African Union Responses to Security Challenges
Channel: Africa Center for Strategic Studies
Date: 2022-06-28

To what extent can the African Union (AU), a pan-African organization, realize its ambition to lead the continent towards a peaceful, secure, and prosperous future? This is a question of utmost importance not just for security, but also for development and governance across the continent. One of the AU’s critical tasks is to use its expertise, diplomatic heft, and security resources to take the lead in resolving conflicts. Historically, the AU has sought to take ownership of appropriate peace and security operations in Africa; or, at least, to participate effectively alongside the UN Security Council in managing them. Since the AU’s creation in 2002, the principle of non-indifference" has at times been in tension with the “non-interference” privileged by the Organization of African Unity, the AU’s predecessor. As a result, the AU has been reluctant to intervene in some cases and conflicts.

The AU has enacted the African Peace and Security Architecture (APSA) to support the vital role that sub-regional and regional cooperation plays in security and development of the continent. APSA is rooted in a decision-making body (the Peace and Security Council), mechanisms for analysis and evaluation (The Continental Early Warning System and the Council of Elders), and an instrument of action (the African Standby Force). Through the APSA, African leaders seek to advance African mechanisms for safeguarding security, responding to threats, mitigating risks, and building peace.

Through APSA, the AU has made significant contributions to African peace and security. The AU has mandated or authorized dozens of peace support operations, from ambitious multidimensional missions such as the recently ended AU Mission in Somalia (AMISOM) to adhoc regional initiatives such as the G5-Sahel Joint Force. The AU’s commitment to constitutional changes in government and its “zero tolerance” policy has, until recently, been widely credited with significant reductions in the instance and success of coups d’état.

Nevertheless, as evidenced by recent rises in both conflict and unconstitutional changes in government, the APSA still faces significant obstacles if it is to achieve its goals of ending conflict and enhancing security in Africa. Recent strategy documents such as the APSA Roadmap 2016-2020 and ‘Silencing the Guns in Africa by 2020’ (now extended to 2030) lay out ambitious reform agendas. The AU has been a far more robust institution than the former OAU but it must continue to innovate and adapt if it is to lead Africa to a peaceful, secured and prosperous future.

• How effective do you think the AU is in addressing security challenges in your region, and how well does it work with your REC?
• What are your views on the AU’s position of non-indifference as opposed to the OAU’s non-interference into member states’ internal affairs?
• How well is Africa doing with the concept of “African solutions to African problems?”
• How effective is the APSA in addressing security challenges in your region and what can be done to overcome any challenges?
• How can strategic leadership and security sector leaders make use of APSA to deliver security to states and their peoples?

Presented by:
H.E. Fatima Mohammed
Mr. Zinurine Alghali

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https://africacenter.org/programs/2022essls/

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