Conflict & Resilience Monitor – 26 March 2025

The 38th African Union (AU) Summit concluded in February 2025, paving the way for the newly elected leadership of the Commission to steer Africa’s peace and development trajectory for the next four years. African leaders elected Mahmoud Ali Youssouf (Djibouti) as Chairperson and Selma Malika Haddadi (Algeria) as Deputy Chairperson. Haddadi’s election marks a historic moment as the second woman in this role, underscoring the AU’s commitment to gender equality and representation in its leadership structures.

The role of artificial intelligence (AI) in global security has significantly expanded in recent years, with applications ranging from cybersecurity to diplomacy and Weapons of Mass Destruction (WMD). Since the beginning of the post-colonial era, the African continent has been plagued by intra-state conflicts, insurgencies, and political instability, and AI is emerging as a transformative tool for conflict prevention and management. Given the increasing complexity of African conflicts — fuelled by ethnic tensions, climate change, natural resources paradox, and economic disparities — traditional peacekeeping approaches often encounter limitations in addressing these multidimensional crises. AI presents a new conflict analysis paradigm, notably by leveraging big data, machine learning, and predictive analytics to provide early warnings, strengthen peacekeeping strategies, and improve humanitarian responses. However, its application in conflict management is not without challenges. The effectiveness of AI-based systems highly depends on data quality, ethical considerations, and governance frameworks regulating their deployment.

The mineral-rich eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) has faced over 30 years of cyclical conflict involving a profusion of national, regional, and international military actors. Since 2021, the Congolese army (FARDC) has faced a resurgence of armed groups in this hyper-militarised region. Reports indicate that more than 100 armed groups operate in the eastern DRC, driven by complex political, socio-economic, and security interests and objectives. These groups often splinter and shift alliances, complicating military engagements.

Humanitarian diplomacy has emerged as a vital tool in addressing the complex interplay of conflict and humanitarian needs across Africa. With a landscape marked by protracted conflicts, fragile states, and a growing number of displaced populations, the continent presents unique challenges that demand innovative approaches to conflict resolution. Humanitarian diplomacy seeks to navigate these challenges by leveraging negotiation, advocacy, and dialogue to ensure access to vulnerable populations, promote adherence to international humanitarian laws, and facilitate peacebuilding efforts.