Since 2002, the African Union has strived toward creating “An Integrated, Prosperous and Peaceful Africa, driven by its own citizens and representing a dynamic force in the global arena.” Similarly to this vision, the African Leadership Academy Model African Union theme this year, “Strengthening African Institutions towards Shared Peace and Prosperity,” seeks to engage delegates in diplomatic discussions on how the institutions can better be empowered. The African Union has put in place a variety of specialized institutions to work towards our common vision, however, after over two decades of its existence, there has been notable inconsistency in the impact of the union’s efforts. Delegates are therefore challenged to engage in productive discussions on how to change the narrative.

Through simulations of six committees of the Pan-African Parliament, the Peace and Security Council, the African Court on Human & Peoples’ Rights, the Economic, Social and Cultural Council, and the Press Corps, delegates will collectively identify the loopholes in the current policies and create working resolutions that will better this continent. Committee Chairs will guide the delegates to deeply think about what Shared Peace and Prosperity mean in an African context. Is Share Peace just the absence of war? Is prosperity all about having a high Gross Domestic Product (GDP)?

-Deputy Chairperson