Ramping up its international role, the African Union is still struggling to respond to the continent's conflicts, Joining the G20 and signing a new cooperation deal on peacekeeping missions with the UN, the African Union is expanding its footprint in the international system. But its summit in Addis Ababa on 17-18 February showcased its political contradictions and its lack of strategic independence. It is far from self-funding and many member states are still in heavy arrears of levies owed to the AU headquarters.