sunday, or whether it's a central parts of europe or winter weather, but mazda i, which was at eastern side of europe by the south take, i fight and try temperatures picking up in ankara as we go on through the next couple days with decent spells of sunshine but the chances embraced eden snow to northern parts of the kia as we go on through the next day or so. we seen some sleepless now across the atlas mountains. recently, she turned dryer and brighter over the next couple of days with showers for the canaries. ah, serious, darkest days, with one man leading the country through pleasant alice out as last legitimacy. he needs to step down. how has he retained control through over a decade of war? we examined the global power games of president bashar al assad. we believe assad simply carrying out iranian orders. what keeps you awake at night? menu, reason that could effect in human eyesight,

master of chaos on all jazeera. how will the african union managed the continent, the blocks leadership gathers yet again, as africa grapples with many challenges. but are african leaders up to the task? this is insightful. ah. hello and welcome to the program. i'm how much am john leaders from 55 african nations are meeting and ethiopia for the annual african union summit. this year is different than others. the russian foreign minister toward the continent last week, as the wagner groups involvement in some of the continents conflicts is increasing . all this comes as francis influence in west africa is dwindling. remarkably. burkina faso, guinea and molly are lobbying to reinstate their countries to the african union. they lost their seats following military coups un secretary general antonio terrace

is also joining the leaders in the capital, addis ababa together with the european council president charles michelle. so what's on the agenda? leaders will discuss widespread conflict in the eastern democratic republic of congo and insecurity. and molly burkina, faso, guinea, and sudan. another major topic will be food security. many people are going hungry and several regions with somalia close to famine. the group will also debate regional cooperation, thoughts between sudan and ethiopia, and libya. stall, transition are among top concerns. on a broader level, governments will discuss a request for permanent african seats on the united nations security council. and the g 20 group of major economies. ah, are i for more on all this i'm joined by our guests in kampala is victor ocean, director for african youth initiative network. in rabbit is mohammed lisky senior fellow at the policy center for the new south american think tank that focuses on

economic and social public policies. and in london is jonathan affair. i'm sorry, founder and publisher at africa briefing magazine. a warm welcome to you all, and thanks for being with us on inside story today. victor, let me start with you today. the 2023 african union summit is going to be taking place at a very fraught time for the continent. how important is it that this be a productive summit? oh, thank you. i think that when the 3 a use, i mean is business to come here to point when there's so much are global interest? did you study the significance of africa, given the current global situation, about the losing tension between the, you know, superpower and all that? but, and the question comes, what role? what will africa play in terms of the global security piece and all this? what would be the most quasi boys that african union or african block can come forward and present?

because at the end of the day, you look at, there's been reason for need to consider it african position. them all is good. this biggest policies allow and issues driven by state bullet to call friends, unity and identity based on the things that has been problematic. so i hope the african union, sammy disdain, will bring or i lays on situation around the corner in the right. not which else significance most importantly addressing did need to address did little conflict. yes. right, victor, let me follow up with you want to point that you were making there when it comes to the competition between the global superpowers right now and, and the role africa is playing because you've had russian foreign minister survey lab. you've had the new chinese foreign minister. you've had the u. s. treasury secretary, all have embarked on african tours within the past month. russia, china, the u. s. they are all trying to expand their footprints in africa right now. so how much geopolitical bargaining power does that give africa at this moment?

yes, you did mention um, so a good mental illness of, of ours look at how you know, they've gone on with the belief that a strong as to the infrastructure for engagement in africa through broad reaching, you know, diplomacy, development and security issues. i also look at your opinion and i made it the point that they want to consolidate. renewed commitment to coordinate china analysis, but also looking at the, your kid, russia, the india. all these are deliberate, significant, you know, develop made which are very important. columbia and security point of view, but now you look at how in africa was and so we need to get point where africa to join different or does this, it was quite a bit because we need to know everybody think list. now look at how we are standing quite clear africa and then to fossil come. what will africa do? adequate to be foster big sites which you went to, what we are that way. ready as

a contact name, there was an industry we need on agenda. we have our own ambition is to focus on our, you know, mainstream political economy and insecurity point of this nature. i think africa should be a battle ground. but to should look into how these seek to secure unless you doesn't strengthen stability in the continent. jonathan, i saw you nodding along somewhat. victor was saying there, so i'm going to give you a chance to jump in. but i also want to ask you, what are the priorities of this summit and from your vantage point, what's expected to come out of it? when i'm, i always see that's a the pass a you some, it's, i've come to regret it. i said we're in our thought shall fall and i am african leaders. but m de cannot come in view of a weather geopolitical and the situation and we find ourselves today currently am a victim. i sent all their visits by and on the new jettas for him,

and he saw recently by i am sick, elaborate from russia. get at here. and i was trying to concrete as one of the u. s . about out of to way to the un. give one been for just a gun and a question. african it's neutral axis. why in all this interest in africa. ok from washington. i see that all these major powers are coach in africa because africa, something too often africa has something that they need. right? so this is the tide. look, we have, they, it would be a union. we have the, a sal, countries are not the only corporate shrunk economic blogs. we have the, we set up the africa, wichita free trade area and look at to facilitates an increase in trafficking trade and all of that. yeah. but we need to look us our wildest,

a big poet. i'll call to nation. we must know a what we have, what we possess, that the unique and know how to leverage the content is advantage. so to me this sam summits and she'll be erica passer took her by the scriptures, which would be on the continent, took about climate change and took her by columbia. how come to reach our resources to the at boost were utmost a branch in miami, african leaders are going to advocate for a permanent seats for the continent on the un security council. they also want to join the g 20. what are the chances that these goals are achievable? well, let me, let me get begin by saying that africa does not accept any more to be an on the, on the menu about. well, to be in around the table with the other powers. in terms of

having the initiative in the security of the united nations. but also having said, whenever the challenge is the global challenges door addressed to how they see and, and to have its, its contribution africa and the quarter, as my friend said before me, by all the superpower, not only because it's not resisted, but because also of the potential, the not the potential that africa is it is go into her in 203-2050. 2000 africa will be 1200000000 consumer population will be 1.2. and in 2015, it will be 2000 to 2, need to be d. n 25. we will be the 3rd region in because demographically,

the most important and with this increase in there will refuse con, consent to consumer africa. we have between 70800 gets us from your market. and it's, it will benefit from the free trial agreements, the country, lots of free trade agreement. but it is also an open market for all the other powers because africa now is open to read partnership. it's not anymore a lot of one on the order, but it is open to real partnership, which african, when we, when we set the the, the, the, the priorities will set the objectives of to publish it. jonathan,

one of the issues is expected to dominate during this summit is the push buyer, west african states of breaking a fossil guinea, and molly to be reinstated to the a you after being stripped to their membership, following military coups be how are to roll? do you think this is going to play during the summit and, and is that something that could happen? could we see them be reinstated? i don't see that happening. you know, i've this years something because or look, i'm a, you echo, watched at other regional vision or, you know, have come us from strongly against any, with the tree or what and you and you could it are. i'm a d quoted. you to do for that digital dis, television and all of a bit of countries, and therefore jerry's budget bridges. so not done that you've said that the robot we can afford, molly. good. he did well, of course not already stood

a robot for them to judge, to do, to rule until dr. rule rude mokesha tube. i doubt if the, the a, you will raise to them, you know, into the body. victor, how much are african countries ribbon by identity politics? i'm talking about tribalism. i'm talking about sectarianism and how much does all that hamper what the a you is able to accomplish in its work? again and again, you got those who resulted into massive organized criminal activities across i have seen better see the political mistrust that us continue to define the continent online abroad. you find, you know, the next countries being used as the house for the next conflict and deliberate and oldest, protracted experiences of domestic and external, political ability as been a good result for master trust is in the region. and we have seen that contin

propaganda alone tribes along the city alone. really just associations created only the big, deplorable reaction on different countries. i've been really difficult, i think has attracted massive migration. we have seen that by, by study after every 10 to 15. yes. must have close this up and especially the great lakes region and region. it does seem numerous under reason is simply because young people are bonded to conflict that told with enemies how they're told way suffering that total way day and they received. you can battle way out of the country by the time to reach 10 to 15 years old. they're strong enough and they want to strike back and decided that generational transfer trauma of pain of challenges. so it just been difficult for us to be able to help the young people,

young, universal, and transformed at trauma, pain history into what you need to for leadership. and that way we have seen has been that s and the sized politics, ethnic development, ethnic government, ethnic progress, we had to come to comes as long as it enable to dissect the at mrs. d, the ethnic ingredients in the african democracy. it's all it is going to be a problem for the continent. that's anita that need to look at. what does that is needed for a you to talk openly, to talk transparently about this issue among themselves? we're seeing chris, what attention in the country attention does man's are defined by tribe, what isms, and just kind of thing becomes ingredient from our conflict. how do we get it this once a should focus mohammed from your vantage point? how is the african union doing when it comes to coordinating with the regional blocks, whether that pertains to security issues or economic issues. how,

how is the a you doing when it comes to that? i think we have to intercept the fact that the african union is anti government organizations. so it is about trying to coordinate the policies of sobering states. it has nothing to do, for example, with european union, for which the member states decided to, to they, they gave of their competency in african union and into a government organization. so it can only be efficient if the member states have the political will to allow the african union to really coordinate between between them. so i think that come back to the a you, the african union managed to structure itself in an arc detector, dealing with present security that you beginning to use all foods and some results

. of course, in any structure, you have always the initiative to coordinate. there are maybe sometime, a duplication between d recently, economic completion of the african union and new to hormone. i need to really deal with the subject, the t or, or between the african union, such and economic regional commission. now in dealing with a t t piece of community is a global issue. the african union and african member states cannot deal with the issues like terrorism, like conflicts with development without the contribution of the international community. one has also that compared to the other regional

organization african you can see d, v, p c, community development integration, health. it's it right. it cannot become roots of efficiency and mandates with other reason. look, we have to give the benefit of doug to the african union. we have to think and union it is all the right. but we have, i think, to be extremely impatient to stand in and naval in the african union to discharge user mandates in the community, but also in development, economic and social development. jonathan, from your vantage point, just how effective is the a you there are a lot of critics that say that it standards have been eroded when it comes to member states. do you think that's the case and there's so many challenges impacting the content right now. our african leader is up to the task i believe

like abraham it said it compared to that way you, which was the door was referred to as the oldness club in. oh, adam, looking at the a you today and oh. and i said it went out to some of us literacy. gotta talk to him. and i believe i see some grad well progressed, some grad, we're result. and oh, i see some increase of both go well, right. this is highlighted by the establish rental. they are to africa, recall touch out area. okay. and well, the piece i split to council. look, you talk about it, it's your piano degree. a wall that ended in late last year. i'm in the mediation was made facilitated by a fellow of candidates by the but a, you ok without any, what's in missions plane, it go to your peak. they had a hand,

but with luck. many fuckers. good bye, bye bye, a job dentist. so i see a grad wow. in the lab results, when i'm coming up, i see the post co increasing, but i do it day. look, we are good missy office off. was it? ok a you a sam? look the a you have got that yourself. what did it have by china, but i don't go back fine. ok, m, so min, best color, even in all p, maybe to kind of pete yet use on time. ok. and even now, days at least reliant on again as to now funding in a for you. so chris's ok, so and i did, i could the common probably school he will pay the piper in ohio that called the tool. so until african leaders i would get together,

it'll increase your result. an o m w more took that ocean, but so far so far, i believe, got your director would it? and if you thought would right, or we can go and or further than we are now. victor, of course, one of the biggest concerns when it comes to africa right now is, is hunger. and so it's expected that, you know, one of the biggest subjects of discussion during this summit is going to be the worsening hunger in several regions. somalia is on the verge of famine. let's just one example. what are some of the concrete steps that can be taken to help this situation to, to, to help improve this situation? to combat this about the list that can be big from the horn of africa. i think 2 major issues to, to address would be when to address the question of a my question. the question of movement. why moving from one another under and able

to produce at all. and if you really wishes to address the cause of all these multiple crises, i think the bottom that we need to address the question of what makes people to move what and the reason why one moving from one place to another. and then to produce that, of course, that natural disasters the element of much of the draught we have diseases of you know, floods. we also was due by the inequality in the governance system that makes it very difficult for people to progress. but of course, the most important thing is also the climate change issues you really don't is experiencing better difficult time. it's me, you mention somalia, you mentioned that the look at kenya. we are seeing you know, the animals are drying today. i think also i think is very important to know that we've aware that pattern already which is causing must be such a region and so on structure. we need to be able to how do we

navigate the question of climate crisis? what we, the intent address climate crisis focused on food security. we focus on domestic library. when it comes down to policies, there's so much we need to invest this so much that we can do and we must do as a continent in order to be able to. but the looming and these other ways we are going to be on blame. you just got to, we have mercy opportunity, the democratic demographic power, the young people, we have so much energy of young people. and to me that energy is august about how we're using it, how you're going to integrate young people. we are forcing them to move away. we're fuzzy, them to leave. the community doesn't to stay within must be around. and migration people are moving from where they can produce where they can kind of stay in the slams in the sub bumps of deceit and settings. so if we can, if it would be

a challenge to our government, to look at, to address the question of how can you attract people that productive sex society? in this case, it's a good culture. that's also how can quit and vitamin we young people to make a good culture. the wendy, mit living in rural communities. we have for that stevie to take place the why the but if development infrastructure stops at mission capital, we are not able to counter the prospect for must be of looming. and so the project life within our countries, but it comes down to policies. i think also list, be honest, our african government should commit to going away from politics of poverty where you get good book, well, for easy manifestation and is a contract. let's see, how can we allow our young people progress on a want to stay home and want to contribute to the, to national development? right? i want to ask you about peacekeeping missions. when it comes to peacekeeping missions, how difficult have they been for the a you to finance and,

and is their progress being made when it comes to contributing to funding of piece making and piece support operations on the continent? well, if your, if you allow me, because you, you said what, what african countries can to concrete, the in terms of dealing with food insecurity that we just take one minute and then i will go ahead the short piece. i just like to say that the, the hunger or food insecurity crossroads off climate change productivity of agriculture and governance resolutions. there are some concrete initiative that has been taken, for example, by roekel with 14 or 15 other african countries in terms of promoting the productivity of the agriculture in these countries. but it's hard to

either by analyzing the, the nature of and i think we, we have managed to be successful with some countries for example. like, like, like, like if you like the year we would do the order in which is combination between the 2 in the framework of operations in our very promising rhythm. now, let me walk to the peacekeeping. i said earlier, does peace and security is, is a global issue. it concerns all the international community, not only the african, the fact that most of the peacekeeping operations are in africa doesn't mean, does africa by itself to deal with the we get the issue here.

something that africa is trying to do with demands that are available. but for, for the presence of the near future, i think that the african union, the economy regional commission still need to support in logistics in training. and in finance. it for the time in about 75 percent of the budget is coming from outside the african countries and the implementation of 2 percent. that's the adopted after the reports of president coming on the reform of financing off the peacekeeping operation. but the african union is found in that can enable the offering god to be more involved financially. indeed, and it's caustic,

yet it isn't worth possibility of the community. and it is a responsibility especially now to come are mixed with the challenge of terrorism and violence. all right, but we have run out of times. we're going to have to leave our discussion there. thanks so much. all of our guests picture ocean hammered. lou lisky and jonathan of a i'm sure and thank you for watching. you can see the program again. any time by visiting our website, al jazeera dot com, and for further discussion, go to our facebook page. that's facebook dot com, forward slash ha inside story. you can also join the conversation on twitter. our handle is at ha, inside story. i mean, how much am during the whole team here in the life? ah ah

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it looks as if you're challenging almera and demand the truth. there is no serious discussion about this because it goes to the very root of who we are up front with me, mark lamb on hill. what. how does it up to years of over grazing the damage caused to the precious grass lance, a chilling is being reversed with one of the world's biggest, other conservation projects. they're pretty emblematic of the pedagogy and if they're plentiful and they're calm like this one is, then you know that the system is coming back and that they feel no threat. and that's why you know, i far re, wilding patagonia on al jazeera, for the 1st time in his young life, you know, gets his 1st taste of chocolate. he's been walking on his cobblers, cocoa fall for 7. yes. you know, father says he put, sent to work to prepare him for life's challenge is they do have

a battle. i don't have any money to pay labours. and because there are no schools nearby to accommodate all the children, they help with the farmer. children as young as for i brought to farms to become conditioned to such an environment as they grow. actively say more than half of all children living in agricultural areas. i engage in work, most of them dangerous work. across west africa, one and a half 1000000 children, i involved in cocoa for me, many work as time laborers and, and less than a dollar or nothing at all. pharmacy attempts by western cocoa bias to force down prices is keeping hundreds of thousands of children out of school and condemning them to a life of poverty. and the ag, you only by them receiving better prices and education being improved. can the lives of children like you know, can poor to ah .