20, 2024

There is a resurgence of military coups in Africa's Sahel region. Why?

Collins Molua Ikome Collins Molua and Gift Mwonzora argue that the decision by Mali, Niger, and Burkina Faso to leave the Economic Community of West African States was a rash one, which may risk legitimising further coups. What's more, deteriorating diplomatic relations between these countries and the West could have knock-on effects for regional peace and security Read more

November 7, 2023

Explaining the reasons for recent military coups in Africa

Reuben Twinomujuni Why has West Africa experienced so many military coups over the past couple of years? Reuben Twinomujuni and Hannah Muzee say the inadequacies of the African Union are only part of the problem. They argue that the phenomenon is also to the result of internal and external forces that impede united African action Read more

May 9, 2022

Externalising refugee protection: less a vision than a mirage

Frowin Rausis The UK’s ‘New Plan for Immigration’ allows the government to send asylum seekers to Rwanda, reflecting the latest aspiration to externalise refugee protection. Frowin Rausis and Konstantin Kreibich show that the idea is not new. Different countries have toyed with it for years – and failed consistently Read more

May 9, 2022

Rwanda-UK refugee deal is an insult to Africa’s integration process

Hannah Muzee The British government's Rwanda-UK asylum deal exposes the detrimental effects of an absolute state sovereignty principle in the African Union. This principle, argues Hannah Muzee, is a major stumbling block to Africa’s desired unification objectives Read more

July 1, 2021

How knowledge sharing could advance Africa’s responses to terrorism

Sven Botha Scant counterterrorism initiatives in Africa have often been blamed on a lack of political will. But institutional capacity, technical competency, decolonisation struggles and pressure from national advocacy groups all play their part. As Africa’s terrorism worsens, Sven Botha and Suzy Graham suggest that peer-learning through peer review may prove fruitful Read more

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