Conflicts in Africa and the African Union Peace and Security Council: A Decade Balance Sheet

Abstract

May 2014 marked tenth year of the official inauguration of the African Union Peace and Security Council. The Council was inaugurated on 25 May 2004 in Addis Ababa on the historic day Organization of African Unity (OAU) was formed 41 years ago at the same place. The organ was established as a collective security structure responsible for promotion of peace, security and stability in the continent. Thus, it has various specific responsibilities intended to assure achievement of this grand objective. This article tries to discuss efforts made by the Council for one decade towards fulfillment its foundational responsibilities. It is arguable that though the Council has made various efforts to enshrine its responsibilities, conflicts and political instabilities continue to characterize the continent. Activities of the Council are curtailed by the political economic and organizational/institutional limitations. Thus, the Council can better realize its mandate of promoting peace, security and stability in the continent if the political, economic and organizational hurdles are well addressed.

Keywords: Conflicts in Africa, Peace and Security Council, African Union