the role of african union (a.u.) in promoting peace and security in africa2.docx

7/28/2019 THE ROLE OF AFRICAN UNION (A.U.) IN PROMOTING PEACE AND SECURITY IN AFRICA2.docx

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CHAPTER ONE

1.1 INTROUCTION

In May 1963, the Organization of African Unity (OAU) was established in Addis

Ababa, Ethiopia by the then 37 independent African nations to promote unity and

development, defend the sovereignty and territorial integrity of members, eradicate

all forms of colonialism; promote international co-operation and co-ordinate

member s economic, diplomatic, educational, health, welfare, scientific and defense

policies.1

The OAU was at that time, the most significant result of Pan-Africanism. The

organization mediated several border and internal disputes and was instrumental in

bringing about majority rule and the end of apartheid in South Africa, which in1994

became the 53 rd nation to bead mitted to the organization. 2 It should be noted that

national independence pre-dominate discussion by member s states during the early

stage of the formation of OAU over continental unity. For the majority, the OAU was

created to defend rather than to abolish member states.

More than 43years have passed since the Organization of African Unity came into

existence no appreciable progress has been made in the area of peace and security

because 1Africa continent is still ravage by wars, conflicts, economic and social

problems that are threatening the continent.

The Assembly of Head of States and Government of the Organization of

African Unity (OAU) recently adopted the Constitutive Act of the African Union

(AU) to replace the Charter of the Organization of African Unity. This was done

1. Available at www.cc.columbia.edu. /cu/cup/ .OrganizationofAfricanUnity Encyclopedia website,page 1.

2. Ibid.
http://www.cc.columbia.edu/http://www.cc.columbia.edu/http://www.cc.columbia.edu/


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engine needed by the AU to enable it move and be a much more effective

Organization. 3

The Constitutive Act of the AU and various text writers and commentators has

expressed their opinions as to the role AU is supposed to play in promoting peace

and security in the continent. The proposed thesis intends to review these various

opinions to see how far it has gone and whether the continental body has achieved

tremendous progress in the promotion of peace and security by the AU member

states as compared to what was obtained during the OAU Charter.

1.2 STATEMENTOFTHEPROBLEM

As the 21 st AU summit opened on 26 may 2013 in Addis Ababa, celebrating 50 th

anniversary with the theme of Panafricanism and African rebirth one has to

question the legacy it left behind. Many critics question the relevance of AU after

half a century since its evolution, has the institution served the people of Africa?

The major problems confronting the African continent today is lack of clear political

and economic ideology by our leaders in addressing the many ills of the continent.

The periods from 1963-1979 were one of crises and political turmoil in Africa. In

many parts of the continent, there occurred boundary disputes which reflected the

unhappy legacy of co lonia lism, political instability expressed in secessions, the grim

battle for the total liberation of the dependent territories. There has been little

progress in the real enjoyment of fundamental rights and freedoms of Africans

despite the numerous treaties, resolutions and declarations executed by the OAU in

recent memory.

3. SummaryReport:Regional Conference forAfricanParliamentariansonRecent Strategic DevelopmentInitiativesinAfrica,heldinAccra,Ghana


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from18-20April,2002,editedbyAyodeleAderinwaleandPublishedbyAfricanLeadershipForum,OtaOgunState andWorld BankInstitute,p.5.

Africa still faces serious challenges in its efforts toward the realization of human

rights for all due to impunity, lack of respect of the electoral process, poverty and

underdevelopment, globalization, and neglect of economic, social and cultural rights.

It is understatement to say that the challenges facing Africa are daunting. In an

era when advancement inTechnology is providing the world with tremendous opportunity for development

and improvement in the quality of life for mankind, the African continent is still

grappling with wars and conflicts, lack of adequate health care, HIV/AIDS pandemic,

poverty, political instability, environmental degradation, high unemployment and

bran-drain and refugee problem, deteriorating economic and living standard of the

people and lack of agricultural development and other social infrastructure. Many

thousands of African men, women and children are killed every year in regional wars.

These wars are often encouraged by regimes that give weapons and refuge to rebel

groups fighting in neighboring countries. The cycle of attack and escalation is

reckless sit is destructive and need to be stopped.

Human rights records of most African states are nothing to write home about.

The authoritarian and dictatorial regimes of these leaders make it difficult for them

to condemn the actions of other African leaders who violate human rights. African

tyrants have no right to continue to oppress their people, even if they do it within the

confines of their borders. The African Union is looking tirelessly in putting Africa on

the part of economic recovery.


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1.3 AIMSANDOBJECTIVESOFTHESTUDY

The objectives of the study, amongst others, are:-

1. To determine the role of African Unions peace operations in maintainance of

peace and security in Africa.

2. To determine the challenges presently confronting the continent.

3. To explore steps or machineries cu rr en tl y und er ta ke n by th e AU ini ts quest to achieve peace in the continent .


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4. To examine, since the attainment of independence by the African States

from their colonial masters, how has the notion of sovereignty affect the

role of AU in promoting peace and security in the continent.

5. To make suggestions to our African governments, international

community and civil society organizations on how best to restore peace

and security to all the trouble spots of African States and for enduring

peace and security as well as the promotion of human rights inthe

continent.

1.4 SIGNIFICANCEOF THESTUDY

The Role of African Union in Promoting Peace and Security in Africa is significant

because of the numerous challenges confronting African continent today. These

challenges are either general or specific. The general issues have to do with the

inability to have proper democratic structures in place. The continent is still

bedeviled with despots who do not want to relinquish power to a new generation

while the democratic process is abused. Closely linked to this also were effects of

military coups and military rule in the African continent which terminate

legitimately and democratically elected government. The result is the

infringementoffundamentalrightsofthecitizensthroughtheuseofdegreeto rule.

4. As Obasanjo Heads African Union. New Nigerian Newspaper Editorial of 11 th Aug., 2004, p.8


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On the other hand, the specific challenges confronting the continent are t he internal

strife that threatened to tear some countries apart, there by worsening the

humanitarian crisis on the continent. As at now Sudan leads other major war- torn

African countries including Liberia, Uganda, Cote d Ivoire, Democratic Republic of

Congo, Sierra Leone, Burundi with thousands of civilians killed, women raped.

Reports have it that in these regions alone about 50 villagers have been sacked and

million headed to border camps and an estimated two million people in need of

medicine and food; leading the United Nations to described the

Situation as the world s worst humanitarian crisis. 4

Today, Africa is afflicted by a growing number of intra-state conflicts of

apparently racial, religious and ethnic derivation. A growing number of civilians as

opposed to armies and security forces are becoming involved in this violence, often

for no obvious or clearly articulated political reason. 4 Ethnic and racial cleansing

combined with a cute religious extremism, intolerance or pure criminality suggests a

growing social crisis in the international system.

The instances of turmoil are the local and particular manifestations of a

common crisis of individual and group identity in the context of deepening social

inequality and fragmentation. In Africa, we see at the heart of the continent as was

the of wars stretching from Eritrea to the northern borders of Namibia. This

phenomenonconstitutessograveathreatastopromptsomekeenobserversto speculateth

at what we are witnessing is the end of a state. 5

5. RichardCornwell.LookingTowardsanUnknownFuture.Africanforum,PublishedbyALFand

WorldBankInstitute,Vol.4,Nos2&3,Aug.2000.


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They face severe food shortage or lack of drinking water. Africa is one part of the

world that is beset by the scourge of illicit mall arms and light weapons. There is no

gain saying that such civil wars and violent unrest in Africa have worsened the

internal security situations of the political entities on the continent and hampered the

ability of their government. The significance of the study further revealed that states

with more than one linguistic group (multi-nation states) have faced more internal

strife, as well as wars that are inspired by religion. While most European

States were founded as 5 nation-states, most African states were founded as multi-

Nation states due to colonial history. 6 This make the goal of unity even more

difficult toachieveastheethnicandreligiousrivalryandconstantborderconflicts are one

of the biggest challenges to A.U.

In Africa, 340 million people, or half the population live on less than one US dollar

per day. The mortality rate of children under 5 years of age is 140 per 1000 and life

expectancy atbirthisonly54years. Only 58 percent of the population has access to

safe water. The rate of illiteracy for people over 15 years is 41 per cent.

Peace and security are elusive terms in the context of Africa, a continent that

lacks pan-African machinery. Since the establishment of OAU before it was

transformed to AU, the organization remained powerless to prevent its member

states from waging war.

6.CharlesIkedikwasoeze.Obasanjo sRenewedMandateasAUChairman.New

NigerianNewspaper of31March,2005,p.16.


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Despite numerous efforts put forward to resolve armed conflicts in Africa, and

increasing success in recent years, durable peace remains an elusive goal on the

continent. The resistance of conflict in Africa poses major challenges not only

To all Africans but the UN in particular. Building durable peace in Africa requires

both good governance and sustainable development; such as political, economic and

social conditions which are needed to prevent recurrences of tensions, chaos, respect

for human rights and the rule of law.

Surely, there is a new dawn on the Africa horizon. Political liberalization, well-

focused and pragmatic economic policies, and macro-economic stabilization are

increasingly becoming shared values, particularly at political leadership level.

Already, Africa is showing overall economic growth for the first time in more than a

decade. There is a renewed sense of hope and determination as stability is being re-

discovered, investment is returning to many African countries even thought he

challenges are however still enormous.

1.5 JUSTIFICATIONOFTHESTUDY

Civil Societies in Africa are playing an increasing role, especially in the lives of African

peoples at every level on the social, cultural and political levels and even in the

democratization of the daily lives of the people in general. It is therefore imperative

to involve civil society due to the fragmentation of African states and its poverty level

which has been created by decades of bad governance. The crisis are more reflected

due to the weaknesses and even in the in eptitude of the OAU and its member states

to come out with coherent preposition aimed at solving the continent s problems.


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The world is moving towards a pluralist dynamic in search for solutions to the

several complex questions which have been brought to the fore by the evolution of

world civilizations. There is also the declining role of the state to meet the

aspirations of the citizens and therefore, It is the role of the civil societies to serve as

a symbol of stronger aspiration of the citizens to participate in state matters with

determination in the shaping of their destiny.

The justification of this study is to further analyze the reason behind the introduction

of New Partnership for African Development (NEPAD) by African Union. According to

initiators of the programme, NEPAD is aimed at 6reversing decades of socio-economic

and political decay, eradicating abject poverty, consistent with the UNs Millennium

Development Goals (MDGs), in the areas of healthcare, education, achieving a

stainable growth and development. The question is: what is and how effective is the

response capacity of the African Union in putting this to reality?

In 1991, African Leadership Forum (ALF) convened a conference in Uganda to

fashion out modalities on how to improve peace and security in Africa. It was the

outcome of that meeting that a Working Document was prepared called The Kampala

Document. 7 The Kampala Document has made a major contributions to the efforts

in improving the conceptual frame work within which peace and development can be

sustained in Africa. Peace is only possible when the principle of security undergirds

the social order. Security is the core element which makes for stability and along with

other elements, presents stability as a pre-requisite for development.


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Despite the fact that African leaders have signed, ratified/acceded to a number of

Conventions, Treaties, Protocols and Charters, especially those that have direct

bearing to conflicts management, peace and security continue to elude the continent.

This study will therefore impart to the readers the efforts

7. AmosSawyer: Towardsa FrameworkforSustainable Stability,AfricanForumJournal,Vol.4,Nos2&3.PublishedbyALF,Ota,OgunState,Nigeria,Aug.2000,p.68


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African Union is making in addressing all the ills facing the continent to day. This

study will also analyse the various institutions of the AU, especially those dealing

with economic and human rights development and proffer solutions on how to

address any possible conflicts if any.

The indebt analysis of this study will also reveal to the readers the reason behind the

transformation of OAU to AU, which according to commentators and analysts will

provide excellent opportunity for socio-economic regeneration and liberation of the

continent. Collectively, the initiatives represent the expression of the will of the

people in the pursuit of the realization of their core values and removing obstacles to

human security, tackling the problem of poverty, and putting in place the right

policies and structures to ensure equitable growth.

1.6 SCOPEAND METHODOLOGY

This study will cover the whole of Africa continent. Both the OAU and the AU will

receive attention in this study and will be examined to see what roles and

mechanisms are available in these instruments in addressing peace and security in

the continent. Conflicts resolution is about activities that seek to discover identity

and resolve the underlying root causes of such conflicts. African leaders have realized

the need to promote peace in the continent and in doing this they have also agreed to

accelerate political and socio- economic integration through partnership with other

International Organizations which is a necessary ingredient for sustainable

development of the African economy. For peace to reign in the continent, African

leaders need to clearly define the norms and standards in dealing with manifestation


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and control of conflicts. The relationship between the United Nations and African

Union in promoting peace and security in Africa will also be covered in this study.

1.7 LITERATUREREVIEW

About 3.4 millions of people have died in the African continent over the years as

result of violent conflicts, civil wars, diseases, environmental degradation ,bad

governance, religious crises and the large-scale refugee problems in the continent.

Shedrack Best (1998) 8, in his examination of the Under-developed state of Peace and Conflict studies in Africa opined that the search for peace has been one of

the primary pre-occupation of mankind. However, the study of peace and conflict is a

recent phenomenon in Africa in the field of social sciences and academic circle

generally as compared to developed world. Because of this, the concept of peace and

conflict is still greeted with obscurity, caution, confusion, Backwardness and even

rejected in most of Africa. It is this backwardness that calls for are think of the way

African statesmen and scholars are approaching the field of conflict and peace studies,

especially in the light of the proliferation of armed conflict and other forms of social

upheaval in Africa in the post cold-war era, which has led to huge humanitarian

suffering. Even though peace and conflict studies are under developed in Africa, the

trend needs to be reversed and taken to wider issues considering the rising pattern of

armed conflicts in the African continent.

8 Shedrack Best. The Under developed State of Peace and Conflict Studies inNigeria. African Peace Review: A Journal of Centre for Peace Research andConflict Resolution,Vol.2No.1,April,1998, pp. 1-15.


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8Similarly, Jimmi Adisa (1998) 9 looked at the African security needs in a

New world order and highlighted that the end of the Cold War, which was sealed by

the demise of the Soviet Union has altered the international strategic environment

and forced a radical revision of the global power structure. The effects of these are

monumental, leading to new alignments in global power formations and giving birth

to a different era in diplomatic history. The arrival of a new world order (presumably

western concept) in which the rule of law supplanted the rule of the jungle and the

natural harmony among the people only intermittently disrupted by the evil men or

hostile ideologies.

Africans in particular were initially enthusiastic about the possibilities

associated with the changing international order but due to superpower rivalry,

exacerbated and escalated domestic conflicts in many parts of the African continent,

notably, Angola, Mozambique, Namibia, South Africa, Chad, Ethiopia, Somalia, Liberia,

Sierra Leone, etc which has placed pressure on African states to

take sides as a condition for economic, political and/or military assistance.

9 JimmiAdisa. AfricanSecurityNeedsina New WorldOrder.AfricanPeaceReview:AJournalofCentreforPeaceResearchandConflictResolution,Vol.2No.2,October,1998,pp.1-17.


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VariousfactorsassociatedtoconflictsinAfrica,amongst,whichare;crisesof

marginalization, issue of lack of good governance, human rights abuses,

economicunderdevelopment,risingwaveof domesticconflicts,turmoilandarmed

confrontationallassociatedwiththeforcesunleashedbyglobalchangesata pointin

timewhichAfrican stateshadlostthecapacitytocope.

9CalestineBassey(2001) 10 examinedsomecriticalWesternperceptionof

peaceandsecurity inAfricaandagreedthattheemergingconditionofprofound

socialcrisisgenerated bystructuraldeformitiesoftheAfricansocialenvironment

suchasthefoodcrises,deplorablemasspoverty,decimatingdiseases,pervasive

illiteracy,technologicalbackwardness, prostrateexternal dependenceand

mountingforeigndebtscombinedwithpost-coldwarsystem transformationhas

engendereda paradigmatic shift onthewesternperceptionofAfricansecurity.

Thisperception inturngreatlyaffectspeaceandsecurityoftheAfricanstates. Similarly,

anywesternpolicyfocusonAfricansecurityisbaselargelyonabstract

geopoliticalconditions andinvariably anchored tovirulentideologicaland

hegemonicrivalrybetweenthetwodominantformations ofNATOandWarsaw

PactwhoaretheprimarydeterminantsofAfricansecurityissuesandthekeyto

itsresolution.

Anydiscourse onsecuritymustnecessarilyidentifythesource,natureand

typeofthreataswellasthemanagementcapabilityandpolicyoptionstodeal withthem.

Thisinturnraisestheproblemofdomesticcoping mechanism:thatis,

thecontextofthenationalsecuritypolicyofagivencountry,comprisingthe

decisioncontext,regimetype,andtherelationshipbetweenstateandsociety


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10 CelestineO.Bassey. Some Critical ObservationsonWesternPerceptionofPeaceandSecurityin Africa.AfricanPeace Review:AJournal ofCentre forPeaceResearchandConflict Resolution, Vol.3No.1,April,2001,pp.36-57.


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including thatof civil-militaryrelations. This alsodominates the mode of

discussionandinterpretationofAfricansecurity. Therearetwopossiblefactors

affectingpeaceandsecurityinAfrica:thefirstistheexistence ofexternalthreats

whichareviolent,hostile,or militaryin form.Theseexternalthreatsarein thetype

ofexternalaggression,espionage,hostile reconnaissance,sabotage,subversion,

annoyanceandinimicalinfluencesexercisedbyadversaries. Thesecondcause

isthecoercivebehaviouralpowerofthesuperpowernationsonthedeveloping

countries.Underthisapproach,thepatternsofconflict,escalationofstrategic

interactions,breakpointsandcontainmentofviolentconflictsareprimarilyfrom

theperspectiveofthesuperandmiddlepowers,whichhavepervasiveeffecton

theunderstandingof nationalsecurity.

Onoja(1989) 11 inhisassessmentofpeace-makingasanInstrumentfor

theMaintenance ofInternationalpeaceandsecurityhighlightedseveral

Internationallegalmechanisms bywhichUnitedNationsadopt inresolving

internationalconflicts. Oneofthesemechanisms isthroughmediation,whichis

oneoftheprovisions intheCharteroftheUnitedNations. Underthismethod,

respectableinternationalpersonalities,elderstatesmen andpeopleareemployed

tousetheirgoodofficestotryandresolve suchconflicts. Thismeans is adopted to bring

hostile parties to agreement when other diplomatic

11 Lawrence Onoja. Peace-keepingandInternationalSecurityina


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ChangingWorld.PrintedandPublishedbyMonoExpressionsLtd.,Jos,PlateauState,1989,p.123.


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measuresfail. Othermethodadoptedthroughmediationispeace building,which is a

mechanismfor ensuring continued existence of peace and order after

resolutionofinternationalconflicteitherthroughpreventivediplomacy, peace-

makingor peace-keeping.

Thesecondmethodisthroughpeace-keeping whichhasreceivedgreater

attention intheCharteroftheUnitedNations. Itisaninstrumentforthe maintenance

ofinternationalpeaceandsecurity. Themeansadopted isthrough multilateral

diplomacyusuallycarried outbytheUnitedNationsSecurityCouncil s

PermanentMembersandnon-permanent members,otherregionalbodiesand

judicialprocess, throughtheInternationalCourtofJustice. TheUnitedNation s

Charteremphasized theneedtoresolveinternationalconflictthroughpeaceful meansin

orderto avoidthescourgeof war.

KeyfactorswhichareaffectingcollectivesecuritybytheUnitedNations in

maintaininginternationalpeace andsecurity arethedebtburden which hasmade

itimpossibleforunder-developedcountriesinvest intheeconomic sector thatare

likelytogeneratemoreresources forjobcreation.Secondly, theglobal

environmentalpollutionthathasdevastating effectsonthelivesofmillionsof

people.Thirdly,the threatposedby armamenthas global phenomenonthat threatened

the lives of mankind. Therefore, the


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problemofcollectivesecurityisvitaltointernationalcommunitiesforpeaceful

livingofmankind. 11

Goodrich(1974) 12 examinedthedifferentapproachestheUnitedNations

hasadoptedovertheyearsinthemaintenance ofpeaceandsecurity. First,the

UnitedNationsreframeditselffromtheuseofthreat orforceagainsttheterritorial

integrityorpoliticalindependenceofanystate. Second,membersoftheUN agreedto

settletheirinternationaldisputesbypeacefulmeansso asnotto

endangerinternationalpeace and security. Thirdly,the useof enforcement measures,

whichisthelastresorttobeadoptedbytheUNinordertomaintain peace

andsecurityareemployed.Fourth,membersoftheUNagreedtoregulate

itsnationalarmament asan importantfeature formaintainingpeaceandsecurity.

Finally,theuseofmultilateraldiplomacyinresolvingdisputesisvitalinachieving

peacefuladjustmentofunsatisfactorysituations. Inthis respect,theresponsibility

ofmaintaininginternationalpeaceandsecurity restontheSecurityCouncilofthe

UnitedNations. 12

Underbasicprinciples ofpeacekeeping,factors,suchasthecompetence of

theUNtoauthorizepeace-keepingoperations,theconsentoftheparties

involveintheconflicttoallowpeace-keeping operationsandtheneedtobe

neutralbythepeace-keepers areallimportantinordertoenablepeacekeeping

operationsoperate withoutdifficulties.

12 Goodrich,L.M.The UnitedNations inaChangingWorld.ColumbiaUniversityPress,N.Y.,1974, pp.109-110.


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Malu(2004) 13 whileexaminingtheresponsibilityforInternationalWar

Crimes,peaceandsecurityintheWestAfricanSub-regionsaidthattheaimof peace-

keepingoperationistopreventthecommissionofwarcrimesintimeof

hostilitiesandinthisrespect,theU.NSecurityCouncilhastheresponsibility world-

wideinpeace-keepingoperation. Effortsbyregionalorganizations,such asthe

AfricanUnionin contributingitspersonnelandresourcesto theUNpeace-

keepingoperationsarethereforeregardedassupplementary.Crimescommitted

inlarge-scaleduringarmedconflictsaretreatedaccordingtointernationalrules

establishedbytheInternationalCommunityandtoprosecutethosewhoarethe

perpetratorsaccusedofsuchcrimes. Inthisway,InternationalTribunalswere

establishedforthispurpose;whichincludeInternationalCriminalCourtandthe

InternationalWarCrimesor SpecialCourts. 13

Blay,F.W.A. andA.Janneh(2002) 14 intheirseparatewelcomeaddresses to the

Regional Conference for African Parliamentariansexamined poverty,

squalor,diseases especially HIV/AIDS,violentconflicts,environmental degradation,

high unemployment, brain-drain, debt burden, high level of corruption are the

factorsposing seriouschallengeto African development. AmosSawyer(2000) 15

onhispartidentifiedgoodgovernance,ruleoflawand

humanrightsinstitutionsasbasistowardsaframeworkforsustainablestability.

13 Malu,S.V.L. ResponsibilityforInternational WarCrimes,PeaceandSecurityintheWest

AfricanSub-Region.Paperpresentedat theNigerianBarAssociationConferenceheldatAbuja, 25 th August,2004,p.6.

14 Freddie F.W.A.Blay,et.al.Welcome AddresstotheRegional ConferenceforAfrican Parliamentarians onRecentStrategicDevelopmentInitiativesinAfrica,heldinAccra,Ghana from18-


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20April,2002.EditedbyAyodeleAderinwaleandPublishedbyAfricanLeadership Forum (ALF)Ota-OgunState Nigeria andtheWorldBank,pp.21-30.

15 AmosSawyer. Towarda FrameworkforSustainableStability.AfricanForumJournal,Vol.4,

Nos2&3August,2000. PublishedbyAfricanLeadershipForumOta-OgunState,Nigeria,pp.54-64.


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WhileAmoo(1997) 16 identifiedthehuman needstheoryasthemainchallenge to

ethnicityandconflictsinAfrica.

TheUnitedNationsSecretary General,KofiAnnan(2001) 17 atanaddress

totheA.USubmit inLusakachallenged Africanleaderstoliveuptoexpectationandthattheirdecisiontotransform OAUtoAUrequiretremendousleadership

courageandwillingnesstodepartfromthewaysofthepastanddoforAfrica whatthe

EuropeanUnionhasdonefor Europe. 14

AlihuMahama(2002) 18 highlightedvariousstrategieswhichtheAfrican

Unionhasadoptedtochangethenegativeperceptionof Africa.Thelaunchingof

theNewPartnershipforAfricanDevelopment (NEPAD)andtheConferenceon

Security,Stability,DevelopmentandCo-operation inAfrica(CSSDCA)is

thereforenosurpriseandrenewedefforts byAfricanleadersinpromotingpeace,

security,stabilityandsustainabledevelopmentinthecontinent.

AmaduSesay(2001) 19 emphasizedthathumanrightshavebeenand

remainoneofthemostfundamental anddominant issuesinthecontemporary

internationalsystemandpolitics. According tothelearnedProfessor,wecannot

havepeace,oranatmosphereinwhich peace could grow, unlesswerecognized

therightsofindividualhumanbeing stheirimportance,dignityandagreed that was

the basic thing that had to be accepted throughout the world.

16 Sam G.Amoo.TheChallengeofEthnicityandConflictsinAfrica.TheNeedforaNewParadigm.PublishedbyUNDPEmergencyDivision,1997.BookReviewedbyNapoleonAbdulaiinAfrican ForumJournal,Vol.4Nos2&3August,2000,pp.81-82. 17 Addressbythe UNSecretaryGeneral,KofiAnna totheOAUmeetinginLusaka,9 th July,2003.Available at htt:/ /www.un.org/News/press/doc/2001/sgsm7888.doc.htm, pp.1-3.18 AlihuMohama.OpeningStatement totheRegional Conference

forAfricanParliamentarians on RecentStrategic Development
http://www.un.org/News/press/doc/2001/sgsm7888.doc.htmhttp://www.un.org/News/press/doc/2001/sgsm7888.doc.htm


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InitiativesinAfrica,heldinAccra,Ghana from18-20April,2002.EditedbyAyodeleAderinwaleandPublishedbyAfricanLeadershipForum(ALF)Ota-OgunState Nigeria andthe WorldBank,p.38.

19 AmoduSesay.HumanRights andthe Maintenance ofInternationalPeaceandSecurityinAfrica.

AfricanPeace Review.AJournalofCentreforPeace ResearchandConflict Resolution,Vol.3, No.1,April,2001,p.18.


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Therefore,humanrightsarelinkedtopeaceandsecurity.Thehumanrights

recordofmoststatesinAfricabothduringtheCold-WarandthePostCold-War

erawereveryappallingasthereweregrossviolationsoffundamentalrightsin

thecontinent.

Udombana(2002) 20 agreed that human rights provisions in the

Constitutive Act of the African Union are more elaborate than what was

containedintheformer Organizationof African Unity. Despite therichprovisions

ofhumanrightsintheAct,theUniversalDeclaration ofHumanRights andthe Charter

oftheUnitedNations inthefieldofhumanrights,therearestillreported

casesofhumanrightsviolationinAfrica,especially incountrieswerearmed

conflictsprevail,e.g.Liberia,SierraLeone, Sudan,Burundi,Chad,Democratic

RepublicofCongo,etc. Allthisgivescauseforsomeconcern;foritmeans,in

thefinalanalysis,thatAfricanleadersarenotgenuinelyconcernedwiththe cause

andcourseofhuman rightsinAfrica.They dosoonlyforconvenience,as ameansto

anend,notasanendinitself. 15

AmnestyInternationalin itsPublicStatement 21 of 28 th January,2005

postedtoitswebsiteaccusedAfricanUnionleaders thataredelayingthe establishment

ofaneffectiveAfricanCourtonHumanandPeople sRightsand

appealedtostatesthathavenotratifiedhumanrightstreatiestodosowithout

delay.

InformationreleasedintheA.Uwebsite(2001-2002) 22 identifiedsteps

AfricanHeadsofstatehavetakeninestablishingsomeInstitutionsthatwilldeal

withhuman rights related issues. Suchinstitutionsestablishedsofar includethe

20 NsonguruaJ.Udombana. Canthe LeopardChange itsSpots? TheAfricanUnionTreaty andHumanRights.PublishedbyAm.U.InternationalLawReview,2002,pp.1177-


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1261.21 See AmnestyInternationalPublic

Statementof28January2005, available at http. //www.amnesty.org/ ,pp.1-3.
http://www.amnesty.org/http://www.amnesty.org/


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AfricanHumanRightsCommissionanditsProtocolestablishingtheAfrican

CourtonHumanandPeople sRights,thePeaceandSecurityCouncilofA.U,

theAfricanCharterontheRightsandWelfareoftheChild,AfricanCharteron Human and

People s Rights on the Rights of Women in Africa, the AU ConventionGoverningthe

SpecificAspectsofRefugeeProblemsin Africa.

OkechukwuEmeh(2004) 23 whileanalyzing theeffects of Smallarmsand

Africa sSecurityDilemma identifiedproliferation ofillicittradeinsmallarmsand

lightweaponsasoneofthegreatestthreatstopeace,stabilityandsecurity in Africa.

Thishasledtoincrease inwiderangeofcrimesandviolencecreating

fear,impunityandinsecurity. 16

Ladan(1999) 24 highlightedthesignificantimpactofhumanrightsinthe

fieldofinternationallawanditsevolutionandremarkablefeaturesdevelopment

ininternationallawsince1945andinformedhisaudiencethecontributions of

internationalandregionalhumanrightsinstrumentstopeaceandsecurity.On

theotherhandProfessorAyua,et.al.(2001) 25 identifiedvariousstrategiesfor

humanrightspromotionandprotection foreffectivedischargeofgovernments

whileCiroma,et.al.(2001) 26 gaveacriticalappraisaloftheeffectivenessof

internationalandregionalhumanrightsenforcementmechanism inpromoting

peaceandsecurity.

22 See variousdocuments andspeechespostedtoOAUwebsitesfrom2001-2002.23 OkechukwuEmeh. SmallArmsandAfrica sSecurityDilemma.NewNigerianNewspapersof6 October,2004,p.8.24 M.T.Ladan. IntroductiontoInternational HumanRightsandHumanitarianLaws.Publishedand PrintedbyABUPressLtd.,Zaria,KadunaState,1999,p.47.25 A.Ayua.StrategiesforHumanRightsPromotionandProtectionforEffective


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Discharge of Government sHumanRightsObligations.InLaw,HumanRightsandtheAdministrationof Justice inNigeria.(M.T.LadanEd.).EssaysinhonourofHon.JusticeM.L.Uwais,ABUPress Ltd.,Zaria,Nigeria.2004,p.131.


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1.8 ORGANIZATIONALLAYOUT

Thisstudyisdividedintofive(5)Chaptersasfollows:-

CHAPTERONE

Thisisanintroductory partofthethesiswhichdealsgenerallyonthe

statementoftheproblemwhich thethesisisallabout,aims andobjectivesofthe study,its

significancein highlightingproblemsof peaceand securityin the African continent,

justification, scope and methodology used in the study,

literaturereviewandorganizationallayoutof thethesis.

CHAPTERTWO

ChapterTwodealswithperspectiveonpeace,security,conflictsand

developmentin Africa, theinvolvement of regional organizations in peace keeping

operations in Africa; specifically AUs evolving role in peace operations: the African

Union Mission in Burundi, the African Union Mission in Sudan.

CHAPTERTHREE

ThisChapterwillfocusmainlyonthePromotion ofPeaceandSecurity in

Africa,African peace and Security Architecture.The eleven years since its evolution

and its still under construction, the role and place of the African Standby Force

within the African peace and security architecture.


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security in Africa, issues, problems, challenges and prospects will be discussed.

Othersub-regionalorganizationsinAfricainpromotingpeaceand securitywill

alsobeanalyzedhere.

CHAPTERFOUR

ChapterFourwillfocusontheAfrican Union Peacekeeping constrains and

challenges, issues and problems, opportunities and prospects. In addition,

current discussions and agreements African Union is undertaking will be

analyzed here. The implication such agreements have and its validity relative

to promotion of peace and security in Africa.

CHAPTERFIVE

Thisistheconcludingpartofthethesis.Itisthesummaryofthethesis

andtheconclusion drawnthereof. Thewriterwillalsomakerecommendations

baseduponherresearchwork,withthehopethatsuchrecommendations will

stimulatetheAssemblyofHeadsofStatesoftheAUinitsefforts inpromoting

peaceandsecurityin thecontinent.


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BIBLIOGRAPHY

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1. Goodrich,L.M.(1974).TheUnitedNationsinaChangingWorld,ColombiaUniversityPress,NewYork.

2. NsonguruaJ.Udombana(2002).CantheLeopardChange itsspots? The African

UnionTreatyandHumanRights.JournalofAm.U.International LawReview.

3. Ladan,M.T.(1999).Introduction toInternationalHumanRightsandHumanitarianLaws.Published andPrinted by ABUPressLtd., Zaria, Nigeria.

4. Ladan,M.T.et.al.(2001).Law,HumanRightsandtheAdministrationofJusticeinNigeria(M.T.Ladan(ed.).EssaysinHonourofHon.JusticeM.L.Uwais,ABUPressLtd.,Zaria,Nigeria.

5. Ayua,A.(2001).Strategies forHumanRightsPromotionandProtectionfor

EffectiveDischargeofGovernment sHumanRightsObligations.InLaw,HumanRightsandtheAdministrationofJusticeinNigeria(M.T.Ladan(ed.).EssaysinHonourofHon.Justice M.L.Uwais, ABU PressLtd.,Zaria, Nigeria

6. Amoo,S.G. (1977).TheChallengestoEthnicityandConflictsinAfrica.Theneedfor aNewParadigm.UNDPEmergencyDivision.

7. LawrenceOnoja(1989). Peace-KeepingandInternationalSecurityinaChangingWorld.MonoExpressionLtd.,JosPlateauState,Nigeria.

8. JimmiAdisa(1998).AfricanSecurityNeedsinaNewWorldOrder.African

Peace Review.AJournalofCentre forPeaceandConflictResolution.Vol.2No.1,Oct.,1998.

9. CelestineOBassey (2001).SomeCriticalAnalysis onWesternPerception onPeaceandSecurityin Africa.AfricanPeaceReview.AJournalof CentreforPeaceandConflictResolution.Vol.3No.1,April,2001.

10. Malu,S.V.I.(2004). ResponsibilityforInternationalWarCrimes,PeaceandSecurityinWestAfrican Sub-Region.Paperpresentedat theNigerianBarAssociationConferenceheldin Abuja,22-27August,2004.


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JOURNAL/PROCEEDINGS/NEWSPAPERS/INTERNET MATERIALS

1. TheWebsiteof theOrganizationofAfricanUnity(OAU)Encyclopedia.

2. KofiAnnah.UNSecretaryGeneralAddresstoOAUmeetinginLusaka,9July, 2001 available at htt:/ /www.un.org/News/press/doc/2001/sgsm7888.doc.htm.

3. AmnestyInternationalStatement,availableat itswebsiteof 27/1/2005.

CHARTER/PROTOCOL/CONVENTIONS

1. TheCharterof theOrganizationof AfricanUnity(OAU)

2. heUNCharterof theUniversalDeclarationof HumanRights
http://www.un.org/News/press/doc/2001/sgsm7888.doc.htmhttp://www.un.org/News/press/doc/2001/sgsm7888.doc.htm


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