The African Union (AU) has called for an immediate end to the genocide and ethnic cleansing of the people of Gaza. Speaking at the opening ceremony of the 39th AU Summit in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, the Chairperson of the AU, Mahmoud Ali Youssouf, stated that the acts behind the pain and suffering endured by the Palestinian people have profoundly shocked all of humanity. Emphasizing that international law and international humanitarian law are the very foundations upon which the international community is built, he further asserted that the Zionist blockade hindering the entry of humanitarian aid into Gaza must be brought to an immediate conclusion.
In his remarks, Mahmoud also touched upon various conflicts across the African continent, addressing the situations in Sudan, the Sahel, Congo, and Somalia. Since the Zionist forces began their offensive on October 7, 2023, with the intent of ethnically cleansing the people of Gaza, 72,045 people have been martyred and 171,686 others have been injured. Although a nominal agreement to cease hostilities was signed in October last year, the Zionist forces continue to attack the people of Gaza in violation of the agreement.
The AU Summit is attended by the heads of state of the union’s 55 member nations. Speaking during the two-day summit, UN Secretary-General António Guterres described the AU as a shining example of collective action to resolve issues during a time of increasing global division and tension. He also called for Africa to be granted a permanent seat on the UN Security Council.
