African Union Chief Demands End to ‘Extermination’ of Palestinians at Addis Ababa Summit

Mahmoud Ali Youssouf opens African Union summit with fierce condemnation of Israel’s campaign in Gaza, urging members to also confront “the heavy price of instability” from Sudan to the DRC.

ADDIS ABABA – The chairman of the African Union Commission, Mahmoud Ali Youssouf, delivered a stark message on Saturday, declaring that the “extermination” of the Palestinian people must cease, as he opened the organization’s 39th Ordinary Session in Ethiopia.

Speaking before heads of state and government from the AU’s 55 member nations, Youssouf placed the Israeli-Palestinian conflict at the forefront of the gathering’s opening address.

“In the Middle East, Palestine and the suffering of its people also challenge our consciences. The extermination of this people must stop,” Youssouf stated, marking one of his strongest public statements on the issue since being elected to lead the pan-African body a year ago.

A Continent in Crisis: From Sudan to DRC

The AU chief did not limit his address to external conflicts. He painted a grim picture of the security landscape across the African continent, highlighting multiple ongoing crises that continue to exact a heavy toll on civilian populations.

“From Sudan to the Sahel, to eastern Democratic Republic of Congo, in Somalia and elsewhere, our people continue to pay the heavy price of instability,” Youssouf told the assembled leaders.

His remarks come as several African nations grapple with escalating violence, protracted civil wars, and the humanitarian consequences of political instability.

Water Sanitation Takes Center Stage

The two-day summit, which brings together the continent’s leadership, is being held under the official theme of the year: water sanitation. The focus underscores the urgent need for African nations to address infrastructure gaps and public health challenges related to access to clean water and proper sanitation facilities.

The meeting in Addis Ababa provides a platform for leaders to discuss these pressing issues, as well as the broader conflicts threatening regional stability, as the AU seeks to assert its role in conflict resolution and sustainable development.