Poverty is a ‘Weapon of War’: AU President Warns at Luanda Summit
LUANDA, Aug 30, 2026 — Poverty, inequality, and social injustice are as much to blame for Africa’s instability as political disagreements, the President of the African Union (AU) warned at a high-stakes summit in Luanda today. Addressing a gathering of heads of state, Évariste Ndayishimiye signaled that the continent must address economic despair if it hopes to silence the guns.
The Link Between Poverty and War
Ndayishimiye, who is also the President of Burundi, delivered a sobering assessment of the continent’s security landscape at the Extraordinary Summit of Heads of State and Government. He argued that while the AU has the institutional tools to manage peace, it is failing to address the root causes of violence.
“Poverty is a factor conducive to conflict. The inadequate distribution of resources produces precariousness and despair,” Ndayishimiye emphasized. He called for an expansive continental program to combat poverty, noting that “governance deficits, political exclusion, and social injustices” frequently drive desperate citizens to take up arms.
A Call for Faster Intervention
Despite possessing a suite of security mechanisms—including the Peace and Security Council and the African Standby Force—the AU president admitted the organization is often too slow to act. He cited the devastating conflict in Sudan as a prime example of the AU identifying early warning signs but failing to intervene until the violence spiraled out of control.
“It frequently happens that we identify the first signs of a crisis but only intervene when it is out of control,” Ndayishimiye said, urging for better coordination and a more proactive diplomatic stance.
Angola Pushes for a ‘Turning Point’
The summit was hosted by Angolan President João Lourenço, the primary driver behind the meeting. Lourenço challenged his fellow leaders to transform the AU’s theoretical peace instruments into practical results, envisioning a continent where future generations are free from the cycle of war.
“We must mobilize the political, diplomatic, financial, and institutional instruments at our disposal to prevent conflicts before they turn into wars,” Lourenço declared. He expressed hope that the Luanda Summit would mark a “turning point” for the continent’s stability.
Reforming the Peace Fund
The urgency of the situation was echoed by Mahmoud Ali Youssouf, Chairperson of the African Union Commission. Pointing to ongoing crises in Sudan, the Democratic Republic of Congo, Somalia, and northern Mozambique, Youssouf warned that the continent’s security infrastructure needs immediate reform.
A critical sticking point is the AU Peace Fund, which Youssouf described as “almost inoperative.” He called for urgent strengthening of the fund and a revamp of early warning mechanisms to tackle the rising threats of terrorism, violent extremism, and transnational crime.
The summit continues in the Angolan capital, with leaders expected to finalize a roadmap for more effective conflict mediation and prevention strategies across the continent.
Image: Pexels – Werner Pfennig
