African Union Peace and Security Department

African Union Peace and Security Department
Name	African Union Peace and Security Department
Formation	2002
Type	Department of the African Union
Headquarters	Addis Ababa, Ethiopia
Parent organization	African Union Commission

African Union Peace and Security Department. It is the primary operational arm of the African Union responsible for implementing the continental peace and security agenda. The department serves as the secretariat for the Peace and Security Council and coordinates the African Standby Force. Its work is central to the African Peace and Security Architecture, aiming to prevent, manage, and resolve conflicts across the continent.

History and establishment

The department was formally established following the launch of the African Union in 2002, which replaced the Organisation of African Unity. Its creation was driven by the need for a more robust mechanism to address the conflicts that plagued the continent, such as those in Sierra Leone and the Second Congo War. The foundational legal framework is provided by the Protocol Relating to the Establishment of the Peace and Security Council, adopted in 2002 and entered into force in 2003. This protocol was significantly influenced by lessons learned from earlier initiatives like the Mechanism for Conflict Prevention, Management and Resolution and the challenges of international interventions in places like Rwanda.

Structure and organs

The department operates under the African Union Commission, headed by a Commissioner for Political Affairs, Peace and Security. It functions as the secretariat for the central decision-making body, the 15-member Peace and Security Council. Key operational components within its structure include the Continental Early Warning System, the Panel of the Wise, and the African Standby Force. The department also manages the Peace Fund and coordinates closely with the Military Staff Committee and the African Union Commission on International Law.

Mandate and objectives

Its core mandate is derived from the Constitutive Act of the African Union and the Protocol Relating to the Establishment of the Peace and Security Council. Primary objectives include promoting peace, security, and stability in Africa through activities like preventive diplomacy and peace support operations. It is authorized to recommend interventions in member states during grave circumstances, such as war crimes or genocide, as outlined in the principle of non-indifference. The department also works to combat terrorism, through frameworks like the 2004 Protocol to the OAU Convention on Terrorism, and to implement post-conflict reconstruction and development policies.

Key operations and missions

The department has planned, authorized, and supported numerous peace support operations across the continent. A major early mission was the African Union Mission in Sudan in Darfur, which later transitioned into a hybrid operation with the United Nations. Other significant deployments include the African Union Mission in Somalia, a long-term offensive against Al-Shabaab, and the African-led International Support Mission in Mali. It has also authorized regional interventions like the Regional Cooperation Initiative for the Elimination of the Lord's Resistance Army and provided support to the G5 Sahel Joint Force. Monitoring and observer missions have been deployed to countries including the Comoros and Madagascar.

Challenges and criticisms

The department faces persistent operational challenges, including chronic funding shortfalls affecting the Peace Fund and heavy reliance on external partners like the European Union and the United States. Criticisms often concern the slow deployment of the African Standby Force and political divisions within the Peace and Security Council that can hinder decisive action, as seen during the 2011 Libyan Civil War. Other issues include overlapping mandates with Regional Economic Communities like the Economic Community of West African States and allegations of human rights abuses by some deployed forces, which have drawn scrutiny from organizations like Amnesty International.

Relationship with other organizations

The department maintains a critical partnership with the United Nations Security Council, often seeking joint mandates and financing for missions, under Chapter VIII of the UN Charter. It works closely with African Regional Economic Communities such as the Intergovernmental Authority on Development and the Southern African Development Community for conflict management. Key financial and logistical support comes from the European Union through its African Peace Facility. The department also engages with bilateral partners including the United States Africa Command and collaborates on training with institutions like the Kofi Annan International Peacekeeping Training Centre.

Category:African Union Category:Peace organizations Category:International security