Voting booths could be places of tension, even violence, and may determine whether stability or turmoil prevails.
Two-and-a-half years after Yahya Jammeh was chased from power, The Gambia stands at a crucial juncture in its transition process.
Special focus AU RECs: Ad hoc structures have been set up to fight violent extremism in the Sahel, but they often overlap and compete for scarce funding and troop contributions.
EU funding remains vital, but self-reliance is ultimately needed for Africa’s long-term peace and security.
A retrospective of the outgoing PSC shows that from April 2016 to March 2018, 36% of the meetings were about ongoing crisis and conflict situations.
There are serious doubts about the efficiency of South Sudan’s justice system, says ISS researcher Allan Ngari.
An analysis of the work of the PSC in 2017 shows more meetings were devoted to thematic issues than to crisis situations.
This month the focus of the PSC is on its reports to the 29th AU summit.
There is growing scepticism over the viability of the African Standby Force.
The AU recently celebrated the 10th anniversary of the African Charter on Democracy, Elections and Governance - a useful tool that is not being used often enough.
Prof. Eddy Maloka, CEO of the African Peer Review Mechanism, says his organisation can help The Gambia get back on track after two decades of dictatorship.
Officials at the AU are calling for greater African solidarity - but unity should begin at home.
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