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Flags in front of the AU logo on a wall inside the headquarters of the African Union in Addis Ababa.
Image: Han Xu/Xinhua/picture alliance

African Union (AU)

The African Union (AU) is a union consisting of 55 African states. Its goal is to promote political and economic cooperation on the continent.

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All Content on this topic

Mogadishu Mayor Abdirahman Omar Osman is seen at an event in Mogadishu, Somalia April 19, 2017.

Mogadishu mayor dies after al-Shabab attack

Mogadishu mayor Abdirahman Omar Osman has died in a Qatari clinic, a week after extremists targeted his office.
ConflictsAugust 1, 2019
Nigeria Demo für die Freilassung von Ibraheem Zakzaky

Africalink on Air - 29 July 2019

Nigerian Shiite sect condemns terrorist group labeling by court+++AU endorses Swiss mediation to end Anglophone crisis.
PoliticsJuly 29, 201930:00 min
A child solider looks through a rifle trigger guard

Stemming the flow of illicit arms in Africa

Illicit arms continue to fuel numerous conflicts, as the African Union aims for a blanket ceasefire by 2020.
ConflictsJuly 26, 2019
AU commission chairman Moussa Faki Mahamat, Egyptian President Abdel Fattahal-Sisi and Nigerien President Mahamadou Issoufou shake hands on the African free trade zone agreement

Africa's free trade agreement: Will it work?

Reactions to the newly signed African free trade agreement are decidedly mixed.
BusinessJuly 9, 2019
Niger Treffen der afrikanischen Union in Niamey - Muhammadu Buhari

AfricaLink on Air - 08 July 2019

African leaders launch a continental free-trade zone ++ICC finds former Congolese warlord Bosco Ntaganda guilty.
PoliticsJuly 8, 201930:00 min
Staecker Claus Kommentarbild App

Africa's new free trade zone is still just a dream

Claus Stäcker
Whether a new free trade zone in Africa realizes its enormous potential is up to the nations participating in it.
BusinessJuly 8, 2019
African Union summit in Niger on July 7, 2019

African leaders launch landmark free trade zone

The free-trade zone will unite 1.3 billion people and create a $3.4 trillion economic bloc across the African Union.
BusinessJuly 7, 2019
Gikomba market in Nairobi, Kenya

Africa's future – more than free trade

The AU wants to move forward with its Agenda 2063, but many areas show little progress.
PoliticsJuly 5, 2019
A protester on the street in Khartoum In late June

Sudan military and opposition agree to share power

A plan from the military council and civilian protest leaders envisages a rotating presidency and shared ruling council.
PoliticsJuly 5, 2019
Sudanese protesters set up a barricade on a street, demanding that the country's Transitional Military Council hand over power to civilians

African Union suspends Sudan

Calls for the bloc to take action mounted after a crackdown by the army this week, in which scores were killed.
PoliticsJune 6, 2019
Afrikanische Union Gebäude Außenansicht Äthiopien Addis Ababa

AfricaLink on Air - 06 June 2019

AU suspends Sudan until civilian-led authority established+++ Liberia braces for the biggest opposition demonstration
PoliticsJune 6, 201929:59 min
A Rwandan security officer on guard at the first checkpoint of the Rwandan side of Gatuna border

Africa's road to free trade

Africa is inching closer to economic integration with the entry into force of a continent-wide free trade zone.
BusinessMay 30, 2019
A man looks up at a giant poster of el-Sissi

Can el-Sissi make Egypt great again?

Abdel-Fattah el-Sissi is now Egypt's most powerful president ever. But can he restore Egypt to leader of the Arab world?
PoliticsApril 29, 2019
Äthiopien Gipfeltreffen der Afrikanischen Union in Addis Abeba

AfricaLink on Air - 23 April 2019

AU gives Sudan's transitional military council 3 months to hand over power to civilians+++Mali has a new prime minister.
PoliticsApril 23, 201929:59 min
Sudan l nach Putsch l Proteste gegen Militärrat

AfricaLink on Air - 22 April 2019

AU intervenes in Sudan crisis after transitional talks break down+++Bobi Wine seeks a peaceful protest after music ban.
PoliticsApril 22, 201929:59 min
Omar al-Bashir

Sudan's Bashir held in Khartoum prison

Sudan President Omar al-Bashir has been transferred to prison after a coup ended his three-decade rule.
PoliticsApril 17, 2019
Sudan Proteste in Khartum

AfricaLink on Air - 15 April 2019

AU calls on Sudan military council to hand over power to civilians+++Mozambique still reeling from cyclone Idai disaster
PoliticsApril 15, 201930:00 min
Somalische Friedensmission

AfricaLink on Air - 20 February 2019

Burundi rejects call to withdraw troops from Somalia+++S African government to bail out cash strapped state power firm
PoliticsFebruary 20, 201929:59 min
A South African woman holds up her passport to the camera

Tackling statelessness in Africa

Africa has one of the largest stateless populations in the world, however the issue remains poorly understood.
SocietyFebruary 12, 2019
Äthiopien Gipfeltreffen der Afrikanischen Union in Addis Abeba Übergabe AU-Vorsitz

AfricaLink on Air - 11 February 2019

The Africa Union vows to support migrants and the displaced as summit closes+++Stateless people in Kenya want ID’s
PoliticsFebruary 11, 201930:00 min
The November 2018 African Union assembly meeting in Addis Ababa

Egypt's president takes chair of African Union

After being suspended from the African Union in 2013, Egypt is seeking to enhance its standing in Africa.
PoliticsFebruary 10, 2019
A young African man, his head wrapped in a scarf, looks out from a truck full of migrants

African Union to address continent's refugee crisis

DW journalists have analysed Africa's refugee crisis: Internally displaced people are the most vulnerable.
PoliticsFebruary 9, 2019
African heads of state and governments pose during an African Union summit for the agreement to establish the African Continental Free Trade Area in Kigali, Rwanda

Africa's free trade zone 'on course'

The AU wants to build the largest free trade market in Africa but not all members are on board.
PoliticsFebruary 8, 2019
Photo of German President Frank-Walter Steinmeier, wearing a suit and tie

German president: 'It's the right time to visit Ethiopia'

Before leaving for Ethiopia, the German president shares his thoughts with DW on the country's reforms.
PoliticsJanuary 25, 2019
A member of Congo's National Election Commission sits counting the votes

Realpolitik wins the day in the DRC

The national and international consensus seems to be that stability is more important than democratic ideals.
PoliticsJanuary 21, 2019
external

Despite a AU call

DR Congo’s government will not delay the release of the final results from the presidential election.
January 18, 201901:27 min
A member of DR Congo's electoral commission inspects ballots in Kinshasa

DR Congo: Constitutional Court to rule on election result

Congo has rebuffed AU calls for the Constitutional Court to delay announcing the final result of DRC's recent election.
PoliticsJanuary 18, 2019
The AU Comission chair Mousa Faki Mahamat/AA/M. W. Hailu)

It's time for the AU to act on questionable election results

It is not clear why the AU has spoken out on the results of the DR Congo elections.
PoliticsJanuary 18, 2019
People counting ballots in Congo

AU urges Congo to suspend final election announcement

The African Union has said "serious doubts" remain over election results in Democratic Republic of Congo.
PoliticsJanuary 18, 2019
Österreich EU-Afrika-Forum in Wien

Africa will shape Europe, says Juncker

Africa will shape Europe's future, the EU's Jean-Claude Juncker has told an investment forum in anti-migrant Austria
PoliticsDecember 18, 2018
Symbolbild Nigeria Armee

AfricaLink on Air - 18 December 2018

Nigeria accuses Amnesty of destabilizing the country+++Reporters Without Borders says 80 journalists killed in 2018
PoliticsDecember 18, 201829:58 min
Nigeria, ehemaliger Vizepräsident Atiku Abubakar

Africa Link on Air - 19 November 2018

Nigeria's opposition leader Abubakar releases his manifesto+++AU leaders agree reforms to reduce donor dependence
PoliticsNovember 19, 201830:00 min
Paul Kagame, AU chair and president of Rwanda, addressing the continental body in Ethiopia

AU wants to top up its own kitty in overall reform bid

Kagame has made little headway in getting AU members to pay their dues.
PoliticsNovember 19, 2018
The European Union flag waves in the breeze

EU and developing states begin tricky negotiations

It's time for fresh negotiations under the Cotonou Agreement. But it's proving more difficult than expected.
PoliticsOctober 23, 2018
Militia members stand next to a vehicle armed with heavy weaponry

Libya militias agree UN ceasefire in Tripoli

The UN has hailed a deal to "end all hostilities" and "protect civilians" after days of deadly clashes in the capital.
ConflictsSeptember 5, 2018
A mangled rickshaw damaged in the blast

Several dead in Mogadishu car bombing

Militant group al-Shabab claimed responsibility for the blast, which destroyed a mosque and an Islamic school.
TerrorismSeptember 2, 2018
external

Mali opposition alleges fraud

Opposition candidate Soumaila Cisse has said he would reject the results of a presidential runoff.
PoliticsAugust 14, 201801:43 min
Symbolbild - Smartphone Stress

Africa Link on Air - 02 July 2018

Al Qaeda-affiliate group claims attack on French troops in Mali +++Uganda goes ahead to tax social media users
PoliticsJuly 2, 201830:00 min
African leaders gather for the 31st African Union summit in Nouakchott, Mauritania

AU summit opens amid new Mali attack

African leaders have gathered for talks on combating extremism ahead of a meeting with the French president.
PoliticsJuly 2, 2018
Simbabwe neuer Präsident Mnangagwa

Africa Link on Air - 30 May 2018

Zimbabwe court rules diasporans cannot vote in July 30 elections+++Rwanda defends Arsenal FC sponsorship deal
PoliticsMay 30, 201829:59 min
Moussa Faki

The African Union 17 years on: Success or failure?

Most observers agree that there is still room for improvement in the African Union.
PoliticsMay 26, 2018
Ruanda Kigali Unterzeichnung Afrikanisches Freihandelsabkommen

Africa Link on Air - 25 May 2018

Journalists unearth how politicians stash millions in tax payers money abroad+++Why are many people skeptical of AU?
PoliticsMay 25, 201829:59 min
Ramadan Islam Religion

Life in Mogadishu

Despite terror threats by al-Shabab insurgents, life in Somalia is relatively calm thanks to the peacekeeping forces.
ConflictsMay 9, 201801:24 min

Maas prioritizes German-African relations

Ludger Schadomsky
Germany's new top diplomat showed himself to be a reliable partner during his inaugural visit to Africa.
PoliticsMay 5, 2018
German Foreign Minister Heiko Maas (SPD)

German foreign minister makes first visit to Africa

The German foreign minister wants to maintain the dialogue with Africa as he visits Ethiopia and Tanzania this week.
PoliticsMay 2, 2018

Is Africa's new free trade zone just a pipe dream?

Ludger Schadomsky
Hurdles must still be overcome before the CFTA can fulfil its promise, says DW's Ludger Schadomsky
BusinessMarch 22, 2018
04.2015 DW Business Sendungslogo

DW Business – Europe & America

Federal Reserve hikes key interest rates – EU targets US tech giants
BusinessMarch 21, 201811:21 min
Kigali, Rwanda - Fourty-four countries sign African free trade agreement

African countries agree to giant trade bloc

The deal would create the largest free trade zone in the world by participating countries.
PoliticsMarch 21, 2018
The African Union's flag

African Union's plans for free trade divide Africa

The African Union wants to introduce free trade in Africa. The issue is proving divisive.
BusinessMarch 20, 2018
Moussa Faki, chairperson of the African Union Commission

'Only dialogue can promote democracy'

The African Union wants the same international support as Iraq and Syria to fight terrorism on the continent.
PoliticsFebruary 19, 2018