Can the AU remain relevant as Africa struggles to consolidate democracy?
As leaders gather for the African Union summit, the seminar will assess how this continental body is responding to new challenges.
Date: 2015-01-28
Time: 08:00 to 09:30
Venue: Conference room
, ISS Addis Ababa
, Get House Building
, Africa Avenue
, Meskel Square
, map
RSVP: Mariamawit Wole
Email: [email protected]
As a significant number of countries across Africa go to the polls in 2015 and 2016, several issues including removing constitutional term limits, the overthrow of governments through popular uprisings, and more general risks of election-related violence are set to test the African Union (AU) and its norms. Recent events in Egypt and Burkina Faso highlight the question of how the AU can and should deal with unconstitutional changes of government. Attempts by incumbents to remove constitutional term limits in order to extend mandates will also continue to be a major policy challenge in future.
The seminar will look at the limits of the AU’s existing framework to address these issues and how the AU can prepare itself to effectively and proactively respond. Speakers will discuss situations in West and Central Africa.
Chair: Berouk Mesfin, Senior Researcher, Conflict Prevention and Risk Analysis division, ISS Addis Ababa
Speakers:
- Stephanie Wolters, Head, Conflict Prevention and Risk Analysis division, ISS
- Lori-Anne Benoni-Theroux, Head, ISS Dakar
- Solomon Ayele Dersso, Project Leader, Peace and Security Council Report, ISS Addis Ababa
