Libya, DRC, Somalia, Sahel: Can the AU really Silence the Guns?

Ovigwe Eguegu

Given conflict in Libya, the cycle of militant attacks in the East of the DRC, and regular attacks across the Sahel and in Somalia, the guns are far from quiet.

Does the African Union have the political skills to silence them?

African heads of state are at the African Union (AU) headquarters in Addis-Ababa, Ethiopia for the 33rd AU summit. The theme of the two-day summit is “Silencing the Guns: Creating Conducive Conditions for Africa’s Development.”

But a closer look at the conflict dynamics in Africa may cause anyone to question the AU’s capacity to silence the guns.

The “Silence the Guns by 2020” initiative was launched back in 2013 to achieve a conflict-free Africa, prevent genocide, make peace a reality for all, and rid the continent of wars, violent conflicts, and human rights violations by 2020.

During the summit, leaders will review the progress made so far