The African Union and Security

This policy brief examines the African Union's (AU) security framework, its transition from the non-interventionist norms of the OAU, and its evolving partnership with the United Nations (UN) to maintain peace and security in Africa.

• The African Union (AU) shifted African policy from non-intervention toward collective responsibility, establishing the African Peace and Security Architecture (APSA) to address continental security. APSA includes a fifteen-member Peace and Security Council authorized to approve interventions for unconstitutional government changes or gross human rights violations, as well as a 'Panel of the Wise', a Peace Fund, a Continental Early Warning System, and a rapid-reaction African Standby Force.
• The AU has pursued deeper coordination with the UN, guided by Article 52 of the UN Charter and initiatives like the 2007 UN-AU Ten-Year Capacity Building Program and the 2010 UN-AU Joint Task Force on Peace and Security. This cooperation has manifested in hybrid missions, such as the AU-UN Hybrid Operation in Darfur (UNAMID) which replaced the AU's solo mission in 2008, and the African Union Mission in Somalia (AMISOM) established in 2007.
• The AU faces significant operational challenges, including limited financial and logistical resources and inconsistent approaches among member states regarding conflicts in Libya (2011) and Mali. Specifically, 'dual keys' joint command-and-control operations in Sudan have been ineffective due to divergent institutional cultures and inadequate training.
• To improve security, the document suggests the AU embrace bilateral collaborations and training programs from external actors. Examples of effective or useful initiatives include the French RECAMP program, the UK's British Peace Support Teams, and the U.S. African Contingency Operations Training and Assistance (ACOTA) Program, which provides nonlethal equipment and training.

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} }