Peace & Security Council Report

The June 2021 Peace & Security Council Report by the Institute for Security Studies examines the African Union's (AU) role in managing crises in the Central African Republic, Sudan, and Chad, while analyzing the institutional challenges of the Pan-African Parliament and the strategic partnership between the AU and the United Nations.

• The African Union's Peace and Security Council (PSC) is attempting to support the Central African Republic (CAR) through the 2019 Political Agreement for Peace and Reconciliation, which is viewed as the "only viable framework for peace and reconciliation in the country." However, the process is hindered by the activity of the Coalition des Patriotes pour le Changement (CPC), allegations of human rights abuses by the CAR government and private military contractors, and a "proxy battle" between France and Russia.
• The AU played a key role in Sudan's 2019 transition to a civilian-led government and supported its removal from the List of State Sponsors of Terrorism. However, the transition is currently "plagued by uncertainty" due to stalled peace negotiations, delayed formation of a legislative council, and a worsening economic situation, leading to calls for the AU to provide more concrete political and technical support.
• The PSC's decision to endorse a military transition in Chad following the death of President Idriss Déby is described as "historic" because it tolerates an unconstitutional change of government. This decision suggests a shift in the African Peace and Security Architecture (APSA) from a norms-based collective security system to a "collective defence system" that prioritizes state stability and the protection of incumbents over constitutional rule.
• The Pan-African Parliament (PAP) is facing a severe legitimacy crisis, characterized by internal conflict over the election of its bureau and a lack of legislative power. The institution, which costs the AU approximately "US$15 million annually," is criticized for being disconnected from citizens and failing to provide effective oversight, reflecting a broader "crisis in leadership and governance" across Africa.
• The partnership between the AU and the UN is essential for international peace, with achievements including joint initiatives in Madagascar, the CAR, and the Sahel. To improve effectiveness, there is a need for better synchronization between the AU PSC and the UN Security Council (UNSC), including more regular consultations and stronger support for the A3 (African non-permanent members of the UNSC) to "amplify the African voice."

APA

Diatta, M., Woldemichael, S., Handy, P.-S., & Louw-Vaudran, L. (2021). Peace & Security Council Report. Institute for Security Studies. https://issafrica.s3.amazonaws.com/site/uploads/psc-136.pdf

Chicago

Diatta, Mohamed, Shewit Woldemichael, Paul-Simon Handy, and Liesl Louw-Vaudran. Peace & Security Council Report. Institute for Security Studies, 2021. https://issafrica.s3.amazonaws.com/site/uploads/psc-136.pdf.

Wikipedia

{{cite report |last1=Diatta |first1=Mohamed |last2=Woldemichael |first2=Shewit |last3=Handy |first3=Paul-Simon |last4=Louw-Vaudran |first4=Liesl |title=Peace & Security Council Report |publisher=Institute for Security Studies |date=June 2021 |url=https://issafrica.s3.amazonaws.com/site/uploads/psc-136.pdf |access-date=17 August 2026 |via=Climate Insights Directory}}

BibTeX

@techreport{diatta2021peace, author = {Diatta, Mohamed and Woldemichael, Shewit and Handy, Paul-Simon and Louw-Vaudran, Liesl}, title = {{Peace \& Security Council Report}}, institution = {Institute for Security Studies}, year = {2021}, month = jun, url = {https://issafrica.s3.amazonaws.com/site/uploads/psc-136.pdf}, urldate = {2026-08-17}, note = {Indexed by Climate Insights Directory} }