The African Union is less effective at 20 than it was at two
Its enforcement of democratic norms is slipping
IT WAS A birthday commemorated in style. In the heart of Ethiopia’s capital, Addis Ababa, the seat of the African Union (AU), water fountains erupted and champagne glasses clinked as heads of state and assorted dignitaries tucked into a four-course meal to the sound of sultry jazz.
This article appeared in the Middle East & Africa section of the print edition under the headline “Older and less wise”
From the February 12th 2022 edition
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The budget that will determine South Africa’s future
It could make or break its governing coalition
A horrific killing spree shakes Syria
Fresh atrocities suggest a country spiralling out of control
Lebanon’s new government must do three big things immediately
It needs money to reform, but donors want to see reforms before they write cheques
Why some Africans see opportunity in foreign-aid cuts
They want to be more self-reliant. But that will not be easy
Israel’s army adopts a high-stakes new strategy: more terrain
It remains present inside Syria, Lebanon, Gaza and the West Bank
The sea is swallowing an African island
In Sierra Leone, adjusting to a warmer climate is getting harder