Peace & Security Council Report

The report examines the 2019 outlook for the African Union's Peace and Security Council, highlighting the potential return of major powers like South Africa and Ethiopia to the council. It critiques the slow implementation of AU reforms, specifically regarding financial self-sufficiency and the reduction of the AU Commission. The document details a volatile 2019 electoral calendar across 11+ countries and warns of escalating instability in Gabon, Cameroon, and the Sahel. Additionally, it discusses the progress of the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) and the tensions surrounding AU-EU negotiations.

• The 2019 elections for the 15-member Peace and Security Council (PSC) may see the return of South Africa, Ethiopia, and Algeria, which could provide clarity on 'strengthening the PSC'. South Africa's potential concurrent membership on the UN Security Council could improve coordination and information flow between New York and Addis Ababa.
• AU institutional reforms are progressing slowly, particularly regarding financial independence. By mid-November 2018, only 50% of member states had paid their dues, and only about half of members were implementing the 0.2% import levy intended to make the AU financially self-sufficient.
• The AU has approved reducing the number of commissions from eight to six, including a merger of the peace and security and political affairs departments to better address structural drivers of conflict. This new structure is expected to be in place by 2021.
• Gabon is facing institutional instability due to a controversial constitutional amendment introduced by the Constitutional Court to address the 'temporary unavailability' of President Ali Bongo. The report argues that the AU must use sanctions or other tools to prevent the erosion of democratic rules in Gabon.
• The year 2019 is expected to be highly volatile with at least 11 presidential seats up for grabs. Concerns are raised about the lack of a level playing field, as incumbents often use constitutional amendments, electoral law changes, and repression to maintain power.
• Security threats are evolving, with terror group activities in the Sahel tripling between September 2017 and September 2018. There is a risk of violent extremism spreading to coastal West African countries, including Ghana, Togo, and Benin.
• The African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) had 49 signatories and 12 ratifications as of the report date, with an expectation that it would enter into force by March 2019 once 10 more countries ratify. The agreement aims to eliminate tariffs and promote the free movement of people.

APA

Diatta, M., Louw-Vaudran, L., & Attah-Asamoah, A. (2018). Peace & Security Council Report. Institute for Security Studies. https://issafrica.s3.amazonaws.com/site/uploads/psc-109-1.pdf

Chicago

Diatta, Mohamed, Liesl Louw-Vaudran, and Andrews Attah-Asamoah. Peace & Security Council Report. Institute for Security Studies, 2018. https://issafrica.s3.amazonaws.com/site/uploads/psc-109-1.pdf.

Wikipedia

{{cite report |last1=Diatta |first1=Mohamed |last2=Louw-Vaudran |first2=Liesl |last3=Attah-Asamoah |first3=Andrews |title=Peace & Security Council Report |publisher=Institute for Security Studies |date=December 2018 |url=https://issafrica.s3.amazonaws.com/site/uploads/psc-109-1.pdf |access-date=23 October 2026 |via=Climate Insights Directory}}

BibTeX

@techreport{diatta2018peace, author = {Diatta, Mohamed and Louw-Vaudran, Liesl and Attah-Asamoah, Andrews}, title = {{Peace \& Security Council Report}}, institution = {Institute for Security Studies}, year = {2018}, month = dec, url = {https://issafrica.s3.amazonaws.com/site/uploads/psc-109-1.pdf}, urldate = {2026-10-23}, note = {Indexed by Climate Insights Directory} }