Military Takeover or Coffee Break? AU Can’t Decide

What started as a routine African Union meeting quickly turned into a mess. The delegate from Tunisia couldn’t seem to sit still, moving around a lot and catching puzzled looks from others — more lively than focused on the discussion. When the Chairs brought up a serious crisis, instead of paying attention, many delegates complained or just seemed uninterested. The room was filled with chatter, making it hard to keep any order. The delegate from the USA tried to wrap up the unmoderated caucus, but was cut off by side conversations and cross-talk. Rather than serious debate, it felt like people were grouped off chatting and getting distracted.

As the crisis got worse, the delegates stayed scattered and disorganised. Instead of coming together with a clear plan, decisions were all over the place and often skipped the usual formal steps. When it became clear the choice was between letting foreign powers take over Africa’s military forces or watching Nigeria fall into chaos, the delegates reluctantly decided that saving lives had to come first. So, they agreed to let external forces take military control. The African Union, which is supposed to be the continent’s united voice and protector, seemed divided and forced into a tough decision.

Jusdrin K. Andieman

CNN