African Union

Continental organization of 55 African states, headquartered in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia. - Brokered 2022 Pretoria Agreement; faces test as peace unravels

Ethiopian Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed won the 2019 Nobel Peace Prize for ending a 20-year standoff with Eritrea. Now he's publicly accusing Eritrean troops of massacring Ethiopian civilians during their joint war against Tigray—a war they fought together as allies. In a February 3 address to parliament, Abiy stated Eritrean forces 'massacred our youth in Axum, looted factories in Adwa, and uprooted our factories,' marking the first time Ethiopian leadership has officially acknowledged Eritrean atrocities documented by human rights groups since 2020. Critically, Abiy reframed the Ethiopia-Eritrea rift as rooted in these Tigray-era crimes rather than his push for Red Sea access, claiming he had sent envoys to Eritrea during the war urging them to halt the killings. Eritrea's Information Minister dismissed the claims as 'cheap and despicable lies' and accused Abiy of using atrocity allegations as cover for a 'reckless and illicit war agenda.'

Updated Feb 5

Pan-African organization of 55 member states committed to continental integration and the inviolability of colonial-era borders. - Firmly rejected Israeli recognition of Somaliland

On December 26, 2025, Israel became the first UN member state to recognize Somaliland as independent—34 years after the region broke from Somalia during a brutal civil war. Prime Minister Netanyahu called President Abdullahi to announce full diplomatic ties, framing the move as aligned with the Abraham Accords and citing Somaliland's fight against terrorism. Within days, the diplomatic shockwave intensified: Somalia's parliament unanimously declared the recognition 'null and void,' the UN Security Council convened an emergency session, and 21 Muslim-majority nations issued a joint condemnation—though Abraham Accords signatories conspicuously abstained. By early January 2026, Israeli Foreign Minister Gideon Saar became the first Israeli cabinet minister to visit Somaliland, meeting President Abdullahi in Hargeisa on January 6 and announcing plans to 'soon' open embassies and appoint ambassadors. The African Union Peace and Security Council responded with an emergency ministerial session demanding 'immediate revocation,' declaring the recognition 'null, void, and without legal effect under international law.'

Updated Jan 30

Continental union of 55 African member states representing African governments and populations affected by the visa pause. - Condemned visa freeze; called for balanced, evidence-based approach

The U.S. has barred immigrants based on economic status since 1882. On January 21, 2026, the State Department suspended immigrant visa processing for 75 countries—more than a third of the world's nations—citing concerns that applicants might someday use public benefits. The pause affects green card applicants from Afghanistan to Uruguay, including spouses and children of U.S. citizens, with no announced end date. The suspension came one month after the administration paused the Diversity Visa lottery entirely following a campus shooting, leaving over 125,000 DV-2026 winners in limbo.

Updated Jan 23