Aligning AU-EU interests to reshape global governance on peace and security

This briefing note by the South African Institute of International Affairs examines how the African Union (AU) and the European Union (EU) can collaborate to reform global governance, specifically the UN Security Council (UNSC), amidst a period of systemic rupture and geopolitical fragmentation.

• The multilateral system is experiencing a 'rupture' characterized by the paralysis of the UN Security Council (UNSC) and a legitimacy crisis. This is driven by the inability of the P5 to respond to crises in Ukraine and Gaza, as well as the volatile multilateral engagement of the US under the second Donald Trump administration, which saw the US exit from 66 international organisations on 7 January 2026.
• Africa and Europe face distinct credibility challenges: Africa struggles to convert its numerical weight into substantive influence, while the EU's leverage is hindered by internal fragmentation and perceived inconsistencies in applying international norms, particularly regarding the contrasting responses to the wars in Ukraine and Gaza.
• There is a fundamental divergence in the approach to UNSC reform: African states demand immediate structural changes, including at least two permanent seats with veto powers as per the Ezulwini Consensus, whereas European states generally favour gradual procedural reforms and the expansion of elected capacity.
• A significant point of pragmatic convergence is UN Security Council Resolution 2719, which allows for UN-assessed contributions to AU-led peace support operations. However, its implementation is currently stalled by UN budget cuts, a liquidity crisis, and US disengagement.
• African actors are increasingly sceptical of the term 'rules-based order', preferring a framework anchored in international law to avoid double standards. Conversely, the EU continues to use 'rules-based' language as a diplomatic shorthand.
• The briefing suggests that reforming international financial institutions (IFIs) may be a more productive and urgent entry point for AU-EU cooperation than the political gridlock of the UNSC, focusing on debt-reduction tools and capital adequacy reforms for African borrowers.
• To drive change, the AU needs a more strategic 'foreign policy for multilateralism' to align its diplomacy, while the EU can act as a catalyst by 'de-politicising the technical' aspects of reform, such as supporting compliance frameworks and financing arrangements.

APA

South African Institute of International Affairs (2026). Aligning AU-EU interests to reshape global governance on peace and security. https://saiia.org.za/research/aligning-au-eu-interests-to-reshape-global-governance-on-peace-and-security/

Chicago

South African Institute of International Affairs. Aligning AU-EU interests to reshape global governance on peace and security. 2026. https://saiia.org.za/research/aligning-au-eu-interests-to-reshape-global-governance-on-peace-and-security/.

Wikipedia

{{cite report |author=South African Institute of International Affairs |title=Aligning AU-EU interests to reshape global governance on peace and security |date=23 February 2026 |url=https://saiia.org.za/research/aligning-au-eu-interests-to-reshape-global-governance-on-peace-and-security/ |access-date=17 August 2026 |via=Climate Insights Directory}}

BibTeX

@techreport{southafricaninstituteofinternationalaffairs2026aligning, author = {{South African Institute of International Affairs}}, title = {{Aligning AU-EU interests to reshape global governance on peace and security}}, institution = {South African Institute of International Affairs}, year = {2026}, month = feb, url = {https://saiia.org.za/research/aligning-au-eu-interests-to-reshape-global-governance-on-peace-and-security/}, urldate = {2026-08-17}, note = {Indexed by Climate Insights Directory} }