Beyond Subsidiarity: Understanding the Roles of the AU and RECs/RMs in Peace and Security in Africa
Special Report
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 Report
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 Report
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 Report
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 Report
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’.
The growing threat of terrorism in Africa: A product of misdiagnosis and faulty policy response?
Special Report
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’.
The growing threat of terrorism in Africa: A product of misdiagnosis and faulty policy response?
Special Report
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’.
The growing threat of terrorism in Africa: A product of misdiagnosis and faulty policy response?
Special Report
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’.
The growing threat of terrorism in Africa: A product of misdiagnosis and faulty policy response?
Special Report
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’.
The growing threat of terrorism in Africa: A product of misdiagnosis and faulty policy response?
Special Report
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’.