Progress with the African Standby Force

This research paper provides an overview of the progress made toward establishing the African Standby Force (ASF) as of May 2005. It details the continental policy framework adopted by the African Union (AU) and examines the specific implementation efforts, capabilities, and challenges within three regional bodies: the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS), the Intergovernmental Authority on Development (IGAD), and the Southern African Development Community (SADC). The document highlights significant gaps between policy aspirations and operational capacity, primarily driven by funding shortages and limited national military capabilities.

• The African Standby Force (ASF) is designed as a multidisciplinary force consisting of five regional standby brigades, supported by civilian police (CivPol) and civilian experts. These components are located in their countries of origin and intended for rapid deployment across Africa.
• The AU established six mission scenarios for the ASF with varying deployment timelines. These range from military advice or observer missions requiring deployment within 30 days, to robust intervention in genocide situations requiring deployment within 14 days.
• The ASF's operationalization is divided into two phases. Phase 1 (ending 30 June 2005) focused on establishing planning elements (PLANELMs) and regional standby forces up to brigade size for Scenario 4 capabilities. Phase 2 (2005-2010) aims to develop the capacity to manage complex peacekeeping operations.
• ECOWAS has developed the ECOWAS Standby Force (ESF) with a target of 6,500 troops. This includes a Task Force of 1,500 soldiers ready to deploy within 30 days and a Main Brigade of 5,000 soldiers ready within 90 days.
• The East African Standby Brigade (EASBRIG), coordinated on an interim basis by IGAD, separates its command structures: the brigade headquarters is in Addis Ababa, while the PLANELM is located in Nairobi.
• SADC is establishing the SADC Standby Force Brigade (SADCBRIG) using a pool arrangement. This system ensures that a full brigade can be composed from earmarked troops in various member states, preventing deployment from being blocked by a single country's decision not to contribute.
• Funding is identified as the primary obstacle to African-led peacekeeping. While the EU established a Peace Facility (earmarking €250 million) to support AU operations, the document notes that this facility is inadequate for current demands and will soon be exhausted.
• The document argues that the AU and regional organizations lack the capacity for sustained multifunctional support, meaning the ASF will likely serve as a 'bridging force' for UN deployments rather than a replacement.
• There are significant concerns regarding the viability of regional logistical bases due to the high cost of infrastructure and maintenance in harsh climates. The author suggests commercial logistics contracting as a more realistic alternative.

APA

Cilliers, J., & Malan, M. (2005). Progress with the African Standby Force. Institute for Security Studies. https://issafrica.s3.amazonaws.com/site/uploads/PAPER98.PDF

Chicago

Cilliers, Jakkie, and Mark Malan. Progress with the African Standby Force. Institute for Security Studies, 2005. https://issafrica.s3.amazonaws.com/site/uploads/PAPER98.PDF.

Wikipedia

{{cite report |last1=Cilliers |first1=Jakkie |last2=Malan |first2=Mark |title=Progress with the African Standby Force |publisher=Institute for Security Studies |date=May 2005 |url=https://issafrica.s3.amazonaws.com/site/uploads/PAPER98.PDF |access-date=17 August 2026 |via=Climate Insights Directory}}

BibTeX

@techreport{cilliers2005progress, author = {Cilliers, Jakkie and Malan, Mark}, title = {{Progress with the African Standby Force}}, institution = {Institute for Security Studies}, year = {2005}, month = may, url = {https://issafrica.s3.amazonaws.com/site/uploads/PAPER98.PDF}, urldate = {2026-08-17}, note = {Indexed by Climate Insights Directory} }