ROLE OF AFRICAN UNION IN ADDRESSING GLOBAL CHALLENGES THROUGH THE LENS OF GENESIS (11:1-9): THEOLOGICAL AND SOCIO-POLITCAL INSIGHTS

Abstract

This interdisciplinary paper analyses the African Union’s (AU) role in addressing global challenges and examines the AU’s efforts to foster unity and cooperation among African nations. Drawing upon political science, international relations, and environmental studies, the research investigates the effectiveness of the AU’s initiatives in promoting a unified African voice on the global stage. It explores how regional integration has shaped policy coordination, resource allocation, and diplomatic efforts in tackling transnational problems. Uniquely, this analysis incorporates a biblical perspective, drawing parallels between the AU’s aspirations for unity and the biblical narrative of the Tower of Babel in Genesis 11:1-9. The paper adopts an interdisciplinary approach and employs the politico-theological framework for the development of the ideas in the research. While acknowledging that AU’s regional integration project has made significant strides, it observes that it still faces considerable obstacles in translating this unity into effective solutions for climate change, pandemics, and migration, which are among the global challenges plaguing Africa. Integrating secular and biblical viewpoints, this study offers a holistic understanding of the complexities involved in building a united African response to global challenges.