Astonishing things are happening. Ahead of today's #ECOWAS summit, Confederation/Alliance of Sahel States #AES 🇲🇱🇧🇫🇳🇪 states prepare their exit. Under reference to the AU Constitute Act (an organization from which they are suspended), they unilaterally declare freedom of movement for ECOWAS citizens.

Who Will Lead the AU Commission? Highlights from the Mjadala Afrika Debate For the third time, the African Union has organized Mjadala Afrika, a public debate with candidates for the next Chairperson of the AU Commission. Drawing 13 thousand viewers within 12 hours on You…

Who Will Lead the #AfricanUnion Commission? Yesterday's #MjadalaAfrika debate offered an interesting comparison of candidates. Excerpts of my full write-up online now.
uelistaeger.wordpress.com/2024/12/14/a...

The Wagner-style mercenaries plotting unrest in Romania Horaţiu Potra, a former member of the French Foreign Legion, was arrested with 20 other armed men headed for Bucharest

Far beyond #Wagner/Africa Corps, the far-right private military actors active in Africa and the global trouble they sow is incredible.
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Ombudsman faults EU Commission for lack of paperwork on Tunisia deal The EU Ombudsman has faulted the European Commission over the controversial cash-for-migrant deal with Tunisia. The commission claimed not to have any documents in its possession — posing questions on...

Good piece in today's @euobserver.com about the EU Ombudsman's finding of maladministration in the European Commission's failure to disclose preparatory documents concerning the migrant deal with Tunisia.

A couple of thoughts.

in this case, the main issue...

euobserver.com/migration/ar...

This new report by @maudinet.bsky.social tells a fascinating and well-sourced story about #Russia strategic use of narratives of #neo-colonialism in the wake of the #Ukraine invasion. irsem.fr/media/report...

The African Union and the G20 after Rio de Janeiro: Not renamed to G21, but reinvigorated by Africa's presence. After its self-declared 'listening year', it remains to be seen what capacity and willingness the AU develops to shape outcomes (and how we measure its success).

The G20 Rio de Janeiro Leaders’ Declaration is thinner but more united on Ukraine. Two years ago in Bali, the membership was so divided that "some members" insisted on adding a condemnation of Russia to the text. There is also a long paragraph Gaza and Lebanon, unlike last year.

Confirmation hearing of Kaja KALLAS, Commissioner-designate, Foreign Affairs and Security Policy - Multimedia Centre Confirmation hearing of Kaja KALLAS, Commissioner-designate, Foreign Affairs and Security Policy

multimedia.europarl.europa.eu/en/webstream...

The confirmation hearing of Kaja Kallas, the next EU foreign policy head, yesterday illustrated the European Commission's de-prioritizing of its liberal approach to Africa. After NATO, the US, the UK, and India, the African Union is mentioned for policy cooperation purposes.

If you're in Amsterdam on Tuesday 12 March, please join us for a chat about my book over morning coffee at
VU Amsterdam - thanks to @patrickmello.bsky.social and @wolfgangwagner.bsky.social for the invitation and to @uelistaeger.bsky.social for being the discussant!

Could not agree more with Hubert Kinkoh here: UN-AU consultations lack discussions of "conflict prevention and early response to emerging conflicts, and the inclusion of rotating cross-cutting thematic issues".
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The Global North's (non-)reaction to events in occupied Palestine sadly vindicates the global hesitation in condemning Russia's attack on Ukraine. If UN Charter principles don't apply to all occupations and wars equally, these principles are worth little for the Global South.