The African Union has appointed Burundian President Évariste Ndayishimiye as its Special Envoy to the Sahel and Sahara region, tasked with initiating dialogue and supporting peace efforts across the area, which continues to reel from military takeovers and political instability.
The announcement was made by Angola’s President João Lourenço, who currently chairs the AU. The appointment comes despite the suspension of three Sahel nations—Mali, Burkina Faso, and Niger—from AU activities following military coups that ousted civilian governments.
In a post on X (formerly Twitter), President Ndayishimiye said he accepted the role “with responsibility and humility.”
A diplomatic source in Bujumbura described the appointment as a recognition of Ndayishimiye’s success in reintegrating Burundi into the international fold, reversing years of isolation under his predecessor.
Ndayishimiye, who currently serves as the AU’s First Vice-Chairperson, also holds a leading role in COMESA (the Common Market for Eastern and Southern Africa), and is known for his engagement in international diplomacy and support for youth empowerment.
Although he lacks direct experience in the Sahel-Sahara region, the AU has increasingly looked beyond regional boundaries in its envoy appointments—most recently naming Togo’s president to mediate in the eastern DRC crisis.
Observers note that Ndayishimiye’s military background and alignment with many of the values shared by leaders of the Sahel alliance could help ease communication with the region’s transitional authorities.
The three Sahel countries, which recently formed their own confederation, remain suspended from the AU following their military takeovers.
