Addis Ababa, 17 March 2026 — The Heads of State and Government of the African Union met in special session to discuss the security deterioration in the Sahel. At the heart of the debate is the political transitions in Mali, Burkina Faso and Niger, as well as the gradual withdrawal of international forces from the region.

Discussions focused on three main areas: strengthening the AU Standby Force, establishing a special regional stabilization fund, and harmonizing counter-terrorism policies among member States.

The Chairperson of the AU Commission stressed the need for an inclusive African approach based on local realities. Several Heads of State called for the establishment of a mechanism for ongoing dialogue with transitional governments.

The decisions adopted at this summit will be submitted to the AU Peace and Security Council for validation. International partners, including the UN and the EU, have expressed their support for this African approach to resolving the crisis.