African leaders concluded the 39th African Union Summit in Addis Ababa this week with a resounding call for Palestine's full United Nations membership and an end to Israeli occupation. The bloc's final communiqué, adopted on February 15, denounced forced displacement of Palestinians as illegal under international law and highlighted worsening conditions in Gaza due to restricted humanitarian access.
Palestinian officials welcomed the declaration, with the Foreign Ministry stating it reflects "continental solidarity with our people's right to self-determination." The document aligns with longstanding demands for a sovereign Palestinian state based on 1967 borders, with East Jerusalem as its capital.
African Union Commission Chairperson Mahmoud Ali Youssouf set the tone during opening remarks, declaring: "The extermination of these people must stop." While the summit's official theme focused on African water security, geopolitical crises dominated discussions among the 55-member bloc.
The resolution builds on Palestine's 2012 UN observer status and a 2024 General Assembly vote supporting full membership. Final admission requires Security Council approval, where permanent members remain divided on the issue.
Analysts note the unified African position could influence ongoing diplomatic efforts, particularly as global institutions face pressure to address what the AU described as "systematic violations of Palestinian rights." The communiqué specifically referenced UN resolutions 242 and 338, which call for Israeli withdrawal from occupied territories.
