The African Union under new leadership, a hope for reform and rebranding

There might be a light at the end of the tunnel after all for the AU as new governance pledges to correct decades of errors.

In what marks a pivotal chapter in Africa’s political evolution, the African Union (AU) is undergoing a rebrand of its leadership and institutional structure. 

Mekki Elmograbi, a former diplomat in Washington D.C., explains that the new leadership involves people who are trusted among Africans and expats–something that was not the case with previous administrations. This growing trust reflects a broader shift toward accountability and representation within the organization, signaling hope for more inclusive and responsive governance.

Elmograbi believes there is a possibility to rebrand the AU from a body criticised over its inability to tackle critical issues, to one that is better coordinated, and aligns with Africa’s regional economic communities, as well as, other international multilateral bodies.

At the forefront of this transformation is newly elected chairman Mahamoud Ali Youssouf, a Djiboutian diplomat with a vision to lead the continent away from a legacy of instability and foreign reliance toward one defined by resilience, innovation, and unity. His leadership arrives at a time when Africa faces mounting geopolitical pressures and internal calls for reform. 

Also a former Minister of Foreign Affairs and government Spokesperson of the Republic of Djibouti, Youssouf’s appointment signals more than a change in personnel — it reflects a strategic shift in how the AU positions itself in a rapidly changing global landscape.

With that being said, this leadership rebrand is not just symbolic. It is anchored in Youssouf’s mission to modernize the AU’s internal mechanisms and reframe its global image. During his inauguration, he affirmed his commitment to raise the organisation “to the level of our peoples’ expectations,” he stated. Furthering his pledge to create new, effective systems, he continued. “We must breathe new life into our organization, strengthen our unity and assert Africa’s place in the concert of nations.”

As Youssouf mentioned, central to his agenda is a stronger focus on peace and security alongside sustainable development — key pillars of a transformation meant to empower African citizens and assert the continent’s voice on the world stage. This vision demands not only internal reform but also strategic diplomacy to navigate an increasingly complex global scene.

As the AU redefines its governance, Youssouf’s chairmanship will test how effectively the organization can embody its renewed identity while pursuing deeper partnerships with world powers like the EU and China.

A generation of fresh faces and innovative ideas

At the front line of AU’s leadership transformation is a new wave of high-profile appointments. Senior leadership includes Angolan President João Lourenço, who was elected as the  African Union Chairperson (AUC) during the 38th Ordinary Session in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia. During his acceptance speech, he highlighted in particular the advantages of cooperating in a developed and industrialized Africa, with the capacity to overcome hunger, poverty and misery, “thus reducing the likelihood of armed conflicts.”

Another significant appointment underscoring the body’s commitment to inclusivity is Deputy Chairperson Selma Malika Haddadi. Directly under Youssouf, Haddadi is an Algerian diplomat making history as the second woman to hold the position. Her appointment marked a huge stepping stone towards the Union’s strategy on Gender Equality and Women’s Empowerment (GEWE) 2018-2028 which was launched during the AU Summit February 2019.

Haddadi’s diplomatic career includes roles as Algeria’s Ambassador to Kenya and South Sudan. As well, she served as Deputy Head of Mission at the Algerian Embassy in Ethiopia and the AU. 

In the role as chair, she has made a commitment to reinforce the AU’s global standing and ensure the effective implementation of its Agenda 2063—a blueprint for Africa’s sustainable development and economic transformation.

Building on this leadership shift, while their appointments bring new hope, especially for women in leadership, the pressing demands from Africa’s youth for greater accountability cannot be ignored.

Africa’s Gen Z and Millennials call for an upgrade in governance

Younger populations across the continent continue to demand government accountability regarding poor leadership practices such as corruption and mismanagement of conflicts. Young Africans, who often bear the brunt of violence and instability, view this institutional silence and inaction as a betrayal of the AU’s mandate to protect peace and security on the continent. 

Through social media and recurring protests, the youth pressured Youssouf to pledge support and strengthen if elected to the African Union Commission (AUC). Acquiescing, he detailed to address key challenges, like the inability to effectively respond to armed conflicts and humanitarian crises. Hence, these promises, hopefully, will restore the people’s trust in the Union where previous leadership are responsible for decades of rising dissatisfaction.

During the old regime, a great deal of popular figures called out the inefficiencies of the AU in particular over-reliance on external funding. To start, popular Zimbabwean physician and diplomat, Arikana Chihombori-Quao was one of the most vocal critics. So much so, her outspoken views brought both support and controversy. 

Chihombori-Quao is one of the leading voices for Pan-Africanism. Having served in various capacities for the AU before her appointment— including being its former ambassador to the U.S.—the Ghanaian national has also voiced her disapproval of Western powers. Chihombori-Quao opines that the U.S. continues to impose unfair trade agreements that force inequitable trade deals onto African governments. 

In 2019, it was alleged that she was fired from her position due to her bold opinions on France’s occupation and hold over its former African colonies. However, the former spokeswoman for the AU chairman’s office, Ebba Kalondo, told CNN that Chihombori-Quao actually had arrived at the end of her political appointment after spending three years in the position. He insisted that to imply she was being punished for her views was false.

While there are differing accounts regarding Chihombori-Quao’s departure, broader criticisms about the African Union’s effectiveness and priorities persist. Adriano Nuvunga, a human rights advocate and head of Mozambique’s NGO Center for Democracy and Development (CDD), declared that the founding of the Organization of African Unity (the original name of the AU) on May 25, 1963, symbolized the liberation of African peoples and their hopes for a brighter future. However, he now sees the AU as an organization that primarily serves the interests of the powerful, describing it as toothless and ineffective, repeatedly failing to guarantee prosperity, security, and peace for all Africans.

The criticism continues to escalate, Elmograbi refers to Moussa Faki Mahamet’s AU leadership (2007-2025), as the “most awful” era. The international press writer told The Ark that he started to cover African affairs from 2006, but during Faki Mahamat’s time as the head of the AU, he witnessed heavy polarisation and intervention.” 

Elmograbi pointed to Faki Mahamat’s handling of the Sudan dispute remarking, “when there was a dispute among [Sudanese] civilian and military leaders in October 2021, the partnership collapsed.” He expounded, “there was a need to send a fact-finding mission to mediate before making any decisions, to avoid taking sides.” 

To add more background, Sudan is facing one of the most challenging periods in its modern history as the ongoing conflict between the Sudanese Armed Forces (SAF) and the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF) plunges the nation deeper into turmoil.

The Court of Public Opinion 

On social media platforms, others question the body’s sovereignty, especially regarding funding concerns. Podcaster Wanjira Wanjiru took to X to say, “the African Union is not funded by African states.” She continues by stating that its reliance on outside financial support has led to its silence on critical issues like Congo, Sudan, and Ethiopia, and more recently, attacks from the U.S.

This perspective reflects a broader sentiment shared by key young figures within the continent who have begun to challenge the ongoing reliance on external financial support.”

“Even though the AU is an institution that is African in name, the majority of the body comes from the European Union, which means the AU does not work [i]n Africa’s interest,”  investigative journalist and researcher David Hundeyin expressed to Ark Republic. 

Finance remains a key stumbling block for the AU. As Youssouf was keen to stress, 70% of the eastern governing body’s programmes are funded by external partners. 

Financial sustainability was a recommendation from a review conducted under Rwandan President Paul Kagame. Yet, it is still far from resolved. Africa, he thinks, has the capacity to fund its programmes and must find ways to ensure that it does.

In terms of external partners, the influence of foreign powers often outweighs the needs and voices of African nations. Typically, leading to policies that many believe serve outside interests rather than the well-being of the continent’s people. This imbalance, Hundeyin argues, is a significant barrier to achieving true autonomy and progress for Africa.

Still on the non-ending list of criticisms, in the last few years the continent has witnessed an increase in the number of successful coups. Regardless of some measures taken by the AU to  manage the situation, such as suspensions and condemnations, its ability to enforce these measures has been limited. In many countries, coups followed prolonged political crises or constitutional tampering. Critics argue the AU failed to proactively mediate before tensions escalated and showed bias or silence toward sitting presidents hence undermining democracy.

Still, questions linger about future heads of state

To deal with ongoing challenges, some experts suggest that a change in leadership within the AU could lead to more effective solutions.

One way Elmograbi plans to serve with more efficiency, is expecting that the AU under new authority, should bring back suspended members. “It is true that we need democracy, it is not okay to have a military coup,” he surmised. However, he stated that there are other ways of mediation that could be implemented rather than the sanctions. 

In terms of youth empowerment promoted in recent years, Hafeed Abdallah, a journalist and researcher on East African conflicts, insisted that more must be done. He questions the ability of providing real opportunities for Africans especially in education and employment. Abdallah added, “that depends entirely on the new leadership and inter-African cooperation. At the very least, I hope it raises awareness and lays a foundation.”

He urged the new regime to learn from the mistakes of the previous one especially in matters of handling conflicts and poor governance, so the continent can experience real change. “[I]f it repeats the same errors, [the new AU administration] will simply be the same useless medicine in a new sugar coat.”

While the African Union faced considerable challenges in effectively remedying the continent’s political and socio-economic issues, both Elmograbi and Abdallah highlight the crucial role of new leadership in driving meaningful change. 

Elmograbi called for a more dynamic approach to mediation and moving beyond sanctions, while Abdallah stressed the need for genuine opportunities for African youth in education and employment. 

While their focal points differ, both perspectives converge on a shared understanding of what it takes to achieve lasting change. Both emphasize that real progress will only be possible if the leadership learns from past mistakes, avoiding repetitive failures and laying a solid foundation for a more prosperous and democratic future.

With bold ambition to drive Agenda 2063, the question remains, can Youssouf’s leadership, and other colleagues in the AU deliver both structural reform and visionary unity? If his diplomatic track record is any indication, the AU may well be entering its most significant era yet.