Topic 1: Congo crisis

The Congo Crisis was a period of political upheaval and was a conflict between the 1960 and 1965 in the Republic of Congo. This crisis began almost immediately after the Congo’s independence from Belgian colonial rule in which the entire country became under the rule of Joseph Desire Mobutu. Poor governance and largescale abuses by armed groups and members of the Congolese security forces which were fueled by widespread impunity and struggles for control over the country's vast resources have stunted the country's overall developments and left countless victims. The DRC still struggles with many issues as a direct result of the influence of colonialism and this Congo crisis period, the AU is seeking to find ways to uplift the country despite its past political turmoil and foreign influence.

Topic 2: Hunger and Poverty in the AU

Poverty in African has been a wide-ranging issue which impacts millions of lives every day. Political instability, uneven distribution of natural and government resources predominantly contributes to this issue. In 2015 the United Nations committed itself to the sustainable development goals in order to end global poverty. Economic instability with high rates of unemployment, income quality, and economic policies which do not prioritize the needs of most vulnerable citizens of an African nation play a role for the poverty within Africa. Countries have been seen to fall into poverty cycles as a result of poor economic and political management. The AU is seeking to create a program that addresses economic, political, and social issues that lead to poverty traps.