Beyond Subsidiarity: Understanding the Roles of the AU and RECs/RMs in Peace and Security in Africa
Special Reports
25 August 2023
INTRODUCTION
Over the years and most recently, various conflict/crisis situations including those in Chad, Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) and Niger have become flashpoints in the exercise of the respective roles entrusted to the African Union(AU) Peace and Security Council and Regional Economic Communities/Regional Mechanisms (RECs/RMs) for peace and security in their respective legal and policy instruments. While subsidiarity is the principle most invoked as the formula for governing the relationship between the PSC and RECs/RMs, not only what subsidiarity entails in terms of who does what and when remains unclear and contested leading to confusion and even policy paralysis in dealing with specific conflict situations but also such overuse of the term has obscured the fact that it is one among many principles and frameworks for governing the relationship between the AU and RECs/RMs.
Seizing the New Momentum for UNSC Resolution on UN funding of AU Peace Operations
Special Reports
May 10, 2023
This special research report seeks to examine how the AU Consensus Paper and the Secretary-General’s report advance the consideration of the draft resolution in the UNSC, the issues that may still require further engagement and negotiated compromise, the next steps in the process for updating and presenting the draft resolution, and the role expected of various African policy actors for running smooth and effective show in the negotiation process.
SAISIR LE NOUVEL ELAN POUR UNE RESOLUTION DU CSNU SUR LE FINANCEMENT DES OPERATIONS DE PAIX DE L'UA
Special Reports
10 Mai 2023
Il y a un nouvel élan pour la reprise des négociations sur une résolution-cadre du Conseil de sécurité des Nations unies (CSNU) sur le financement des opérations de soutien à la paix sous conduite de l’Union africaine (UA) et autorisées par le CSNU, quatre ans après l’échec de la dernière tentative d’obtenir une telle résolution en 2019. Suite à l’absence de consensus et de clarté autour des questions clés soulevées dans la résolution proposée et à la menace de veto des États-Unis d’Amérique sous l’administration Trump, le Conseil de paix et de sécurité (CPS) de l’UA à travers son président pour le mois de septembre 2019, le Maroc, a demandé aux 3 membres africains (A3) du CSNU de suspendre le processus de négociation du projet de résolution présenté par l’Afrique du Sud. Outre l’accusation selon laquelle la version de la résolution qui était à l’examen édulcore sérieusement la version du projet de résolution que les A3, menés par l’Ethiopie, ont mise en bleu en décembre 2018, les principales questions qui ont conduit à la décision du CPS de suspendre les négociations sont la divergence de vues sur la compréhension de l’engagement de l’UA de contribuer à hauteur de 25 % du budget des opérations de soutien à la paix et la division du travail entre le CPS et le CSNU, en particulier en ce qui concerne le degré d’autonomie de l’UA pour l’exercice d’un niveau de contrôle sur les opérations de soutien à la paix qu’elle déploie sous autorisation du CSNU.
Review of the Integration and Implementation of IHL in African Union Policies and Activities
Special Reports
December 12, 2022
In Africa and the world at large, conflict continues to be a major driver of humanitarian crises and human suffering. As a research report published early in 2022 showed, the factors that account for this phenomenon include the increase in the number of conflicts and the expansion in the geographic spread of conflicts. In this context, the importance of norms that contribute to the regulation of conflicts and provide minimum standards to govern behaviour of belligerents cannot be overemphasised. While conflicts are unfortunately hard to completely avoid, International Humanitarian Law (IHL) provides rules and principles which enhance safeguards to minimise the destructive impacts of armed conflicts, particularly to civilians and civilian objects.
The growing threat of terrorism in Africa: A product of misdiagnosis and faulty policy response?
Special Reports
May 25, 2022
On 28 May 2022, the African Union (AU) Assembly of Heads of State and Government, the supreme decision-making organ of the AU, will hold its 16th extraordinary session. The thematic focus of the extraordinary summit is on terrorism and unconstitutional changes of government. The summit is convened based on the AU Assembly February 2022 decision on the proposal of the Republic of Angola for the convening of ‘Extraordinary Summit on Terrorism and Unconstitutional Changes of Government in Africa’.
LA MENACE CROISSANTE DU TERRORISME EN AFRIQUE : UN PRODUIT DE DIAGNOSTIC ERRONE ET DE REPONSE POLITIQUE DEFECTUEUSE ?
Special Reports
25 Mai 2022
Le 28 mai 2022, la Conférence des chefs d’État et de Gouvernement de l’Union africaine (UA), l’organe suprême de prise de décision de l’UA, tiendra sa 16ème Session extraordinaire. Le thème central du Sommet extraordinaire est le terrorisme et les changements anticonstitutionnels de gouvernement. Le sommet est convoqué sur la base de la décision de la Conférence de l’UA de février 2022 sur proposition de la République d’Angola de convoquer un “Sommet extraordinaire sur le terrorisme et les changements anticonstitutionnels de gouvernement en Afrique”.
Mapping of AU decision-making actors and processes
Special Reports
April 28, 2022
2022 marks the 20th anniversary of the inauguration of the African Union (AU) as the continental organization taking over from its predecessor the Organization of African Unity (OAU). This is also the first year of the transition of the AU Commission (AUC) into its new structure under the process for the institutional reform of the AU that has been launched in 2017. During the two decades since its establishment, the AU has evolved not only in its institutional development but also in terms of its working arrangements and decision-making processes and practices. These evolutions and developments are not simply a product of the norms that set the mandate, power and functions of the AU but also importantly the practice of the AU in the implementation of its mandate and the exercise of the powers and functions entrusted to it based on the demands and needs of African states and the continent as a whole.
THE MAJOR PEACE AND SECURITY ISSUES IN AFRICA IN THE YEAR THE AU MARKS ITS 20 YEARS
Special Reports
March 2022
2022 marks the 20th anniversary of the inauguration of the African Union (AU). In reviewing the record of the AU in its two decades of existence, the aspect of AU’s role that is sure to attract the most scrutiny relates to the area of peace and security. While this special research report is not meant to provide such a comprehensive review, it seeks to provide an analysis of the major peace and security issues in Africa in 2022 as a useful lens for understanding where the AU’s peace and security order stands 20 years after AU’s launch. In presenting the analysis on the various major peace and security issues afflicting the continent, this report attests to both the importance of AU’s role and how its role has become more, not less, important today than at the time of its establishment, notwithstanding recent regressions in its performance.
CRITICAL REFLECTIONS ON THE CHALLENGES TO AND MEANS OF STRENGTHENING THE AU NORM BANNING UNCONSTITUTIONAL CHANGES OF GOVERNMENTS (UCG)
Special Reports
30 | September, 2021
On Sunday 5 September 2021, reports of gunshot and an apparent attempted coup started to stream on social media from Guinea capital, Conakry. Some hours later, a video showing the country’s President Alpha Conde surrounded by members of the coup perpetrators emerged. Special Forces of Guinea entered the presidential palace after exchange of gun shoots and captured President Conde. Despite initial announcement by the Defense Ministry that the mutiny was foiled, the leader of the coup colonel Mamady Doumbouya, accompanied by his entourage, appeared on national TV to announce the dissolution of Conde’s government and the suspension of the Constitution. Apart from holding President Conde in military detention, the coup makers also replaced the regional governors with military commanders.
MAKING AFRICA’S VOICE MATTER IN THE UN SECURITY COUNCIL: BRIDGING THE GAP BETWEEN AMBITION AND REALITY IN THE ROLE OF THE AFRICAN THREE MEMBERS OF THE UNSC
Special Reports
24 | March, 2021
Following its 983rd session held on 4 March 2021, the African Union (AU) Peace and Security Council (PSC) adopted a decision on the unified role of the African three elected members (A3) of the United Nations (UN) Security Council (UNSC). The content of the decision identified both existing best practices for consolidation and new proposals on the workings of the A3 and the coordination with the PSC. Manifesting a renewed interest of the PSC for enhanced role of the A3, the outcome of the 983rd session of the PSC offers the basis for examining the ways of bridging the gap between the potential of the role of the A3 and the experience thus far in respect of representing Africa’s voice through collective action in the UNSC