The African Union and Security

The African Union (AU) has transitioned from the non-interventionist norms of the OAU to an activist approach of collective responsibility, establishing the African Peace and Security Architecture (APSA) to manage armed conflicts. While the AU has successfully deployed missions in Somalia and Burundi and partnered with the UN in Darfur, it faces significant financial, logistical, and coordination challenges. The document argues for deeper harmonization between the AU and UN, as well as a greater openness to bilateral peacekeeping training and assistance from partners such as France, the UK, and the US.

• The African Union (AU) replaced the non-interventionist norms of its predecessor, the OAU, with a framework of collective responsibility and the right to intervene in member states during mass atrocities or unconstitutional government changes.
• The African Peace and Security Architecture (APSA) comprises seventeen institutions, including a fifteen-member Peace and Security Council, a Panel of the Wise for mediation, a Continental Early Warning System, and the African Standby Force.
• The AU has successfully improved conditions in former failed states such as Somalia and Burundi through peacekeeping missions and regional peace dialogues, though it continues to struggle with financial and logistical resource constraints.
• Collaboration between the AU and UN has faced operational difficulties, specifically regarding 'dual keys' joint command-and-control operations in Sudan and inconsistent member state positions within the UN Security Council regarding interventions in Libya and Mali.
• The document recommends that AU member states embrace bilateral security initiatives and training programs, citing the effectiveness of the French intervention in Mali and programs such as the UK's British Peace Support Teams and the US ACOTA Program.

APA

South African Institute of International Affairs (2013). The African Union and Security. https://saiia.org.za/research/the-african-union-and-security/

Chicago

South African Institute of International Affairs. The African Union and Security. 2013. https://saiia.org.za/research/the-african-union-and-security/.

Wikipedia

{{cite report |author=South African Institute of International Affairs |title=The African Union and Security |date=30 July 2013 |url=https://saiia.org.za/research/the-african-union-and-security/ |access-date=17 August 2026 |via=Climate Insights Directory}}

BibTeX

@techreport{southafricaninstituteofinternationalaffairs2013african, author = {{South African Institute of International Affairs}}, title = {{The African Union and Security}}, institution = {South African Institute of International Affairs}, year = {2013}, month = jul, url = {https://saiia.org.za/research/the-african-union-and-security/}, urldate = {2026-08-17}, note = {Indexed by Climate Insights Directory} }