My people, the gist wey dey flow for the African Union (AU) reform matter no be small! For 2016, dem start this journey wey dem talk go fit make the AU waka better for Africa matter. But wetin we dey see? Na like say dem just dey play for field!
The real yawa be say, while dem dey shout ‘African solutions for African problems,’ dem dey run go carry foreign palava help them solve Africa wahala. E be like say dem no dey take African-led initiatives serious again. My friend, how we go do am ehn? Hmmm!
Even the big ogas wey suppose support these African initiatives dey show apathy, as dem don dey side external help. One senior AU official even yarn say the main wahala no be whether their policies fine or not, but the support from member states no dey align! This one no fit help as AU dey try stand for peace and security wahala.
For the last ten years, AU don dey push make peace matter dey serious, but nations like Sudan, DRC, South Sudan and others na still dey fall hand for conflict. Dem say external powers dey regain control like na dem dem be OBO of conflict resolution, while AU dey chill for corner.
The issues wey dey affect the AU no be small, oo! When UNA and UN don just take over peacekeeping missions for Mali, Central African Republic and wetin we call Burundi, e don show say wahala dey!
From 2013-2023, dem start to dey see say Regional Economic Communities (RECs) like ECOWAS dey handle dem wahala for peace instead of waiting make AU do e. Everybody dey do their own, and power no dey distribute well. Na wetin we go do to fix am?
For example, the M23 rebellion for DRC show us say we need make everybody join body. But with all the local differences and politics, e make coordination hard, wey no gree make security better. As the EAC and SADC dey try, dem no connect well and just withdraw without any success.
Even the AU don try call the RECs together under one umbrella, but external powers dey still carry plenty weight pass. The last meeting for Togo na one of the many wey dem try fit put together one mediation framework, but how far? Na the AU dey lead the charge, but e get as the influence don dey lack.
Come talk of Sudan, dem dey see how tough e be for AU to balance the local and international meddling. The US-Saudi deal for ceasefire show say the one wey get influence pass dey win the game, while AU dey just dey follow. E be like survival of the fittest for negotiation, and na who sabi cry loudest dey collect the crown!
As for the Sahel area, na there we dey see the difference between wetin dem talk and wetin dem gree do. While Russia dey flex muscle for region, AU and ECOWAS still dey slack for committing their force to fight violent issues.
My pipo, the gist no be say AU dey bad, but dem need to wake up, wise up, and start work with member states to put more energy into AU-led initiatives. The senior researcher, Priyal Singh dey yarn say if dem fit win the support of the big powers for Africa, maybe things go change small-small.
Pata-pata, we sabi say the solution no go come easy. Collective action dey important, no just for mouth, but as strategic investment for stability. Make we dey watch how this wahala go play out for future, because Africa no fit afford make dis kind of body continue like this! E go need unity and real action, no be just for talk!
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