The President of the African Union, João Lourenço, has appointed Angolan Foreign Minister Téte António as a special envoy to the transitional leaders of Mali, Niger, and Burkina Faso. The move is part of AU-led efforts to address the ongoing crises in these countries, whose memberships remain suspended due to recent military coups.
The envoy began his mission in Mali on Tuesday, the country leading the “Alliance of Sahel States”, where he was received by transitional president General Assimi Goïta.
The two sides discussed the security challenges facing Mali and the wider Sahel region. In a press statement, António noted that “the President of the African Union is closely following the security developments in Mali and the region.”
On Wednesday, António visited Burkina Faso and met with transitional president Captain Ibrahim Traoré. He explained that his visit aimed to “better understand the current challenges and explore collective African solutions.”
The envoy concluded his tour in Niger on Thursday with a meeting with General Abdourahamane Tiani, the transitional president.
António described the security situation in the Sahel as a “continental emergency,” emphasizing that “fighting terrorism requires the united efforts of all of Africa.”
The mission comes amid a surge in armed group attacks across the Sahel, with the governments of these countries accusing both regional and international actors of failing to provide adequate support.
The AU memberships of Mali, Niger, and Burkina Faso remain suspended, as both the African Union and ECOWAS continue to press for a return to civilian rule and the organization of democratic elections.
