Belated attempts to take control of the situation in Mali have show up the continent’s lack of preparedness.
The AU and West African regional bloc has condemned army interference in Mali’s politics after the prime minister was forced to resign.
It isn’t just struggle heroes who have earned the right to offer solutions for our continent, argues Verashni Pillay.
The news is filled with terrible things but now and then we get the opportunity to smile. Here are seven things that gave us sunshine in 2012.
The ANC Women’s League asks us to pray for Jacob Zuma’s return to power. But we should rather pray for a return to moral leadership
They might have been driven out of Somalia’s second city, but Islamist militant group al-Shebab have a plan B. Nastasya Tay reports.
"The military command of al-Shebaab mujahedeen ordered a tactical retreat at midnight," spokesperson Ali Mohamud Rage told AFP.
Al-Shabab militants are advancing towards the port city of Kismayu, raising fears of a bloody clash with African Union soldiers.
So often are the winds of change said to blow through the southern reaches of Africa that the uninformed might think there are always hurricanes here.
AU chairperson Nkosazana Dlamini-Zuma says the success of the AU is dependent on the implementation of decisions made by regional economic groups.
The Malawi government took an important step when it indicated it could not host the AU summit if it meant welcoming Omar al-Bashir to its territory.
The countries still need to resolve key border security issues to end hostilities, a mediator from the African Union said on Saturday.
The presidency says newly-appointed African Union Commission chair Nkosazana Dlamini-Zuma remains home affairs minister for the time being.
Nkosazana Dlamini-Zuma has been elected to chair the African Union Commission. Here’s what you need to know about the organisation.
Nkosazana Dlamini-Zuma has won a tightly contested vote to become the new head of the African Union Commission – the first woman to hold the post.
Nkosazana Dlamini-Zuma says she would like to make a "humble contribution to the African Union".
The AU policy talks in Ethiopia have been governed by discussions on terrorists in Mali, reconciliation in Sudan and the AU commission leadership.
Home Affairs Minister Nkosazana Dlamini-Zuma is set to once again challenge Gabon’s Jean Ping for the leadership of the African Union this week.
Competition over UN, AU jobs and economic rivalries are escalating tension between the powerhouses of Africa’s north and south, writes Charles Molele.
Amid worsening relations with Nigeria, Pretoria stands accused of buying support for its candidate for African Union commission chief.
Kenya’s army chief is boasting that AU troops will soon seize the last key bastion of Somalia’s al-Qaeda linked Shebab insurgents.
Despite the fall of their key stronghold of Afgoye, al-Qaeda-linked Somali militants vowed to intensify the war against government and AU troops.
The UN Security Council has unanimously passed a resolution giving Sudan and South Sudan 48 hours to halt hostilities or face potential sanctions.
The coup in Mali has strengthened nomad-rebels, threatened foreign aid, endangered the country’s World Cup bid and left South Africans stranded.
South Africa is regarded as a leader in Africa but has yet to clarify its vision for the continent.
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/ 21 February 2012
Human Rights Watch has released a report saying Somalia’s al-Qaeda-link al-Shabaab rebels have forced young children to fight alongside them.
The SADC have announced they would back Nkosazana Dlamini-Zuma’s attempt to be elected the new AU chief in fresh polls to be held in June.
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/ 11 February 2012
Sudan and South Sudan signed a security agreement which aims to defuse tensions over oil payments which officials had warned could spark a war.
Election of new AU Commission chairperson ends in a stalemate.
Its archenemy to the north remains hostile, but Africa’s newest state is not blameless either.
President Robert Mugabe has found no support among his old allies in the AU for his bid to hold elections this year without carrying out key reforms.
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/ 2 February 2012
China will press South Sudan for help in securing the release of 29 Chinese workers held by rebels and may ask the AU to mediate in negotiations.