Coups, crises and the path to peace: Angola’s president defuses Africa’s mines
Angolan President João Lourenço is charting a path toward peace in Africa, seeking to defuse the crises raging across the continent, from Sudan to eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo.
He delivered these remarks on Saturday at the 39th African Union summit held in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, in his capacity as outgoing chair of the continental body.
The summit brings together a broad range of heads of state and government in a highly complex regional and international context, where security challenges intersect with development pressures and constraints on financing strategic projects.
Warning and roadmap
In his opening address, João Lourenço warned of the escalating conflicts, crises, and coups d’état affecting the continent. He expressed Angola’s reservations regarding the African Union’s approach toward countries that experienced military coups and were subsequently readmitted after elections overseen by the coup leaders themselves.
He argued that “this approach risks undermining continental peace and security, as it may encourage unconstitutional changes of government, given the possibility of a swift return to African Union institutions through elections lacking genuine national consensus.”
The Angolan president also addressed the situation in Sudan, describing the humanitarian crisis as a “catastrophe requiring an urgent international response,” amid the displacement of millions of civilians and widespread violations.
He called for an immediate cessation of hostilities and the protection of civilians, stressing the need for coordinated regional and international efforts to end the conflict.
João Lourenço underscored the urgency of “silencing the guns” in Africa and implementing effective solutions, pledging to continue working toward resolving the complex conflicts that have devastated Sudan and the Democratic Republic of the Congo.
Since 2021, the latter has faced an insurgency by the M23 movement, which has seized control of major cities in North Kivu and South Kivu, in a conflict that persists despite regional and international mediation efforts.
In his speech, João Lourenço also proposed convening an extraordinary African presidential summit dedicated to addressing conflicts and ongoing security crises burdening the continent.
The aim, he explained, is to develop practical solutions to break the cycle of violence that hampers Africa’s development, emphasizing that the initiative requires collective backing from African leaders.
At the forefront of challenges
The summit is addressing a range of security, political, and economic challenges facing the continent.
This year’s summit is held under the theme “Ensuring sustainable access to water and safe sanitation systems to achieve the goals of Agenda 2063,” reflecting a shift in the water issue from a traditional service-oriented framework to a comprehensive continental security priority, as a cornerstone of stability, development, and integration.
The meeting takes place at a critical juncture for Africa, marked by ongoing armed conflicts and coups alongside debt crises and slowing international financial flows. This context compels African leaders to reassess continental priorities and strengthen collective coordination mechanisms to confront the complex risks threatening stability and growth.
Burundi assumes the presidency
Burundian President Évariste Ndayishimiye assumed the rotating presidency of the African Union for 2026 from João Lourenço.
In his inaugural remarks, he called for strengthening African unity to restore dignity and cohesion across the continent.
He pledged neutrality regarding continental issues, stating that “the numerous security crises, within a geopolitical landscape marked by multiple challenges, require respect for dialogue and international law.”
He committed to promoting peace, security, stability, and development in Africa, affirming his determination to resolve conflicts, restore peace, and make every effort to advance the initiative to silence the guns.
