Sudan is now the epicenter of one of the world’s deadliest conflicts and most desperate humanitarian crises. The numbers speak for themselves: since 2023, more than 150,000 people are estimated to have died as a result of violence and other related causes, 7.3 million have been newly internally displaced—on top of 2.3 million already displaced, bringing the total 9.6 million, 4.3 million have fled as refugees to neighboring countries, and more than 30 million people—two-thirds of the population—require humanitarian assistance (here). The atrocities committed defy words, and the battle for El-Fasher—its fall to the Rapid Support Forces (RSF) and the unbearable reports that followed—has revived the darkest echoes of an earlier tragedy: the scorched-earth campaign waged in Darfur following the 2003 armed rebellion in that region. The fear now is stark: what happened there could happen again, elsewhere.

For Africa, this era, in which the world is living through a historic transition from a multilateral system underwritten by a dominant hegemon backed by a strong bloc to a world order characterised increasingly by multipolarity, brings both perils and opportunities. Both the perils and opportunities necessitate the repositioning of the continent. This is imperative both for shielding the continent from the perils that the uncertainties and tensions that accompany the transition and for enabling it to seize the opportunities for ending the marginal place to which it has hitherto been relegated in the order that is coming to an end and become an active player to make the emerging global order more amenable for securing the wellbeing of its peoples.

The global order is going through a historic transformation. There is a profound shift in the structure of the power relations between states.  While the state system remains the basis of the global order, the role and power of the state have hugely diminished. Of particular significance is the fact that the old order is in the process of giving way to an emerging order characterised increasingly by multipolarity.  Major power rivalry and geopolitical tension are on the rise. Unilateral action and protectionism are gaining momentum. The United Nations (UN) faces an existential crisis.  International law is under enormous assault.  All of these pose a direct and serious risk to Africa.

This policy brief presents a brief assessment of the current state of Africa’s engagement with major powers and its readiness for advancing its interests in view of the deep shifts in the global context. Based on such assessment and having regard to the efforts of other parts of the world for repositioning themselves, the brief outlines the kind of major strategic shifts that Africa needs to adopt promptly for repositioning itself for the new international order and to ameliorate the perils the state of the world poses to Africa.

Peacekeeping faces unprecedented challenges, driven by rapidly evolving security threats, complex global geopolitics, and shifting priorities among Member States. While talk of the ‘end of peacekeeping’ may be overstated, the foundational consensus that has long supported peacekeeping missions has faded, if not collapsed. In response, the international community—including policymakers, scholars, and peacekeeping practitioners—is engaged in a deep reassessment of peacekeeping’s role, relevance, and the strategies required to adapt and make it fit for these changes and challenges.

This policy brief presents an analysis of the major themes and insights that emerged from a day-long conference that Amani Africa convened on 19 March 2025 based on the UN Commissioned Independent Study on the Future of Peacekeeping.

This policy brief provides an update on what transpired during the 24th Extraordinary Session of the Executive Council.   During the 38th ordinary session of the African Union (AU) Assembly held last February, the issue that attracted the most attention was the elections of the AU Commission and the members of the PSC. As discussed in our various analyses on the elections, the AU Commission elections for two portfolios could not proceed. As such, a decision was taken for the election process to open promptly and for the Executive Council to hold an extraordinary session to hold the elections on 15 April 2025. As part of this extraordinary session, it was also decided that the Executive Council would hold an election for membership in the PSC for the seat of the North Africa region.

2024 marked the 75^th anniversary of the Geneva Conventions(GCs) of 1949. On 16 September 2024, the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) Delegation to the African Union (AU) and the Swiss Mission in Addis Ababa, convened a high-level event to commemorate the anniversary. This policy brief, produced within the framework of our partnership with the ICRC Delegation to the AU, presents an analysis of the major themes and insights that emerged from the commemoration event.

The first section of the policy brief provides a synthesis of the main insights into the achievements of the Geneva Conventions and why they remain vital today. Considering the various significant global developments, the second section identifies the existing and emerging challenges facing the Conventions and IHL in general. The third section draws the lessons and insights from experiences shared during the event. In part four, the policy brief explores the key role of various stakeholders in reaffirming the continued importance of IHL. Finally, it concludes with key messages and recommendations.

The election of the 5 members of the Peace and Security Council (PSC) of the African Union (AU) was held on 12 February 2025 at the 46th Ordinary Session of the Executive Council in line with its delegated power pursuant to Decision Assembly/AU/Dec.106(VI) of the sixth Ordinary Session of the AU Assembly. The outcome of the elections was endorsed by the 38th Ordinary Session of the Assembly held on 15 and 16 February 2025. While providing an update on the conduct and outcome of the election, this policy brief also highlights some of the dynamics that transpired during the election and the new composition of the PSC.

The mandate of the five (5) Members of the African Union (AU) Peace and Security Council (PSC), who were elected for a three-year term in February 2022 during the 35th AU Summit, will end on 31 March 2025. The rotating three-year term five seats are accordingly up for grabs during the 38th Ordinary Session of the AU Assembly scheduled to take place on 12-16 February 2025 in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia.

The elections of the African Union (AU) Commission leadership are expected to dominate the 38th Ordinary Session of the African Union (AU) Assembly (AU Summit) scheduled to take place from 12 to 16 February 2025. The elections of the AU Commission leadership are significant on their own, considering the influence that they wield in the decision-making processes of the AU. Additionally, and perhaps more significantly, these elections occupy special significance on account of the timing and geopolitical context in which they are being held.

With the deadline for the submission of candidates coming to an end this week on the 6^th of August 2024, the process for the 2025 African Union (AU) Commission elections has reached an important milestone. Through this factsheet, this policy brief presents what the list of candidates tells us about the 2025 elections and the next steps in the electoral process, as it relates to the position of six Commissioners in particular.