The Chairperson of the African Union Commission, Mahmoud Ali Youssouf, has warned that growing geopolitical tensions, conflicts and extremism are undermining the international rules-based order.
Speaking at the 7th African Union-European Union Summit in Luanda, Angola, on Monday, he said the world now faces “deep uncertainty” as long-standing global norms come under strain.
Youssouf cautioned that international law is being weakened at the very moment Africa is grappling with its own political, security and development crises.
He argued that the continent must assert itself more forcefully in a global environment where “the rules of the World Trade Organization are being dismantled” and the United Nations Security Council remains constrained by “conflicts of interest and antagonism among major powers.”
He reaffirmed Africa’s demand for permanent representation at the UN Security Council in line with the Ezulwini Consensus, and called for fairer representation for African countries within global financial institutions.
The AU chief also renewed his call for a comprehensive reform of the international financial architecture, saying Africa continues to face disproportionately high capital costs that hinder growth and stability.
He concluded with an appeal for “stronger and more sustainable multilateralism built on equality, respect for all nations and the pursuit of shared global interests.”
