ACKNOWLEDGEMENT

The African Union Peace and Security Council Handbook is an initiative of Amani Africa Media and Research Services (Amani Africa) that provides authoritative information and analysis on the PSC and its work. As with the previous two editions of the Handbook, this edition of the Handbook benefited from Amani Africa’s engagement with the key actors in the work of PSC. I wish to acknowledge members of the PSC, in particular the monthly chairpersons of the PSC, the PSC Secretariats, and members of the Committee of experts for their support towards the preparation of this third edition of the Handbook.

INTRODUCTION

The African Union (AU) Peace and Security Council (PSC) is the organ of the AU that is tasked with the responsibility of promoting peace, security and stability in Africa. The norms underlying the mandate of the PSC and the methods and instruments for executing its mandate are enunciated in the Protocol to the AU Constitutive Act Establishing the PSC, which was adopted in Durban, South Africa in 2002.

The peace and security landscape of the continent and the nature of the mandate of the PSC demands that the PSC is organized and operates at a high level of effectiveness. Indeed, how the PSC functions and delivers on its mandate impacts not only the effectiveness of the continental response to the peace and security challenges, but also on global multilateral engagements. Various factors, including political will of member states, mobilization of consensus, and capacity, critically shape the level of effectiveness of the PSC.