Peace & Security Council Report

The July 2023 Peace & Security Council Report by the Institute for Security Studies examines the outcomes of the fifth mid-year coordination meeting between the African Union (AU) and regional economic communities (RECs). It highlights systemic coordination failures in peace-making, the challenges of AU institutional reforms, and the potential of new initiatives like the Africa Facility to Support Inclusive Transitions (AFSIT) to deter unconstitutional changes of government. The report also discusses the security vacuum created by the withdrawal of the UN mission (MINUSMA) from Mali.

• The fifth mid-year coordination meeting in Nairobi highlighted progress in African integration, including the capitalization of the AfCFTA Adjustment Fund at US$1 billion and the launch of the Guided Trade Initiative in October 2022. However, progress is hindered by funding gaps, a deteriorating security outlook, and some member states' failure to ratify the AfCFTA and the protocol on the free movement of persons and goods.
• AU institutional reforms are facing significant delays, with member states reportedly suspending recommendations from the AUC. A critical issue is the lack of financial ownership; while the operational budget is fully funded by member states, 60% of the programme budget relies on external partners, far from the 2015 goal of 75% member state coverage by 2020.
• Coordination between the AU and RECs is plagued by flaws, including a misunderstanding of 'subsidiarity' and competition between institutions. This has led to disjointed responses in conflict zones; for example, the AU and IGAD pursued competing peace processes in Sudan, and the AU and ECOWAS struggled to align responses during the 2012 Malian crisis.
• The Inter-regional Knowledge Exchange (I-RECKE) platform, launched in July 2022, aims to foster cross-regional learning on conflict prevention and terrorism. However, its effectiveness is questioned due to ambiguity regarding its objectives and the existence of numerous overlapping mechanisms, such as the Nouakchott process and the Accra Initiative.
• The withdrawal of the UN Multidimensional Integrated Stabilisation Mission in Mali (MINUSMA) by 31 December 2023 creates a security gap that the report suggests the AU and ECOWAS should fill. The report recommends a tripartite committee between the AU, ECOWAS, and the UN to manage the transition and suggests the AU prioritize a political approach via its Mission for Mali and the Sahel (MISAHEL).
• The Africa Facility to Support Inclusive Transitions (AFSIT), co-chaired by the AU Commission and UNDP, is designed to prevent and respond to unconstitutional changes of government (UCGs). It operates through four modalities: anticipatory knowledge production, a dedicated AFSIT Fund, a pooled roster of experts, and joint rapid assessments.

APA

Kinkoh, H., Soumahoro, M., Mahdi, M., Koné, F., Koné, H., & Sow, D. (2023). Peace & Security Council Report. Institute for Security Studies. https://issafrica.s3.amazonaws.com/site/uploads/PSC-Report-159.pdf

Chicago

Kinkoh, Hubert, Moussa Soumahoro, Maram Mahdi, Fahiraman Koné, Hassane Koné, and Djiby Sow. Peace & Security Council Report. Institute for Security Studies, 2023. https://issafrica.s3.amazonaws.com/site/uploads/PSC-Report-159.pdf.

Wikipedia

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BibTeX

@techreport{kinkoh2023peace, author = {Kinkoh, Hubert and Soumahoro, Moussa and Mahdi, Maram and Koné, Fahiraman and Koné, Hassane and Sow, Djiby}, title = {{Peace \& Security Council Report}}, institution = {Institute for Security Studies}, year = {2023}, month = jul, url = {https://issafrica.s3.amazonaws.com/site/uploads/PSC-Report-159.pdf}, urldate = {2026-08-17}, note = {Indexed by Climate Insights Directory} }