During their visit on Monday they held high-level discussions with key interlocutors also engaged in contributing to lasting Peace, Security, and Development in the regions. Their day started with a high-level breakfast on “Responding to the Crises in the Sahel and Sudan: What visions for the Future?”, with the participation of Bankole Adeoye, AU Commissioner for Political Affairs, Peace and Security and Javier Niño Pérez, EU Ambassador to the AU.
The event, in collaboration with International Crisis Group, allowed for an active exchange on the paths towards a peaceful, stable, and prosperous future in the two regions, mindful of the existing links between the dynamics in both contexts.
A strong cooperation in peace and security is a key pillar of the EU-Africa partnership that celebrates 25 years in 2025
(#AUEU25). This commitment was confirmed once again at the EU-AU Ministerial meeting that took place on May 21 2025 in Brussels. The European Union has been a reliable and major partner to the African-led Peace and Security
initiatives and to the African Union architecture.
During the visit, the EU Special Representatives met with Mahamoud Ali Youssouf, Chairperson of the African Union Commission: a meeting that allowed both parties to exchange on the role that the AU and the EU can play in the Sahel and the Horn of Africa, two regions of strategic importance. The visit also included a conversation with Selma Malika Haddadi, African Union Deputy Chairperson, and Parfait Onanga-Anyanga, UN Special Representative for the Secretary-General to the African Union and Head of UNOAU. They engaged, as well, with the resident European Union Member States.
The main objectives for the visit were to engage with the African Union leadership, understanding the AUC role and headship in these regions, listen to different stakeholders on the current situation and possible solutions and to reaffirm the European Union continuous support. They emphasized the importance for all interested parties to remain active, in a spirit of open dialogue and mutual respect, to which regional political processes are fundamental, despite the complex and volatile contexts at hand.
Reflecting on their visit, EUSR Cravinho stated: “Coming to Addis is always an opportunity to reaffirm the quality of the AU-EU cooperation and I have been really pleased with the quality of the exchanges I have had. It is very encouraging to see the AU’s interest in taking a growing role when it comes to the Sahel, where African leadership is needed more than ever. I had the chance to brief on the ongoing reflections for a renewed EU approach for the Sahel, which I have been working on for the past months and which requires, among other things, an integrated approach that is mindful of spill-over effects and interdependencies, namely with the Horn of Africa and the Gulf of Guinea. I hope to work closely with the newly appointed AU Special Representative for West Africa and the Sahel to progress on our many issues of common interest.”
EUSR Weber added: “We are witnessing a rollercoaster of events in a turbulent global geo-political environment. There are a number of complex dynamics at interplay, which require a renewed strategic and coordinated engagement, enhanced regional and multilateral frameworks and a clear commitment to peace and stability. We must recognize the significant potential that both the Sahel and the Horn regions harbor, particularly the richness of young demographies who yearn for a different future with stable, peaceful, equitable, independent and democratic governance. Specifically on Sudan, our EU engagement focus on coordination, civilians, de-escalation and significant contributions to humanitarian responses. There is urgency to silence the guns, restore hope for the suffering civilian populations and build a positive vision for the future, based on multilateral and regionally integrated solutions.”
