In a move that has left many Africans stunned, the African Union (AU) has appointed Uebert Angel, a controversial Zimbabwean preacher implicated in serious corruption allegations, as its Pan African Parliament Ambassador for Interfaith Dialogue and Humanitarian Affairs. This shocking appointment has raised fundamental questions about the AU’s commitment to ethics, transparency, and the public trust.

Uebert Angel rose to continental prominence as a charismatic church leader and entrepreneur, with a massive following built on prosperity teachings and prophetic declarations. But behind the pulpit lies a darker shadow. In 2023, the Al Jazeera documentary Gold Mafia implicated Angel in gold smuggling and money laundering schemes allegedly linked to Zimbabwe’s ruling elites. He was caught on hidden camera offering to launder millions of dollars using diplomatic cover.

Instead of being held accountable, Angel has now been rewarded with a prestigious AU role. This decision sends a chilling message: corruption is not a barrier to recognition — it might even be a gateway. The AU’s silence on the documentary’s findings is deafening, and its refusal to publish the results of any internal investigations reeks of opacity.

The appointment has sparked widespread outrage across the continent. Civil society, media, religious leaders, and youth activists have all expressed disbelief and anger. How can a man accused of using his position for money laundering now be tasked with promoting humanitarian values and interfaith harmony?

This is not just about Uebert Angel. This is about a broader crisis of credibility within African institutions. When leadership positions are handed to the politically connected rather than the morally upright, it erodes the already fragile trust that citizens have in continental bodies like the AU. It confirms the fear that these institutions are captured by elites, out of touch with the real struggles of ordinary Africans.

The African Union cannot afford to bury its head in the sand. If the AU is to be taken seriously as a moral voice and a guardian of African unity and progress, it must urgently explain its decision. Who vetted Angel? Was the Gold Mafia documentary considered at all? Was the AU pressured by powerful political forces in Zimbabwe or elsewhere?

So far, there has been no transparency — no explanation, no accountability. That is unacceptable. If the AU expects Africans to respect its processes, it must lead by example.

Many across Africa are calling for Angel’s appointment to be reversed pending a public and independent review of the allegations. That is the least the AU can do to show it is serious about ethics and the rule of law. Anything less is a betrayal of the very values it claims to uphold.

If the African Union wants to reclaim its moral legitimacy, it must take the high road. Corruption must be a red line, not a red carpet. The people of Africa deserve leaders who represent integrity, not impunity. They deserve ambassadors of justice, not symbols of scandal.

The appointment of Uebert Angel is more than a controversial decision — it is a test. A test of whether African institutions will side with the people or protect the powerful. A test of whether the AU is willing to choose integrity over convenience.

Africa is watching. And the world is too.