Prof. Awet T. Weldemichael

#rscBRAVOsrc to #CollegeofNewScholars Member @Prof_Awet @queensu. He is a scholar of Northeast Africa and island Southeast Asia with a focus on contemporary history and political economy. He is a former refugee goatherd turned professor and award-winning author of several books.

Excellency, Allow me, at the outset, to welcome the more measured and analytical tone of your intervention. On the substance, a number of clarifications need to be made. First, the submission of the candidacy of H.E. Macky Sall was carried out by the Government of the Republic of #Burundi, in full compliance with the relevant provisions of the United Nations Charter. Established practice recognizes the prerogative of Member States to put forward candidatures, which are subsequently considered within the United Nations process. In this regard, no State is legally precluded from submitting a candidacy. You are certainly aware of this. Second, the Decision in question cannot be reduced to an individual initiative of the Chairperson of the @_AfricanUnion (AU). It emanates from a meeting of the AU Bureau, duly convened through Note Verbale referenced CCP/OSC/A/A1/052.03.26. The Bureau, a properly mandated organ, deliberated and acted within its prerogatives. It is therefore inaccurate, as I have indicated, to portray this process as a unilateral decision by the Chairperson of the Union. Third, it is important to recall that, pursuant to Article 6 of the Constitutive Act of the African Union, “the Assembly is the supreme organ of the Union.” As such, it remains sovereign in its decisions, including in matters relating to the endorsement of candidatures, and cannot be absolutely bound by subsidiary procedural mechanisms. Fourth, the role of the Ministerial Committee on African Candidatures within the International System is fully acknowledged and remains essential for continental coordination. However, practice shows that certain candidatures have, at times, been advanced outside a strictly sequential application of this mechanism. In fact, recent practice within a major international organisation demonstrates that, in the context of a re-election, a candidacy was not submitted by the State of nationality of the candidate, but was rather supported and carried forward by three African States, including #Rwanda. This precedent underscores the flexibility inherent in international practice, whereby the sponsorship of candidatures may be assumed by third States in light of prevailing political circumstances. Fifth, the recourse to a silence procedure does not, in itself, constitute a breach of #AfricanUnion rules and regulations. On the contrary, it is an established working method within the African Union, regularly used to facilitate decision-making between formal sessions, including on sensitive matters. In the present case, the silence procedure was not initiated unilaterally by the Chairperson of the Union, but, like I said, followed a meeting of the Bureau duly convened and mandated to consider the matter. It therefore reflects a collective process, not an individual decision. Moreover, the silence procedure does not preclude consultation or discussion. On the contrary, it provides Member States with an opportunity to express objections within a defined timeframe. Accordingly, while it is essential to uphold the rules, it is equally important to take into account the reality of institutional practice, as well as the margin of initiative afforded to Member States. The debate on #Africa-n candidatures deserves to be conducted with legal rigor, but also with political discernment and in a spirit of continental unity. I thank you

The statement by the Minister of Foreign Affairs of #Rwanda (@onduhungirehe) is regrettable in both tone and substance, as it misrepresents established procedures of the @_AfricanUnion and unnecessarily personalizes what is, in essence, a routine institutional process. First, the use of the Silence Procedure is neither new nor irregular within the African Union. It is a well-established decision-making mechanism that has been applied on numerous occasions. The fact that some Member States chose to break the silence does not constitute a crisis; rather, it reflects normal institutional practice and demonstrates that consultation among Member States is both active and effective. Second, it is important to recall that H.E. President Evariste Ndayishimiye, in his capacity as Chairperson of the African Union, acted in line with his mandate and in respect of established procedures. His ruling was clear, in French: “Je voudrais vous remercier pour le soutien affiché en faveur de notre Frère Macky Sall et déclare que le Projet de Décision qui nous a été soumis est adopté. J’instruis la Commission de l’Union Africaine à l’envoyer à tous les États Membres, pour adoption par la procédure du silence, selon les règles et procédures de notre Union.” “I would like to thank you for the support expressed in favor of our brother Macky Sall and declare that the draft decision submitted to us is adopted. I instruct the African Union Commission to transmit it to all Member States for adoption through the silence procedure, in accordance with the rules and procedures of our Union.” This instruction explicitly entrusted the African Union Commission with implementing the process in accordance with the Union’s rules and procedures. Third, the 24-hour timeframe that has been criticized was not determined by the Chairperson of the Union. It resulted from internal handling at the level of the Permanent Representatives’ Committee (PRC) chairmanship, despite reservations expressed by the Legal Counsel and the Secretariat. It is therefore inaccurate to attribute this aspect to the Chairperson. Fourth, attempts to portray this procedural matter as a “violation of all rules” or as an action that “tarnishes” the African Union are exaggerated and risk undermining the credibility of our continental institutions. Differences in procedural appreciation should be addressed through established diplomatic channels, in a spirit of collegiality and mutual respect. Furthermore, no decision was imposed on Member States. On the contrary, the fact that silence was broken demonstrates that Member States fully exercised their sovereign right to express their positions, fully in line with the procedures of the African Union. Finally, it is important to emphasize that matters of such institutional importance call for responsibility, restraint, and respect for diplomatic decorum. Public commentary, particularly when expressed in a tone that is dismissive or inflammatory, does not contribute to constructive engagement and may give the unfortunate impression of a lack of discipline and experience in handling sensitive continental issues. Our Union is built on mutual respect and quiet diplomacy; it is in this spirit that we should continue to engage, especially on matters of such significance to #Africa’s collective voice on the global stage.

The Bureau of the Assembly of the African Union #AU, representing Africa’s five regions and chaired by #Burundi President Évariste Ndayishimiye, has approved the candidacy of former #Senegalese President Macky Sall for UN Secretary General, for "consideration and adoption by the Assembly through the silence procedure". Macky Sall will be the African Union’s consensus candidate if "no objections are received from more than one-third of Member States eligible to vote by Close of Business on 27 March 2026, in accordance with the applicable Rules of Procedure." The Bureau says Macky Sall has "recognized leadership experience" and that his "pragmatic and results-oriented approaches, his international network, and his track record, grounded in his commitment to seeking consensus among nations and global powers" fit the profile for the United Nations’ top position. Video: File footage.

📢BREAKING: Here is the official announcement from the AU that the motion for endorsing Macky Sall did not receive support in the @_AfricanUnion. In less than 24 hrs (almost unprecedented tight timeline for silence procedure), 20 states including #Senegal from almost all regions broke the silence procedure depositing their objection, thereby rejecting the draft decision.

I’m pleased to share that I have joined the Advisory Editorial Board for the Journal of African History 📚 I'll be working with Safia Aidid @safiyaaaay, Awet T. Weldemichael @Prof_Awet, and @Alden_Young on submissions concerning Northeast Africa.