The African Union (AU) is a regional organization made up of 55 member states located within Africa. Established in May 2001, the organization was founded primarily for the goal of promoting continental unity, improving economic integration, and to ensure peace and security on the continent. Delegates will represent members of the AU’s Assembly of Heads of State. The assembly is made up of the heads of state of the AU’s member states and meets to establish the primary policies that guide the AU. From setting policies to passing enforceable actions by which member states must abide, the assembly is the primary executive body of the organization. The assembly is led by the Chairman, elected by members of the assembly for a one-year term. As a body, delegates will need to coordinate with each other on directing the goals and policies of the AU. However, they may also leverage their own respective country’s strengths to assist with the implementation of the Union’s policies.

The Gulf of Guinea is one of the world’s busiest shipping routes, particularly for oil shipments. The Gulf is also recognized by the maritime community as a high-risk area due to piracy. In recent years, piracy in this area has increased, creating a dangerous situation for shipping and the global economy. Pirates in these areas are known for taking over ships, stealing cargo, and kidnapping crew members for ransoms often in the millions of dollars. With the growing unrest and insurgency in the Niger Delta, pirate activity in the Gulf of Guinea has only gotten accelerated. This unrest is driven by several factors, including high youth unemployment rates, high rates of environmental pollution, and the overall neglect of coastal communities in the region. In addition to piracy, oil spills have polluted farmlands and coastal waters. This has made farming and fishing incredibly difficult, only pushing more disaffected young people to piracy. As the African Union, delegates will need to navigate complex issues including piracy, creating jobs for local communities, and rebuilding life in the Gulf of Guinea. Delegates will need to tackle events that suddenly occur while focusing on long-term solutions to decrease pirate activity in the region. Through the combined powers of delegates, the African Union must leverage the political, economic, and military forces at their disposal to curb the threat of piracy once and for all.