Middle East & Africa | Older and less wise

The African Union is less effective at 20 than it was at two

Its enforcement of democratic norms is slipping

Shouting coup in a crowded theatre
|ADDIS ABABA

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”

When the ride ends

From the February 12th 2022 edition

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