African Union heads of state have called for a coordinated continental response to the escalating security crisis in the Sahel region, with Ghana pledging troops and logistical support to a new AU peacekeeping mission at the 42nd Ordinary Session of the Assembly in Addis Ababa.
The summit, attended by 54 member states, adopted the Addis Ababa Declaration on Sahel Security, which establishes a 15,000-strong African Stabilisation Force to operate across Mali, Burkina Faso, Niger, and Chad. The force will be funded through a combination of AU member contributions and a new African Peace Fund levy.
Ghana's President confirmed the country's commitment to contributing 500 troops and a field hospital unit. "Africa must solve Africa's problems. We cannot continue to rely on external forces whose interests do not always align with those of our people," he said.
The summit also addressed the humanitarian dimension of the crisis, with the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs reporting that over 8 million people in the Sahel are currently displaced. The AU called on member states to increase humanitarian contributions and open borders to refugees.
The Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS), which has faced criticism for its handling of the military coups in the region, welcomed the AU's intervention but called for a clear command structure to avoid duplication of efforts.
Analysts have cautioned that the success of the mission will depend on political will and sustained funding, both of which have historically been challenges for AU peacekeeping operations. The first deployment is expected within 90 days.
