African Union

The African Union is a continental organization established in 2002 as the successor to the Organization of African Unity (OAU). It was created to promote unity, solidarity, and cooperation among African states and to accelerate political and socio-economic integration across the continent. The AU works towards promoting peace and security, defending sovereignty, and advancing democratic governance and human rights among its´ 55 member states. It also coordinates collective action in areas such as development, trade, health, and education to help achieve sustainable progress across Africa.

Delegates will explore the AU’s mechanisms—such as the Peace and Security Council and the African Continental Free Trade Area, in order to understand how member states cooperate within multilateral frameworks.

This year´s topic touches on how the African Union and its member states can strengthen collective measures to respond to, and possibly reverse military coups and other forms of democratic erosion in Africa. As of late 2025, several African countries remain under military rule or have recently experienced coups, including countries like Niger, Mali, Burkina Faso, Guinea, Sudan, Madagascar, and Guinea-Bissau, illustrating ongoing challenges to democratic governance. Which is why giving the delegates the opportunity to come up with innovative resolutions by debating on this topic will be profitable, as their knowledge on the African continent deepens.

Topic 2026: Promoting Continental Response to Coups and Democratic Backsliding