African leaders gathered for the African Union summit against a backdrop of renewed conflict and geopolitical rivalry, with calls for urgent action on security and economic stability across the continent.
South African President Cyril Ramaphosa urged an immediate ceasefire in South Sudan, pressing rival factions to return to negotiations and prevent further regional destabilisation.
Ramaphosa said sustained violence in South Sudan threatens not only civilians but also wider stability in East Africa, warning that prolonged conflict undermines development and humanitarian efforts. His intervention placed South Africa at the centre of diplomatic efforts to calm tensions as the summit unfolded.
The summit was also clouded by intensifying rivalry between Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates over influence in the Horn of Africa, particularly in countries such as Sudan, Ethiopia and Eritrea. Diplomats said both Gulf powers are competing for strategic ports, security partnerships and political leverage in a region that sits along key Red Sea shipping routes.
Officials warned that the contest for influence risks entrenching divisions and complicating African-led mediation efforts, especially in conflict-affected states. The competition has added another layer of geopolitical tension to a region already grappling with civil war, fragile transitions and humanitarian crises, making consensus at the summit more difficult to achieve.
In a significant economic announcement, China said it would introduce zero tariffs on imports from 53 African countries, expanding preferential access to its vast market. Beijing said the move is intended to strengthen trade ties and support African industrial growth at a time when many economies are under pressure.
Meanwhile, Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni proposed a climate shock debt suspension mechanism for vulnerable African states, allowing temporary relief from debt repayments following climate-related disasters. The proposal aims to ease fiscal strain on countries grappling with increasingly severe droughts, floods and other extreme weather events.
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