By Diplomatic Correspondent
ADDIS ABABA — As delegates begin arriving at the African Union (AU) headquarters for the 39th Ordinary Session of the Assembly, scheduled for February 14–15, 2026, the atmosphere is charged with a sense of historic urgency. Under the official theme of “Assuring Sustainable Water Availability and Safe Sanitation Systems,” the summit is expected to be dominated by a series of geopolitical “shocks” that have redefined the global order in the first weeks of the year.
The Somaliland Crisis: Israel Breaks African Consensus
The most contentious item on the agenda follows Israel’s unprecedented decision on December 26, 2025, to formally recognize Somaliland as a sovereign state. By becoming the first UN member state to do so, Israel has upended a decades-long diplomatic norm: that recognition of Somaliland must follow the lead of the African Union.
The AU Peace and Security Council has already held emergency sessions this month to address the fallout. Somalia has denounced the move as a “flagrant violation of its sovereignty,” while reports emerge of a potential Israeli military base on the Red Sea coast. African leaders are now tasked with maintaining continental unity in the face of what many see as “external interference” in African territorial integrity.
The “America First” Retreat: A Multilateral Void
The summit also takes place against the backdrop of a seismic shift in Washington. Following the January 7 executive order, the United States has initiated a withdrawal from 66 international organizations, including the World Health Organization (WHO).
For Africa, the consequences are immediate and severe:
* USAID Funding: Massive cuts to non-military foreign assistance—slashed by 16% to 60% in key sectors—threaten to halt food aid in conflict zones and roll back gains in global health.
* The Global Health Gap: With the U.S. exiting the WHO and rescinding billions in previously appropriated aid, the AU is expected to discuss the acceleration of the African Medicines Agency (AMA) to fill the vacuum.