African Union under siege: Algeria’s power play raises alarm

The election of Selma Malika Haddadi as Vice President of the African Union Commission on Saturday marks a calculated diplomatic maneuver by Algeria to expand its influence within African institutions.

While this may be hailed as a success in Algiers, it raises serious concerns about the future direction of the African Union (AU), particularly given Algeria’s controversial geopolitical alliances and adversarial stance towards key global players.

Haddadi’s election was far from a neutral administrative appointment. Algeria’s aggressive push for this position came at the expense of Egypt, which saw its own candidate suffer a diplomatic setback. This episode exposes the deep fractures within the AU and underscores the power struggles that threaten to weaken the organization's unity.

At a time when Africa desperately needs cohesive leadership and pragmatic diplomacy, Algeria’s partisan maneuvering raises questions about its real agenda.

Algeria has long positioned itself as a champion of sovereignty and economic independence within the Global South, but its choice of allies is deeply troubling. Algiers maintains hostile relations with Morocco, Israel, and the United States, while aligning itself closely with Iran and Russia—two regimes known for their destabilizing activities on the global stage.

With Haddadi now holding a key leadership role in the AU, will Algeria attempt to steer the organization towards a pro-Iranian, pro-Russian axis? Such a shift could severely undermine Africa’s relationships with Western allies, discourage foreign investment, and exacerbate regional tensions.

What Future for the African Union Under Algerian Influence?

The governance of the African Union is already under immense strain, with structural inefficiencies, financial struggles, and political infighting threatening its credibility. Now, with Algeria expanding its foothold, concerns are mounting over whether the AU will remain a neutral and effective institution or become a battleground for geopolitical rivalries.

Meanwhile, the newly elected President of the AU Commission, Djiboutian Mahmoud Ali Youssouf, will have to navigate an increasingly polarized organization, where Algeria’s ambitions and antagonistic foreign policy could sow further division.

The coming months will reveal whether Haddadi’s appointment will bring constructive reforms or if it marks the beginning of a more confrontational and destabilizing phase for the African Union.

Would you like a stronger emphasis on a particular aspect, such as Algeria’s hostility toward Morocco and Israel, or its ties with Iran and Russia?