Prime Minister Ouédraogo calls for bold refoundation of the African Union during talks with AU commission chair
During an audience with the Chairperson of the African Union Commission, Mahamoud Ali Youssouf, in Ouagadougou on Thursday, July 16, 2026, Burkinabe Prime Minister Rimtalba Jean Emmanuel Ouédraogo issued a pressing call for a refoundation of the pan-African organization. For the head of government, the African Union must transform into a more sovereign, more effective institution, better aligned with the aspirations of African peoples, in order to break with the logic of dependency that hampers the continent’s development.
Ouédraogo advocated for a thoughtful pause in the African Union’s march a step intended to allow for a thorough self-critique of its orientations.
This approach aims to identify the structural and political shortcomings that prevent the AU from fully defending African interests on the international stage.
According to him, without a serious reassessment of its decision-making, funding, and action mechanisms, the Union will remain vulnerable to external pressures and foreign interests that perpetuate the exploitation of resources and the marginalization of peoples.
The Prime Minister highlighted three priority areas for credible reform: strengthening the AU’s institutional sovereignty, improving its operational effectiveness, and reconciling its actions with citizen expectations.
Concretely, this implies rethinking governance mechanisms, diversifying funding sources to reduce dependence on external partners, and increasing transparency and accountability in order to restore public trust.
Beyond these internal issues, Ouédraogo stressed the need for the African Union to adopt a more assertive diplomatic and economic posture.
The AU must defend fair trade policies, protect African natural resources, and promote partnerships that respect the sovereignty of member states.
Such an orientation would require enhanced coordination among states and a shared political will to impose common standards in the face of external powers.
The Burkinabe proposals align with a current of reflection already present in several African capitals and among civil society actors: the idea that continental integration will only progress if the Union becomes a genuine instrument of social and economic transformation, rather than a mere forum for declarations.
However, translating intentions into action will require political courage, deep institutional reforms, and the mobilization of citizens.
In sum, Rimtalba Ouédraogo’s call is a reminder that the African Union, as it currently functions, must be tested against its real utility for the peoples.
The proposed refoundation is not an end in itself, but a condition for building a more sovereign, more just Africa capable of charting its own development.
Fanta KEITA
