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African	
  Solutions	
  to	
  African	
  Problems:	
  	
  
Security	
  as	
  a	
  Case	
  for	
  the	
  Continued	
  Effectiveness	
  of	
  the	
  African	
  Union	
  
	
  
	
  Keith	
  Cavalli	
  
	
  
Introduction	
  
	
  
The	
  African	
  Union	
  (AU)	
  has	
  been	
  perceived	
  internationally	
  to	
  struggle	
  to	
  reform	
  
its	
   governing	
   bodies,	
   and	
   have	
   a	
   long	
   way	
   to	
   go	
   before	
   it	
   is	
   fully	
   functional	
  
(Hanson,	
  2009).	
  Indeed	
  the	
  website	
  of	
  the	
  organisation	
  has	
  proven	
  unreliable,	
  
and	
   is	
   occasionally	
   unavailable.	
   This	
   is	
   unsurprising,	
   given	
   that	
   Africa	
   is	
  
generally	
  considered	
  by	
  the	
  global	
  North	
  to	
  suffer	
  chronic	
  dysfunction.	
  In	
  Kenya,	
  
for	
  example,	
  the	
  U.S.	
  Department	
  of	
  State	
  (2014)	
  warns	
  that	
  ‘in	
  the	
  past	
  year	
  and	
  
a	
  half,	
  there	
  have	
  been	
  numerous	
  attacks	
  involving	
  shootings,	
  grenades,	
  or	
  other	
  
explosive	
   devices’.	
   Additionally,	
   the	
   department	
   warns	
   of	
   continued	
   threats	
   of	
  
terrorist	
  suicide	
  operations,	
  car	
  and	
  other	
  types	
  of	
  bombings,	
  kidnappings,	
  and	
  
attacks	
  on	
  civil	
  aircraft	
  and	
  maritime	
  vessels	
  (U.	
  S.	
  Department	
  of	
  State,	
  2014).	
  
Terabytes	
   of	
   data	
   depict	
   the	
   parlous	
   states	
   of	
   health,	
   economy,	
   infrastructure,	
  
environment,	
  society,	
  disease,	
  conflict,	
  governments,	
  HIV/AIDS,	
  and	
  the	
  haunting	
  
Ebola	
  virus.	
  However,	
  the	
  AU	
  claims	
  it	
  is	
  willing	
  to	
  lead	
  in	
  addressing	
  the	
  issues	
  
of	
  the	
  continent	
  through	
  the	
  slogan	
  ‘African	
  solutions	
  to	
  African	
  problems’.	
  	
  	
  	
  
	
  
Despite	
  setbacks,	
  the	
  AU	
  has	
  found	
  a	
  voice	
  over	
  the	
  last	
  decade	
  (Vines,	
  2013,	
  p.	
  
109),	
  primarily	
  through	
  success	
  in	
  security	
  issues.	
  There	
  is	
  a	
  case	
  to	
  be	
  made	
  for	
  
the	
  AU	
  as	
  a	
  capable	
  and	
  primary	
  organisation	
  to	
  address	
  the	
  challenges	
  in	
  Africa.	
  
While	
   slogans	
   and	
   bureaucratic	
   jargon	
   may	
   seem	
   absurd	
   in	
   the	
   context	
   of	
  
Africa’s	
   difficulties,	
   the	
   AU	
   is	
   well	
   placed	
   to	
   achieve	
   results	
   through	
   the	
  
constructivist	
  approach	
  of	
  norm	
  creation	
  and	
  institutionalism	
  that	
  is	
  argued	
  by	
  
Williams	
   (2005).	
   The	
   actions	
   of	
   the	
   AU	
   will	
   be	
   examined	
   from	
   a	
   security	
  
perspective	
  to	
  demonstrate	
  the	
  effectiveness	
  of	
  the	
  AU	
  in	
  reducing	
  conflict,	
  and	
  
that	
   the	
   constructivist	
   paradigm	
   is	
   suitable	
   in	
   analysis	
   of	
   African	
   issues.	
  
Additionally,	
  further	
  support	
  to	
  the	
  AU	
  by	
  the	
  United	
  Nations	
  (UN),	
  and	
  logistical	
  
improvements	
  on	
  the	
  continent,	
  could	
  result	
  in	
  positive	
  outcomes	
  in	
  other	
  areas	
  
of	
  the	
  AU’s	
  Constitutive	
  Act	
  (CA).	
  	
  	
  	
  	
  
	
  
A	
  brief	
  history	
  of	
  the	
  African	
  Union	
  
The	
  miracle	
  of	
  a	
  resurrection	
  
	
  
To	
  understand	
  the	
  AU	
  and	
  criticism	
  to	
  which	
  it	
  is	
  subjected,	
  its	
  predecessor,	
  the	
  
Organisation	
   of	
   African	
   Union	
   (OAU)	
   will	
   be	
   examined.	
   The	
   OAU	
   unified	
   the	
  
states	
   of	
   the	
   African	
   continent	
   in	
   1963.	
   However,	
   freeing	
   the	
   continent	
   from	
  
colonialism	
   did	
   not	
   automatically	
   result	
   in	
   peace	
   and	
   prosperity	
   (Udombana,	
  
2002,	
   p.	
   1183).	
   By	
   the	
   late	
   1970’s	
   the	
   organisation	
   had	
   become	
   weak	
   and	
  
disunited,	
   having	
   failed	
   to	
   respond	
   to	
   intra-­‐African	
   conflicts	
   or	
   unite	
   Africans	
  
against	
  foreign	
  intervention	
  (Packer	
  and	
  Rukare,	
  2002,	
  p.	
  366).	
  The	
  fight	
  against	
  
apartheid,	
  integral	
  to	
  the	
  formation	
  of	
  the	
  OAU,	
  remained	
  as	
  the	
  sole	
  unifier	
  of	
  
the	
  organisation	
  (Packer	
  and	
  Rukare,	
  2002,	
  p.	
  366).	
  By	
  the	
  1980’s,	
  the	
  OAU	
  was	
  a	
  
nominal	
   player	
   in	
   development	
   and	
   progress	
   in	
   Africa:	
   civil	
   wars	
   on	
   the	
  
continent	
  went	
  unchecked,	
  and	
  the	
  OAU	
  slid	
  into	
  insignificance	
  with	
  the	
  end	
  of	
  
the	
  Cold	
  War	
  (Packer	
  and	
  Rukare,	
  2002,	
  p.	
  366).	
  Weakness	
  was	
  considered	
  to	
  
have	
   spread	
   throughout	
   the	
   organisation,	
   including	
   the	
   secretary	
   general	
  
(Packer	
   and	
   Rukare,	
   2002,	
   p.	
   369),	
   and	
   calls	
   for	
   reform	
   became	
   widespread	
  
(Packer	
   and	
   Rukare,	
   2002,	
   p.	
   366).	
   ‘African	
   solutions	
   to	
   African	
   problems’	
   is	
  
arguably	
  a	
  tough	
  sell	
  to	
  the	
  global	
  community.	
  	
  
	
  
The	
   transition	
   from	
   the	
   OAU	
   into	
   AU	
   could	
   be	
   viewed	
   as	
   unusual	
   for	
   it	
   was	
  
underwritten	
  by	
  Libyan	
  dictator	
  Muammar	
  Gaddafi,	
  the	
  leader	
  thought	
  to	
  have	
  
personally	
  ordered	
  the	
  fatal	
  bombing	
  of	
  Pan	
  Am	
  flight	
  103	
  (Black	
  and	
  Beaumont,	
  
2011).	
  Under	
  Gaddafi	
  the	
  AU	
  is	
  conceptualised	
  as	
  forming	
  ‘a	
  larger	
  community	
  of	
  
peoples	
  transcending	
  cultural,	
  ideological,	
  ethnic	
  and	
  national	
  differences’.	
  The	
  
formation	
  of	
  the	
  institution	
  required	
  the	
  votes	
  of	
  Nigeria	
  and	
  South	
  Africa,	
  and	
  
which	
   they	
   granted	
   in	
   order	
   to	
   secure	
   their	
   interests	
   (Ronen,	
   cited	
   in	
   Møller,	
  
2009,	
   pp.	
   8-­‐9).	
   In	
   2001,	
   the	
   AU	
   was	
   established,	
   terminating	
   the	
   OAU.	
   The	
  
process	
   was	
   largely	
   unrecognised,	
   and	
   the	
   CA	
   incorporated	
   into	
   action	
   within	
  
two	
  years	
  (Packer	
  and	
  Rukare,	
  2002,	
  p.	
  365).	
  The	
  rapid	
  development	
  was	
  viewed	
  
as	
   demonstrating	
   political	
   commitment,	
   however,	
   the	
   formation	
   was	
   received	
  
with	
   skepticism	
   by	
   its	
   critics,	
   for	
   the	
   treaty	
   could	
   possibly	
   provide	
   cover	
   for	
  
African	
   dictators	
   to	
   commit	
   human	
   rights	
   abuses	
   under	
   the	
   guise	
   of	
   its	
  
humanitarian	
  clauses	
  (Udombana,	
  2002,	
  pp.	
  1182-­‐1183).	
  	
  
	
  
It	
  is	
  tempting	
  to	
  criticise	
  the	
  AU	
  and	
  its	
  humanitarian	
  goals	
  as	
  idealistic,	
  with	
  the	
  
AU	
  website	
  seemingly	
  proud	
  to	
  display	
  its	
  OAU	
  origins	
  and	
  fifty	
  year	
  history.	
  The	
  
outgoing	
   AU	
   Commission	
   chair,	
   Jean	
   Ping,	
   recently	
   presented	
   this	
   idealism,	
  
stating	
   ‘the	
   solutions	
   to	
   African	
   problems	
   are	
   found	
   on	
   the	
   continent	
   and	
  
nowhere	
   else’	
   (Vines,	
   2012,	
   p.	
   89),	
   thus	
   channeling	
   the	
   once	
   hollow	
   slogan,	
  
‘African	
  solutions	
  to	
  African	
  problems’.	
  However,	
  despite	
  the	
  link	
  of	
  the	
  ‘new’	
  AU	
  
to	
  a	
  problematic	
  and	
  at	
  times	
  bizarre	
  past,	
  the	
  AU	
  could	
  be	
  viewed	
  as	
  effective	
  in	
  
improving	
  continental	
  security,	
  and	
  with	
  optimism	
  for	
  further	
  successes.	
  	
  
	
  
Security,	
  colonialism,	
  hegemony	
  
Cooperation	
  as	
  a	
  product	
  of	
  conflict	
  
	
  
Post-­‐colonial	
   history	
   has	
   seen	
   Africa	
   bombarded	
   by	
   conflict.	
   Over	
   the	
   last	
   50	
  
years	
  roughly	
  65%	
  of	
  sub-­‐Saharan	
  African	
  countries	
  experienced	
  armed	
  conflict	
  
since	
  independence	
  from	
  colonial	
  powers	
  (Vines,	
  2013,	
  p.	
  94).	
  The	
  OAU’s	
  policy	
  
of	
  non-­‐intervention	
  could	
  be	
  deemed	
  to	
  have	
  facilitated	
  the	
  problems.	
  Records	
  
show	
  that	
  300,000	
  people	
  were	
  killed	
  in	
  Uganda	
  between	
  1971	
  and	
  1979,	
  over	
  3	
  
million	
  deaths	
  occurred	
  in	
  Sudan	
  after	
  war	
  broke	
  out	
  in	
  1983	
  (Patterson,	
  2012,	
  
p.	
   10),	
   and	
   the	
   1994	
   genocide	
   in	
   Rwanda	
   claimed	
   an	
   estimated	
   800,000	
   lives	
  
(Patterson,	
  2012,	
  p.	
  1)	
  in	
  only	
  months.	
  Rwanda,	
  in	
  particular,	
  seems	
  to	
  continue	
  
to	
   stain	
   the	
   reputation	
   of	
   multilateral	
   peacekeeping	
   forces.	
   Williams	
   (2007,	
   p.	
  
275)	
  claims	
  it	
  is	
  likely	
  that	
  the	
  oppression	
  brought	
  about	
  by	
  Idi	
  Amin	
  in	
  Uganda	
  
and	
  the	
  Rwandan	
  genocide	
  generated	
  sizeable	
  local	
  backing	
  for	
  intervention	
  in	
  
conflict.	
   The	
   AU	
   could	
   be	
   regarded	
   to	
   demonstrate	
   unity	
   and	
   motivation	
   to	
  
reduce	
  conflict	
  through	
  adopting	
  the	
  CA	
  in	
  2000	
  where	
  Article	
  4h	
  formalised	
  the	
  
AU’s	
  right	
  to	
  intervene	
  in	
  a	
  member	
  state	
  ‘in	
  respect	
  of	
  grave	
  circumstances:	
  war	
  
crimes,	
  genocide	
  and	
  crimes	
  against	
  humanity’	
  (Williams,	
  2007,	
  p.	
  275).	
  Under	
  
the	
  structure	
  of	
  the	
  African	
  Peace	
  and	
  Security	
  Architecture	
  (APSA),	
  the	
  AU	
  is	
  
producing	
  results	
  in	
  securing	
  the	
  continent.	
  	
  
	
  
Coinciding	
   with	
   formation	
   of	
   the	
   AU,	
   the	
   number	
   of	
   wars,	
   unconstitutional	
  
incidents,	
  and	
  coup	
  d’états	
  across	
  39	
  African	
  states	
  dropped	
  immediately.	
  This	
  
occurred	
   after	
   the	
   particularly	
   volatile	
   year	
   of	
   2002	
   in	
   which	
   there	
   were	
   12	
  
military	
  and	
  political	
  coups,	
  and	
  12	
  wars	
  (Vines,	
  2013,	
  p.	
  93).	
  The	
  result	
  could	
  
have	
  been	
  influenced	
  by	
  Article	
  10	
  of	
  the	
  CA	
  which	
  grants	
  the	
  power	
  of	
  military	
  
intervention.	
   At	
   the	
   core	
   of	
   the	
   AU	
   is	
   the	
   Peace	
   and	
   Security	
   Council	
   (PSC).	
  
Through	
   the	
   Continental	
   Early	
   Warnings	
   System	
   and	
   African	
   Security	
   Force	
  
(ASF),	
  the	
  council	
  is	
  poised	
  to	
  anticipate	
  and	
  prevent	
  conflicts	
  (Vines,	
  2013,	
  p.	
  
97).	
  Outlining	
  the	
  obligation	
  to	
  take	
  action	
  when	
  regional	
  security	
  is	
  threatened	
  
leads	
  to	
  greater	
  assertiveness	
  in	
  this	
  area	
  (Paterson,	
  2002,	
  p.	
  23).	
  ‘Members	
  of	
  
regional	
   organisations	
   are	
   closer	
   to	
   the	
   crisis,	
   and	
   they	
   often	
   share	
   a	
   cultural	
  
background	
   with	
   its	
   location,	
   so	
   that	
   their	
   operations	
   can	
   be	
   seen	
   to	
   be	
   more	
  
legitimate	
  and	
  sensitive’	
  (Weiss	
  and	
  Welz,	
  2014,	
  p.	
  889)	
  to	
  the	
  complex	
  dynamics	
  
of	
  the	
  region.	
  	
  
	
  
However,	
  a	
  potential	
  weakness	
  of	
  the	
  ASF	
  mandate	
  is	
  that	
  action	
  is	
  intended	
  to	
  
be	
  undertaken	
  in	
  conjunction	
  with	
  the	
  UN	
  whose	
  peacekeeping	
  force	
  and	
  system	
  
is	
  criticised	
  as	
  cumbersome	
  (Cilliers,	
  2008,	
  p.	
  7).	
  Yet,	
  between	
  2003	
  and	
  2012,	
  of	
  
the	
   9	
   members	
   that	
   the	
   AU	
   took	
   action	
   against,	
   only	
   Madagascar	
   failed	
   to	
  
cooperate,	
   and	
   has	
   since	
   been	
   suspended	
   (Vines,	
   2012,	
   p.	
   92).	
   It	
   appears	
   that	
  
member	
  countries	
  are	
  responding	
  to	
  the	
  actions	
  of	
  the	
  AU,	
  and	
  that	
  the	
  reason	
  
may	
  be	
  found	
  in	
  their	
  shared	
  history	
  of	
  colonialism.	
  Makinda	
  and	
  Okumu	
  (2007,	
  
p.	
   13)	
   argue	
   that	
   colonialism	
   constructed	
   a	
   pan-­‐African	
   identity	
   based	
   on	
   the	
  
unity	
  required	
  to	
  rid	
  the	
  continent	
  of	
  European	
  occupation.	
  In	
  the	
  contemporary	
  
environment,	
   state	
   misbehaviour	
   is	
   seen	
   to	
   breach	
   this	
   unity,	
   and	
   results	
   in	
   a	
  
collective	
  humiliation	
  that	
  influences	
  the	
  state	
  to	
  behave	
  responsibly	
  (Makinda	
  
and	
   Okumu,	
   2007,	
   p.	
   13).	
   The	
   actions	
   of	
   the	
   AU	
   therefore	
   appear	
   to	
   generate	
  
compliance	
  through	
  the	
  ‘name	
  and	
  shame’	
  effect	
  of	
  AU	
  sanctions.	
  	
  
	
  
Continued	
  success	
  in	
  peacekeeping	
  may	
  hinge	
  on	
  the	
  membership	
  of	
  a	
  state	
  that	
  
qualifies	
  as	
  a	
  hegemon	
  such	
  as	
  South	
  Africa	
  or	
  Nigeria	
  (Møller,	
  2009,	
  p.	
  3).	
  While	
  
the	
  AU	
  appears	
  determined	
  to	
  bring	
  stability	
  through	
  multilateral	
  governance,	
  in	
  
applying	
  Keohane’s	
  (1996)	
  hegemonic	
  stability	
  theory,	
  Møller	
  (2009)	
  argues	
  the	
  
workings	
   of	
   the	
   AU	
   are	
   actually	
   based	
   on	
   a	
   bigemony	
   or	
   possibly	
   trigemony	
  
(Adebajo	
  and	
  Landsberg,	
  2003;	
  Landsberg	
  2008,	
  cited	
  by	
  Møller,	
  2009,	
  p.	
  5),	
  and	
  
that	
   the	
   AU’s	
   formal	
   structure	
   may	
   not	
   represent	
   the	
   pan-­‐African	
   governance	
  
envisioned.	
  This	
  does	
  not	
  necessarily	
  matter.	
  Whatever	
  set	
  of	
  institutionalised	
  
responses	
   to	
   conflict	
   are	
   held	
   by	
   the	
   union,	
   violations	
   will	
   likely	
   occur.	
  
Paramount	
   to	
   effective	
   governance	
   by	
   the	
   AU	
   is	
   that	
   the	
   African	
   community	
  
condemns	
  behavior	
  that	
  violates	
  the	
  constructivist	
  norms	
  created	
  by	
  the	
  AU,	
  and	
  
aspires	
   to	
   take	
   action	
   (Williams,	
   2007,	
   p.	
   273).	
   Furthermore,	
   if	
   the	
   influential	
  
powers	
  consistently	
  neglect	
  their	
  obligations	
  to	
  ‘junior’	
  members	
  of	
  the	
  AU,	
  they	
  
will	
  find	
  themselves	
  in	
  the	
  position	
  of	
  leading	
  by	
  coercion,	
  as	
  opposed	
  to	
  consent,	
  
which	
  can	
  be	
  significantly	
  more	
  demanding	
  and	
  far	
  less	
  desirable	
  (Møller,	
  2009,	
  
p.	
  5).	
  	
  
	
  
It	
  is	
  accepted	
  though	
  by	
  the	
  UN	
  that	
  the	
  primary	
  deployment	
  will	
  involve	
  the	
  AU,	
  
and	
   be	
   followed,	
   possibly,	
   by	
   a	
   UN	
   peacekeeping	
   force	
   (Cilliers,	
   2008,	
   p.	
   7).	
  
However,	
  the	
  UN	
  has	
  been	
  seen	
  to	
  ignore	
  its	
  responsibilities	
  in	
  Africa	
  (Paterson,	
  
2012,	
   p.	
   1).	
   Considering	
   the	
   sustained	
   reduction	
   in	
   conflict	
   under	
   the	
   AU,	
  
perhaps	
  a	
  more	
  appropriate	
  role	
  of	
  the	
  UN	
  resides	
  in	
  financial	
  support	
  for	
  AU	
  
operations,	
   and	
   which	
   could	
   extend	
   into	
   areas	
   of	
   concern	
   beyond	
   security.	
  
Møller	
   (2009,	
   p.	
   13)	
   raises	
   the	
   possibility	
   that	
   a	
   threat	
   to	
   the	
   advancements	
  
made	
  by	
  the	
  AU	
  in	
  security	
  could	
  reside	
  in	
  states	
  such	
  as	
  Nigeria	
  or	
  South	
  Africa	
  
not	
  being	
  elected	
  to	
  the	
  PSC.	
  This	
  may	
  lead	
  to	
  retaliation	
  within	
  the	
  union	
  by	
  
reigning	
  in	
  peacekeeping	
  operations	
  to	
  the	
  prescribed	
  minimum	
  (Møller,	
  2009,	
  
p.	
   13).	
   The	
   possibility	
   of	
   frequent	
   conflict	
   resurfacing	
   could	
   thus	
   reopen.	
  This	
  
scenario	
   may	
   be	
   unlikely,	
   as	
   oil-­‐rich	
   Nigeria	
   is	
   a	
   natural	
   hegemon.	
   With	
   a	
  
population	
   equal	
   to	
   the	
   sum	
   of	
   the	
   population	
   of	
   all	
   West	
   African	
   nations	
  
(Kaplan,	
  2000,	
  p.	
  14-­‐15),	
  Nigeria	
  in	
  this	
  context	
  could	
  act	
  as	
  a	
  stabilising	
  force.	
  In	
  
the	
  current	
  environment,	
  the	
  AU	
  seems	
  effective	
  in	
  security,	
  and	
  could	
  be	
  well	
  
served	
  through	
  support,	
  as	
  opposed	
  to	
  handing	
  over	
  operations	
  to	
  the	
  UN.	
  
	
  
African	
  resolutions	
  to	
  African	
  conflicts	
  appear	
  to	
  work.	
  While	
  recommendations	
  
have	
   been	
   made	
   that	
   the	
   PSC	
   improve	
   early	
   warning	
   reporting,	
   and	
   provide	
  
greater	
  support	
  to	
  the	
  Panel	
  of	
  the	
  Wise	
  (POW)	
  to	
  enhance	
  mediation	
  (Patterson,	
  
2012,	
   p.	
   4),	
   the	
   relatively	
   low	
   number	
   of	
   conflicts	
   is	
   demonstrated	
   by	
   Vines	
  
(2012,	
  p.	
  93)	
  to	
  continue.	
  This	
  is	
  in	
  contrast	
  to	
  the	
  chaotic	
  predictions	
  by	
  authors	
  
such	
  as	
  Kaplan	
  in	
  The	
  Coming	
  Anarchy	
  (2000),	
  where	
  dysfunction	
  in	
  West	
  Africa	
  
is	
  argued	
  may	
  infect	
  the	
  globe.	
  Perhaps	
  South	
  Africa’s	
  ambassador	
  to	
  Mauritania,	
  
in	
  response	
  to	
  the	
  coups	
  of	
  Togo	
  and	
  Mauritania,	
  summed	
  up	
  African	
  solutions	
  
best	
  stating	
  that	
  ‘although	
  the	
  principle	
  of	
  the	
  AU	
  is	
  not	
  to	
  agree	
  with	
  coups...	
  we	
  
shall	
   not	
   have	
   one	
   policy	
   to	
   fit	
   every	
   situation’	
   (Williams,	
   2007,	
   p.	
   274).	
   The	
  
policy,	
  at	
  least	
  with	
  respect	
  to	
  the	
  stability	
  of	
  governments,	
  seems	
  to	
  be	
  able	
  to	
  
reserve	
   the	
   right	
   to	
   change	
   policy.	
   Given	
   the	
   multifaceted	
   nature	
   of	
   regional	
  
conflicts	
  in	
  Africa,	
  this	
  approach	
  seems	
  to	
  work	
  well	
  for	
  the	
  AU.	
  The	
  motivation	
  
to	
  achieve	
  results,	
  combined	
  with	
  factors	
  of	
  a	
  shared	
  history,	
  may	
  be	
  reason	
  for	
  
the	
  reduced	
  number	
  of	
  conflicts	
  under	
  the	
  AU.	
  
	
  
Realism,	
  constructivism	
  and	
  institutionalised	
  norms	
  
Further	
  constitutional	
  wins	
  can	
  be	
  made,	
  through	
  the	
  right	
  plays.	
  
	
  
While	
   the	
   AU	
   appears	
   effective	
   in	
   security	
   operations,	
   its	
   broad	
   constitution	
  
could	
   be	
   perceived	
   to	
   risk	
   further	
   progress	
   through	
   widening	
   its	
   agenda,	
   and	
  
diluting	
  efforts	
  toward	
  the	
  goals	
  of	
  the	
  AU.	
  For	
  example,	
  the	
  realist	
  scholar	
  Walt	
  
(1991,	
  p.	
  223)	
  claims	
  the	
  need	
  to	
  be	
  ‘wary	
  of	
  the	
  counterproductive	
  tangents	
  that	
  
have	
  seduced	
  other	
  areas	
  of	
  international	
  studies’.	
  Possibly	
  worse,	
  as	
  argued	
  by	
  
Bellamy	
   (2005),	
   is	
   that	
   the	
   predominant	
   powers	
   could	
   use	
   the	
   mandate	
   of	
  
humanitarian	
  intervention	
  as	
  a	
  ‘trojan	
  horse’	
  to	
  assert	
  their	
  state	
  agendas.	
  The	
  
realist	
  argument	
  is	
  daunting,	
  and	
  could	
  be	
  incorrect	
  in	
  analysis	
  of	
  the	
  AU.	
  
	
  
The	
  objectives	
  of	
  Article	
  3,	
  and	
  principles	
  of	
  Article	
  4	
  of	
  the	
  CA	
  can	
  be	
  regarded	
  
as	
  idealistic.	
  For	
  example,	
  the	
  stated	
  goal	
  to	
  promote	
  research	
  in	
  all	
  fields,	
  or	
  the	
  
principal	
  of	
  gender	
  equality	
  might	
  be	
  difficult	
  to	
  realise	
  in	
  the	
  context	
  of	
  current	
  
conditions	
  in	
  AU	
  countries	
  in	
  some	
  respects.	
  And	
  in	
  analysing	
  Africa,	
  it	
  is	
  easy	
  to	
  
dismiss	
  humanitarian	
  concerns	
  and	
  favour	
  realist	
  theory	
  as	
  ‘significant	
  parts	
  of	
  
Africa’	
  conform	
  to	
  Lockean	
  and	
  Hobbesean	
  cultures	
  where	
  neighbouring	
  states	
  
are	
  viewed	
  with	
  the	
  assumption	
  that	
  they	
  are	
  either	
  rivals	
  or	
  enemies,	
  and	
  are	
  an	
  
inherent	
  threat	
  (Williams,	
  2007,	
  p.	
  254).	
  Williams	
  argues	
  	
  (2007,	
  p.	
  254)	
  though	
  
that	
  realism	
  is	
  ineffective	
  in	
  analysis	
  of	
  Africa,	
  in	
  that	
  it	
  masks	
  the	
  importance	
  of	
  
non-­‐state	
  actors,	
  and	
  emphasises	
  states	
  as	
  unitary	
  and	
  rational.	
  Realism	
  fogs	
  the	
  
importance	
  of	
  common	
  cultural	
  beliefs	
  between	
  states	
  that	
  transcend	
  regional	
  
power	
   distributions	
   (Williams,	
   2007,	
   p.	
   255).	
   The	
   AU	
   may	
   be	
   well	
   placed	
   and	
  
motivated	
  to	
  make	
  genuine	
  progress	
  in	
  further	
  areas	
  of	
  the	
  CA.	
  	
  
	
  
Lieutenant	
  Colonel	
  Beebe	
  is	
  the	
  Senior	
  Africa	
  Analyst	
  for	
  the	
  intelligence	
  division	
  
of	
  the	
  US	
  Army	
  Deputy	
  Chief	
  of	
  Staff.	
  He	
  argues	
  that	
  in	
  the	
  case	
  of	
  Africa,	
  the	
  
human	
  security	
  paradigm	
  should	
  be	
  leveraged,	
  and	
  traditional	
  western	
  models	
  
shelved,	
  in	
  order	
  to	
  achieve	
  African	
  solutions	
  to	
  African	
  problems	
  (Beebe,	
  2011).	
  
This	
   would	
   employ	
   the	
   AU	
   system	
   of	
   norm	
   creation	
   and	
   institutionalisation	
  
while	
   factoring	
   the	
   culture	
   and	
   post-­‐Colonial	
   history	
   of	
   AU	
   countries	
   into	
   its	
  
applications.	
  Beebe	
  might	
  be	
  well	
  placed	
  to	
  understand	
  the	
  unique	
  dynamics	
  of	
  
challenges	
  faced	
  by	
  the	
  AU.	
  He	
  lives	
  in	
  Angola,	
  which,	
  despite	
  an	
  abundance	
  of	
  
relative	
   resources,	
   remains	
   mired	
   at	
   162	
   on	
   the	
   Human	
   Development	
   Index	
  
(United	
  Nations	
  Children’s	
  Fund,	
  2013,	
  p.	
  2).	
  	
  
	
  
The	
   author	
   contends	
   that	
   African	
   security	
   leaders,	
   military	
   and	
   civilian,	
   will	
  
‘almost	
   always	
   couch	
   security	
   in	
   terms	
   of	
   environmental	
   security,	
   poverty	
  
alleviation,	
   issues	
   of	
   water	
   and	
   sanitation,	
   food	
   security,	
   infrastructure	
  
development,	
  and	
  lack	
  of	
  vocational	
  skills	
  training’	
  (Beebe,	
  2011).	
  This	
  remains	
  a	
  
difficult	
  concept	
  to	
  grasp	
  due	
  to	
  the	
  strength	
  of	
  the	
  traditional	
  realist	
  paradigm	
  
employed	
   by	
   the	
   western	
   military	
   leadership	
   (Beebe,	
   2011).	
   However,	
   the	
  
credibility	
   of	
   debate	
   amongst	
   western	
   nations	
   as	
   to	
   how	
   the	
   AU	
   should	
   apply	
  
itself,	
  for	
  example	
  in	
  the	
  perceived	
  failure	
  of	
  the	
  AU	
  in	
  Darfur	
  in	
  2004,	
  has	
  been	
  
diminished	
  as	
  a	
  result	
  of	
  what	
  could	
  be	
  regarded	
  as	
  the	
  botched	
  Invasion	
  of	
  Iraq	
  
(Bellamy,	
  2005,	
  p.	
  51).	
  Furthermore,	
  the	
  AU	
  seems	
  to	
  possess	
  a	
  critical	
  factor	
  for	
  
success,	
   the	
   will	
   to	
   undertake	
   action,	
   which	
   has	
   resulted	
   in	
   reduced	
   conflict	
  
(Vines,	
  2013).	
  In	
  the	
  case	
  of	
  Darfur	
  ‘President	
  Obasanjo	
  lamented	
  that	
  although	
  
the	
  AU	
  was	
  willing	
  to	
  deploy	
  more	
  peacekeepers,	
  it	
  was	
  unable	
  to	
  do	
  so	
  without	
  
international	
   assistance’	
   (Bellamy,	
   2005,	
   p.	
   44).	
   Assistance	
   continues	
   to	
   be	
  
required,	
  however	
  the	
  AU	
  may	
  be	
  well	
  placed	
  to	
  make	
  further	
  progress	
  in	
  areas	
  
of	
  its	
  CA	
  if	
  logistical	
  factors	
  can	
  be	
  improved.	
  	
  	
  
	
  
In	
  a	
  critique	
  of	
  the	
  AU,	
  logistical	
  challenges	
  and	
  the	
  lack	
  of	
  infrastructure	
  warrant	
  
consideration,	
   for	
   these	
   aspects	
   continually	
   impede	
   the	
   efforts	
   of	
   the	
   AU.	
  
Logically,	
  progress	
  in	
  many	
  of	
  the	
  areas	
  targeted,	
  such	
  as	
  health,	
  cannot	
  be	
  made	
  
if	
   the	
   problems	
   cannot	
   be	
   physically	
   accessed.	
   Bellamy	
   (2005,	
   p.	
   44)	
   cites	
  
logistics	
  as	
  a	
  major	
  factor	
  in	
  the	
  failure	
  of	
  the	
  AU’s	
  intervention	
  in	
  Darfur.	
  Cilliers	
  
(2008,	
  p.	
  6)	
  states	
  that,	
  despite	
  the	
  numerous	
  advancements	
  of	
  the	
  ASF,	
  logistical	
  
issues	
  remain	
  a	
  substantial	
  problem.	
  And	
  recently,	
  the	
  logistical	
  challenges	
  faced	
  
by	
  the	
  AU	
  were	
  mentioned	
  in	
  a	
  ten-­‐year	
  review	
  by	
  the	
  Berlin	
  Colloquium	
  which	
  
put	
   forth	
   infrastructure	
   improvement	
   as	
   a	
   key	
   policy	
   recommendation	
  
(Paterson,	
   2012,	
   p.	
   4).	
   It	
   is	
   overwhelming	
   to	
   consider	
   the	
   numerous	
  
requirements	
  for	
  building	
  a	
  few	
  decent	
  roads	
  and	
  bridges	
  in	
  Africa.	
  And	
  counter	
  
to	
  this,	
  it	
  is	
  useful	
  to	
  consider	
  what	
  further	
  progress	
  the	
  AU	
  could	
  achieve	
  under	
  
better	
  logistical	
  conditions.	
  	
  
	
  
Nevertheless,	
  regional	
  organisations	
  are	
  closer	
  to	
  crises	
  in	
  African	
  nations	
  and	
  
can	
  respond	
  quicker	
  and	
  at	
  lower	
  cost	
  (Weiss	
  and	
  Welz,	
  2014,	
  p.	
  889).	
  Leaning	
  
on	
   the	
   UN	
   adds	
   further,	
   intercontinental,	
   logistical	
   layers	
   to	
   the	
   challenges	
   of	
  
improving	
   conditions	
   in	
   Africa.	
   Beebe	
   (2011)	
   argues	
   that	
   ‘Africans	
   best	
  
understand	
  a	
  human	
  security	
  narrative,	
  and	
  should	
  the	
  West	
  earnestly	
  adopt	
  this	
  
human	
   security	
   narrative	
   in	
   addressing	
   Africa,	
   a	
   great	
   deal	
   more	
   could	
   be	
  
accomplished’.	
  This	
  author	
  agrees	
  wholeheartedly.	
  But	
  the	
  narrative	
  cannot	
  be	
  
fully	
  engaged,	
  or	
  results	
  improved,	
  unless	
  the	
  AU	
  can	
  access	
  the	
  regions	
  of	
  its	
  53	
  
active	
  members.	
  Infrastructure	
  and	
  support	
  for	
  the	
  AU	
  could	
  even	
  be	
  considered	
  
as	
  more	
  important	
  than	
  handing	
  over	
  operations	
  to	
  the	
  UN.	
  
	
  
Security	
   and	
   development	
   on	
   the	
   African	
   continent	
   are	
   ‘inextricably	
   linked’	
  
(Beebe,	
  2011).	
  The	
  AU	
  has	
  demonstrated	
  it	
  can	
  reduce	
  conflict	
  as	
  a	
  multilateral	
  
institution.	
  Through	
  a	
  process	
  of	
  norm	
  creation	
  and	
  internalisation	
  and	
  action	
  it	
  
is	
  possible	
  that	
  further	
  issues,	
  such	
  as	
  HIV/AIDS	
  prevention,	
  disarmament,	
  and	
  
child	
   protection	
   could	
   be	
   funnelled	
   into	
   this	
   process	
   and	
   progress	
   made	
   in	
  
further	
  issues.	
  Such	
  a	
  scenario	
  is	
  envisioned	
  by	
  Beebe	
  (2011)	
  where	
  using	
  the	
  
military	
  to	
  train	
  participants	
  in	
  civilian	
  vocations	
  progress	
  is	
  two	
  fold;	
  firstly	
  in	
  
value	
  adding	
  to	
  society	
  and	
  reducing	
  the	
  predatory	
  element	
  of	
  the	
  military,	
  and	
  
secondly	
   by	
   producing	
   a	
   workforce	
   capable	
   of	
   supporting	
   the	
   human	
   security	
  
paradigm.	
  If	
  such	
  a	
  viable	
  force	
  were	
  to	
  be	
  created	
  through	
  the	
  efforts	
  of	
  the	
  AU,	
  
then	
   the	
   constructivist	
   paradigm	
   could	
   make	
   progress	
   in	
   other	
   critical	
   areas	
  
addressed	
  by	
  the	
  CA	
  such	
  as	
  health	
  and	
  poverty.	
  	
  
	
  
Conclusion	
  	
  	
  
	
  
Improvement	
   in	
   Africa	
   through	
   the	
   AU	
   is	
   a	
   significant	
   challenge.	
   Factors	
  
deleterious	
  to	
  progress	
  in	
  the	
  region	
  are	
  ever-­‐present,	
  and	
  due	
  to	
  colonialism,	
  
are	
  largely	
  distinctive	
  to	
  Africa.	
  African	
  solutions	
  to	
  uniquely	
  African	
  problems	
  
might	
  sound	
  logical,	
  but	
  post-­‐colonial	
  challenges	
  are	
  not	
  easily	
  fixed,	
  for	
  the	
  50	
  
year	
   period	
   of	
   the	
   OAU	
   was	
   marred	
   by	
   some	
   of	
   the	
   most	
   vicious	
   conflicts	
   of	
  
contemporary	
   times.	
   However,	
   the	
   advent	
   of	
   the	
   AU	
   brought	
   progress	
   in	
   the	
  
areas	
  of	
  security,	
  and	
  thus	
  further	
  potential	
  for	
  progress	
  exists.	
  
	
  
Facilitating	
  the	
  process	
  of	
  norm	
  creation	
  and	
  internalisation	
  in	
  the	
  AU	
  will	
  result	
  
in	
  cultural	
  and	
  regional	
  factors	
  being	
  considered	
  in	
  its	
  actions.	
  Disproportionate	
  
outside	
   influence	
   may	
   taint	
   this	
   process.	
   In	
   Africa,	
   while	
   the	
   realist	
   paradigm	
  
seems	
  appropriate	
  due	
  to	
  violent	
  post-­‐colonial	
  history,	
  the	
  paradigm	
  of	
  human	
  
security	
  is	
  better	
  suited	
  to	
  advance	
  the	
  CA.	
  Considering	
  the	
  success	
  of	
  the	
  AU	
  in	
  
delivering	
  regional	
  stability,	
  it	
  would	
  be	
  encouraging	
  to	
  see	
  additional	
  concerns	
  
of	
   the	
   AU	
   addressed	
   to	
   facilitate	
   regional	
   advancement.	
   According	
   to	
   Beebe	
  
(2011),	
   this	
   is	
   possible.	
   African	
   solutions	
   to	
   African	
   problems	
   can	
   continue	
   to	
  
work	
  and	
  expand	
  into	
  other	
  aspects	
  of	
  the	
  CA.	
  Through	
  its	
  success	
  in	
  security,	
  
the	
   African	
   Union	
   has	
   created	
   the	
   groundwork	
   for	
   further	
   progress.	
   If	
   some	
  
decent	
   roads	
   and	
   bridges	
   could	
   be	
   put	
   in	
   place,	
   the	
   African	
   Union	
   may	
   yet	
  
produce	
  long	
  awaited	
  results	
  in	
  further	
  areas	
  of	
  its	
  Constitutive	
  Act.	
  	
  
	
  
	
  
	
  
Bibliography	
  
	
  
Beebe,	
   S.	
   D.	
   (2011)	
   ‘Africa:	
   security	
   and	
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   twenty-­‐first	
  
century’,	
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   ‘Responsibility	
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Black,	
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   ‘Gaddafi	
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minister:	
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leader	
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Cilliers,	
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  ‘The	
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  ‘The	
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24	
  October	
  2014).	
  
	
  
Kaplan,	
  R.	
  D.	
  (2000)	
  The	
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  Anarchy:	
  Shattering	
  the	
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  of	
  the	
  Post-­‐Cold	
  
War	
  World.	
  New	
  York:	
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  House.	
  
	
  
Keohane,	
   R.	
   O.	
   (1996)	
   ‘The	
   theory	
   of	
   hegemonic	
   stability	
   and	
   changes	
   in	
  
international	
  economic	
  regimes,	
  1967-­‐1977’,	
  in	
  C.	
  R.	
  Goddard,	
  J.	
  T.	
  Passé-­‐
Smith,	
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  J.	
  G.	
  Conklin	
  (eds),	
  International	
  Political	
  Economy.	
  State-­‐Market	
  
Relations	
  in	
  the	
  Changing	
  Global	
  Order.	
  Boulder:	
  Lynne	
  Rienner.	
  
 
Makinda,	
   S.	
   M.,	
   and	
   F.	
   W.	
   Okumu	
   (2007)	
  The	
   African	
   Union:	
   Challenges	
   of	
  
Globalization,	
  Security,	
  and	
  Governance.	
  Routledge.	
  
	
  
Møller,	
   B.	
   (2009)	
   ‘The	
   African	
   union	
   as	
   a	
   security	
   actor:	
   African	
   solutions	
   to	
  
African	
  problems?’,	
  Danish	
  Institute	
  for	
  International	
  Studies,	
  57,	
  pp.	
  1-­‐28.	
  
	
  
Packer,	
  C.	
  A.	
  and	
  D.	
  Rukare	
  (2002)	
  ‘The	
  new	
  African	
  union	
  and	
  its	
  constitutive	
  
act’,	
  American	
  Journal	
  of	
  International	
  Law,	
  pp.	
  365-­‐379.	
  
	
  
Paterson,	
  M.	
  (2012)	
  ‘The	
  African	
  Union	
  at	
  Ten:	
  Problems,	
  Progress,	
  and	
  Prospects’,	
  
International	
  Colloquium	
  Report	
  2012,	
  pp.	
  1-­‐54.	
  
	
  
Udombana,	
   N.	
   J.	
   (2002)	
   ‘Can	
   the	
   leopard	
   change	
   its	
   spots?	
   the	
   African	
   union	
  
treaty	
   and	
   human	
   rights’,	
   American	
   University	
   International	
   Law	
  
Review,	
  17(6),	
  1177.	
  
	
  
Union,	
  A.	
  (2000)	
  The	
  Constitutive	
  Act.	
  Addis	
  Ababa:	
  African	
  Union.	
  
	
  
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   Passports	
   and	
   International	
   Travel,	
   United	
   States	
   Department	
   of	
   State,	
  
Bureau	
  of	
  Consular	
  Affairs	
  (2014),	
  updated	
  19	
  June	
  2014	
  
	
  	
  	
  	
  	
  	
  	
  	
  	
  	
  	
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  September	
  2014).	
  
	
  
Vines,	
   A.	
   (2013)	
   ‘A	
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   of	
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   peace	
   and	
   security	
  
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  International	
  Affairs,	
  89(1),	
  pp.	
  89-­‐109.	
  	
  
	
  
Walt,	
   S.	
   M.	
   (1991)	
   ‘The	
   renaissance	
   of	
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   studies’,	
  International	
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Quarterly,	
  pp.	
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Weiss,	
   T.	
   G.	
   and	
   M.	
   Welz	
   (2014)	
   ‘The	
   UN	
   and	
   the	
   African	
   union	
   in	
   Mali	
   and	
  
beyond:	
  a	
  shotgun	
  wedding?’,	
  International	
  Affairs,	
  90(4),	
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  889-­‐905.	
  
	
  
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   P.	
   D.	
   (2007)	
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   non-­‐intervention	
   to	
   non-­‐indifference:	
   the	
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and	
   development	
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   security	
   culture’,	
   African	
  
Affairs,	
  106	
  (423),	
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AFRICAN UNION SECURITY

  • 1. African  Solutions  to  African  Problems:     Security  as  a  Case  for  the  Continued  Effectiveness  of  the  African  Union      Keith  Cavalli     Introduction     The  African  Union  (AU)  has  been  perceived  internationally  to  struggle  to  reform   its   governing   bodies,   and   have   a   long   way   to   go   before   it   is   fully   functional   (Hanson,  2009).  Indeed  the  website  of  the  organisation  has  proven  unreliable,   and   is   occasionally   unavailable.   This   is   unsurprising,   given   that   Africa   is   generally  considered  by  the  global  North  to  suffer  chronic  dysfunction.  In  Kenya,   for  example,  the  U.S.  Department  of  State  (2014)  warns  that  ‘in  the  past  year  and   a  half,  there  have  been  numerous  attacks  involving  shootings,  grenades,  or  other   explosive   devices’.   Additionally,   the   department   warns   of   continued   threats   of   terrorist  suicide  operations,  car  and  other  types  of  bombings,  kidnappings,  and   attacks  on  civil  aircraft  and  maritime  vessels  (U.  S.  Department  of  State,  2014).   Terabytes   of   data   depict   the   parlous   states   of   health,   economy,   infrastructure,   environment,  society,  disease,  conflict,  governments,  HIV/AIDS,  and  the  haunting   Ebola  virus.  However,  the  AU  claims  it  is  willing  to  lead  in  addressing  the  issues   of  the  continent  through  the  slogan  ‘African  solutions  to  African  problems’.           Despite  setbacks,  the  AU  has  found  a  voice  over  the  last  decade  (Vines,  2013,  p.   109),  primarily  through  success  in  security  issues.  There  is  a  case  to  be  made  for   the  AU  as  a  capable  and  primary  organisation  to  address  the  challenges  in  Africa.   While   slogans   and   bureaucratic   jargon   may   seem   absurd   in   the   context   of   Africa’s   difficulties,   the   AU   is   well   placed   to   achieve   results   through   the   constructivist  approach  of  norm  creation  and  institutionalism  that  is  argued  by   Williams   (2005).   The   actions   of   the   AU   will   be   examined   from   a   security   perspective  to  demonstrate  the  effectiveness  of  the  AU  in  reducing  conflict,  and   that   the   constructivist   paradigm   is   suitable   in   analysis   of   African   issues.   Additionally,  further  support  to  the  AU  by  the  United  Nations  (UN),  and  logistical  
  • 2. improvements  on  the  continent,  could  result  in  positive  outcomes  in  other  areas   of  the  AU’s  Constitutive  Act  (CA).             A  brief  history  of  the  African  Union   The  miracle  of  a  resurrection     To  understand  the  AU  and  criticism  to  which  it  is  subjected,  its  predecessor,  the   Organisation   of   African   Union   (OAU)   will   be   examined.   The   OAU   unified   the   states   of   the   African   continent   in   1963.   However,   freeing   the   continent   from   colonialism   did   not   automatically   result   in   peace   and   prosperity   (Udombana,   2002,   p.   1183).   By   the   late   1970’s   the   organisation   had   become   weak   and   disunited,   having   failed   to   respond   to   intra-­‐African   conflicts   or   unite   Africans   against  foreign  intervention  (Packer  and  Rukare,  2002,  p.  366).  The  fight  against   apartheid,  integral  to  the  formation  of  the  OAU,  remained  as  the  sole  unifier  of   the  organisation  (Packer  and  Rukare,  2002,  p.  366).  By  the  1980’s,  the  OAU  was  a   nominal   player   in   development   and   progress   in   Africa:   civil   wars   on   the   continent  went  unchecked,  and  the  OAU  slid  into  insignificance  with  the  end  of   the  Cold  War  (Packer  and  Rukare,  2002,  p.  366).  Weakness  was  considered  to   have   spread   throughout   the   organisation,   including   the   secretary   general   (Packer   and   Rukare,   2002,   p.   369),   and   calls   for   reform   became   widespread   (Packer   and   Rukare,   2002,   p.   366).   ‘African   solutions   to   African   problems’   is   arguably  a  tough  sell  to  the  global  community.       The   transition   from   the   OAU   into   AU   could   be   viewed   as   unusual   for   it   was   underwritten  by  Libyan  dictator  Muammar  Gaddafi,  the  leader  thought  to  have   personally  ordered  the  fatal  bombing  of  Pan  Am  flight  103  (Black  and  Beaumont,   2011).  Under  Gaddafi  the  AU  is  conceptualised  as  forming  ‘a  larger  community  of   peoples  transcending  cultural,  ideological,  ethnic  and  national  differences’.  The   formation  of  the  institution  required  the  votes  of  Nigeria  and  South  Africa,  and   which   they   granted   in   order   to   secure   their   interests   (Ronen,   cited   in   Møller,   2009,   pp.   8-­‐9).   In   2001,   the   AU   was   established,   terminating   the   OAU.   The   process   was   largely   unrecognised,   and   the   CA   incorporated   into   action   within   two  years  (Packer  and  Rukare,  2002,  p.  365).  The  rapid  development  was  viewed  
  • 3. as   demonstrating   political   commitment,   however,   the   formation   was   received   with   skepticism   by   its   critics,   for   the   treaty   could   possibly   provide   cover   for   African   dictators   to   commit   human   rights   abuses   under   the   guise   of   its   humanitarian  clauses  (Udombana,  2002,  pp.  1182-­‐1183).       It  is  tempting  to  criticise  the  AU  and  its  humanitarian  goals  as  idealistic,  with  the   AU  website  seemingly  proud  to  display  its  OAU  origins  and  fifty  year  history.  The   outgoing   AU   Commission   chair,   Jean   Ping,   recently   presented   this   idealism,   stating   ‘the   solutions   to   African   problems   are   found   on   the   continent   and   nowhere   else’   (Vines,   2012,   p.   89),   thus   channeling   the   once   hollow   slogan,   ‘African  solutions  to  African  problems’.  However,  despite  the  link  of  the  ‘new’  AU   to  a  problematic  and  at  times  bizarre  past,  the  AU  could  be  viewed  as  effective  in   improving  continental  security,  and  with  optimism  for  further  successes.       Security,  colonialism,  hegemony   Cooperation  as  a  product  of  conflict     Post-­‐colonial   history   has   seen   Africa   bombarded   by   conflict.   Over   the   last   50   years  roughly  65%  of  sub-­‐Saharan  African  countries  experienced  armed  conflict   since  independence  from  colonial  powers  (Vines,  2013,  p.  94).  The  OAU’s  policy   of  non-­‐intervention  could  be  deemed  to  have  facilitated  the  problems.  Records   show  that  300,000  people  were  killed  in  Uganda  between  1971  and  1979,  over  3   million  deaths  occurred  in  Sudan  after  war  broke  out  in  1983  (Patterson,  2012,   p.   10),   and   the   1994   genocide   in   Rwanda   claimed   an   estimated   800,000   lives   (Patterson,  2012,  p.  1)  in  only  months.  Rwanda,  in  particular,  seems  to  continue   to   stain   the   reputation   of   multilateral   peacekeeping   forces.   Williams   (2007,   p.   275)  claims  it  is  likely  that  the  oppression  brought  about  by  Idi  Amin  in  Uganda   and  the  Rwandan  genocide  generated  sizeable  local  backing  for  intervention  in   conflict.   The   AU   could   be   regarded   to   demonstrate   unity   and   motivation   to   reduce  conflict  through  adopting  the  CA  in  2000  where  Article  4h  formalised  the   AU’s  right  to  intervene  in  a  member  state  ‘in  respect  of  grave  circumstances:  war   crimes,  genocide  and  crimes  against  humanity’  (Williams,  2007,  p.  275).  Under   the  structure  of  the  African  Peace  and  Security  Architecture  (APSA),  the  AU  is  
  • 4. producing  results  in  securing  the  continent.       Coinciding   with   formation   of   the   AU,   the   number   of   wars,   unconstitutional   incidents,  and  coup  d’états  across  39  African  states  dropped  immediately.  This   occurred   after   the   particularly   volatile   year   of   2002   in   which   there   were   12   military  and  political  coups,  and  12  wars  (Vines,  2013,  p.  93).  The  result  could   have  been  influenced  by  Article  10  of  the  CA  which  grants  the  power  of  military   intervention.   At   the   core   of   the   AU   is   the   Peace   and   Security   Council   (PSC).   Through   the   Continental   Early   Warnings   System   and   African   Security   Force   (ASF),  the  council  is  poised  to  anticipate  and  prevent  conflicts  (Vines,  2013,  p.   97).  Outlining  the  obligation  to  take  action  when  regional  security  is  threatened   leads  to  greater  assertiveness  in  this  area  (Paterson,  2002,  p.  23).  ‘Members  of   regional   organisations   are   closer   to   the   crisis,   and   they   often   share   a   cultural   background   with   its   location,   so   that   their   operations   can   be   seen   to   be   more   legitimate  and  sensitive’  (Weiss  and  Welz,  2014,  p.  889)  to  the  complex  dynamics   of  the  region.       However,  a  potential  weakness  of  the  ASF  mandate  is  that  action  is  intended  to   be  undertaken  in  conjunction  with  the  UN  whose  peacekeeping  force  and  system   is  criticised  as  cumbersome  (Cilliers,  2008,  p.  7).  Yet,  between  2003  and  2012,  of   the   9   members   that   the   AU   took   action   against,   only   Madagascar   failed   to   cooperate,   and   has   since   been   suspended   (Vines,   2012,   p.   92).   It   appears   that   member  countries  are  responding  to  the  actions  of  the  AU,  and  that  the  reason   may  be  found  in  their  shared  history  of  colonialism.  Makinda  and  Okumu  (2007,   p.   13)   argue   that   colonialism   constructed   a   pan-­‐African   identity   based   on   the   unity  required  to  rid  the  continent  of  European  occupation.  In  the  contemporary   environment,   state   misbehaviour   is   seen   to   breach   this   unity,   and   results   in   a   collective  humiliation  that  influences  the  state  to  behave  responsibly  (Makinda   and   Okumu,   2007,   p.   13).   The   actions   of   the   AU   therefore   appear   to   generate   compliance  through  the  ‘name  and  shame’  effect  of  AU  sanctions.       Continued  success  in  peacekeeping  may  hinge  on  the  membership  of  a  state  that   qualifies  as  a  hegemon  such  as  South  Africa  or  Nigeria  (Møller,  2009,  p.  3).  While  
  • 5. the  AU  appears  determined  to  bring  stability  through  multilateral  governance,  in   applying  Keohane’s  (1996)  hegemonic  stability  theory,  Møller  (2009)  argues  the   workings   of   the   AU   are   actually   based   on   a   bigemony   or   possibly   trigemony   (Adebajo  and  Landsberg,  2003;  Landsberg  2008,  cited  by  Møller,  2009,  p.  5),  and   that   the   AU’s   formal   structure   may   not   represent   the   pan-­‐African   governance   envisioned.  This  does  not  necessarily  matter.  Whatever  set  of  institutionalised   responses   to   conflict   are   held   by   the   union,   violations   will   likely   occur.   Paramount   to   effective   governance   by   the   AU   is   that   the   African   community   condemns  behavior  that  violates  the  constructivist  norms  created  by  the  AU,  and   aspires   to   take   action   (Williams,   2007,   p.   273).   Furthermore,   if   the   influential   powers  consistently  neglect  their  obligations  to  ‘junior’  members  of  the  AU,  they   will  find  themselves  in  the  position  of  leading  by  coercion,  as  opposed  to  consent,   which  can  be  significantly  more  demanding  and  far  less  desirable  (Møller,  2009,   p.  5).       It  is  accepted  though  by  the  UN  that  the  primary  deployment  will  involve  the  AU,   and   be   followed,   possibly,   by   a   UN   peacekeeping   force   (Cilliers,   2008,   p.   7).   However,  the  UN  has  been  seen  to  ignore  its  responsibilities  in  Africa  (Paterson,   2012,   p.   1).   Considering   the   sustained   reduction   in   conflict   under   the   AU,   perhaps  a  more  appropriate  role  of  the  UN  resides  in  financial  support  for  AU   operations,   and   which   could   extend   into   areas   of   concern   beyond   security.   Møller   (2009,   p.   13)   raises   the   possibility   that   a   threat   to   the   advancements   made  by  the  AU  in  security  could  reside  in  states  such  as  Nigeria  or  South  Africa   not  being  elected  to  the  PSC.  This  may  lead  to  retaliation  within  the  union  by   reigning  in  peacekeeping  operations  to  the  prescribed  minimum  (Møller,  2009,   p.   13).   The   possibility   of   frequent   conflict   resurfacing   could   thus   reopen.  This   scenario   may   be   unlikely,   as   oil-­‐rich   Nigeria   is   a   natural   hegemon.   With   a   population   equal   to   the   sum   of   the   population   of   all   West   African   nations   (Kaplan,  2000,  p.  14-­‐15),  Nigeria  in  this  context  could  act  as  a  stabilising  force.  In   the  current  environment,  the  AU  seems  effective  in  security,  and  could  be  well   served  through  support,  as  opposed  to  handing  over  operations  to  the  UN.     African  resolutions  to  African  conflicts  appear  to  work.  While  recommendations  
  • 6. have   been   made   that   the   PSC   improve   early   warning   reporting,   and   provide   greater  support  to  the  Panel  of  the  Wise  (POW)  to  enhance  mediation  (Patterson,   2012,   p.   4),   the   relatively   low   number   of   conflicts   is   demonstrated   by   Vines   (2012,  p.  93)  to  continue.  This  is  in  contrast  to  the  chaotic  predictions  by  authors   such  as  Kaplan  in  The  Coming  Anarchy  (2000),  where  dysfunction  in  West  Africa   is  argued  may  infect  the  globe.  Perhaps  South  Africa’s  ambassador  to  Mauritania,   in  response  to  the  coups  of  Togo  and  Mauritania,  summed  up  African  solutions   best  stating  that  ‘although  the  principle  of  the  AU  is  not  to  agree  with  coups...  we   shall   not   have   one   policy   to   fit   every   situation’   (Williams,   2007,   p.   274).   The   policy,  at  least  with  respect  to  the  stability  of  governments,  seems  to  be  able  to   reserve   the   right   to   change   policy.   Given   the   multifaceted   nature   of   regional   conflicts  in  Africa,  this  approach  seems  to  work  well  for  the  AU.  The  motivation   to  achieve  results,  combined  with  factors  of  a  shared  history,  may  be  reason  for   the  reduced  number  of  conflicts  under  the  AU.     Realism,  constructivism  and  institutionalised  norms   Further  constitutional  wins  can  be  made,  through  the  right  plays.     While   the   AU   appears   effective   in   security   operations,   its   broad   constitution   could   be   perceived   to   risk   further   progress   through   widening   its   agenda,   and   diluting  efforts  toward  the  goals  of  the  AU.  For  example,  the  realist  scholar  Walt   (1991,  p.  223)  claims  the  need  to  be  ‘wary  of  the  counterproductive  tangents  that   have  seduced  other  areas  of  international  studies’.  Possibly  worse,  as  argued  by   Bellamy   (2005),   is   that   the   predominant   powers   could   use   the   mandate   of   humanitarian  intervention  as  a  ‘trojan  horse’  to  assert  their  state  agendas.  The   realist  argument  is  daunting,  and  could  be  incorrect  in  analysis  of  the  AU.     The  objectives  of  Article  3,  and  principles  of  Article  4  of  the  CA  can  be  regarded   as  idealistic.  For  example,  the  stated  goal  to  promote  research  in  all  fields,  or  the   principal  of  gender  equality  might  be  difficult  to  realise  in  the  context  of  current   conditions  in  AU  countries  in  some  respects.  And  in  analysing  Africa,  it  is  easy  to   dismiss  humanitarian  concerns  and  favour  realist  theory  as  ‘significant  parts  of   Africa’  conform  to  Lockean  and  Hobbesean  cultures  where  neighbouring  states  
  • 7. are  viewed  with  the  assumption  that  they  are  either  rivals  or  enemies,  and  are  an   inherent  threat  (Williams,  2007,  p.  254).  Williams  argues    (2007,  p.  254)  though   that  realism  is  ineffective  in  analysis  of  Africa,  in  that  it  masks  the  importance  of   non-­‐state  actors,  and  emphasises  states  as  unitary  and  rational.  Realism  fogs  the   importance  of  common  cultural  beliefs  between  states  that  transcend  regional   power   distributions   (Williams,   2007,   p.   255).   The   AU   may   be   well   placed   and   motivated  to  make  genuine  progress  in  further  areas  of  the  CA.       Lieutenant  Colonel  Beebe  is  the  Senior  Africa  Analyst  for  the  intelligence  division   of  the  US  Army  Deputy  Chief  of  Staff.  He  argues  that  in  the  case  of  Africa,  the   human  security  paradigm  should  be  leveraged,  and  traditional  western  models   shelved,  in  order  to  achieve  African  solutions  to  African  problems  (Beebe,  2011).   This   would   employ   the   AU   system   of   norm   creation   and   institutionalisation   while   factoring   the   culture   and   post-­‐Colonial   history   of   AU   countries   into   its   applications.  Beebe  might  be  well  placed  to  understand  the  unique  dynamics  of   challenges  faced  by  the  AU.  He  lives  in  Angola,  which,  despite  an  abundance  of   relative   resources,   remains   mired   at   162   on   the   Human   Development   Index   (United  Nations  Children’s  Fund,  2013,  p.  2).       The   author   contends   that   African   security   leaders,   military   and   civilian,   will   ‘almost   always   couch   security   in   terms   of   environmental   security,   poverty   alleviation,   issues   of   water   and   sanitation,   food   security,   infrastructure   development,  and  lack  of  vocational  skills  training’  (Beebe,  2011).  This  remains  a   difficult  concept  to  grasp  due  to  the  strength  of  the  traditional  realist  paradigm   employed   by   the   western   military   leadership   (Beebe,   2011).   However,   the   credibility   of   debate   amongst   western   nations   as   to   how   the   AU   should   apply   itself,  for  example  in  the  perceived  failure  of  the  AU  in  Darfur  in  2004,  has  been   diminished  as  a  result  of  what  could  be  regarded  as  the  botched  Invasion  of  Iraq   (Bellamy,  2005,  p.  51).  Furthermore,  the  AU  seems  to  possess  a  critical  factor  for   success,   the   will   to   undertake   action,   which   has   resulted   in   reduced   conflict   (Vines,  2013).  In  the  case  of  Darfur  ‘President  Obasanjo  lamented  that  although   the  AU  was  willing  to  deploy  more  peacekeepers,  it  was  unable  to  do  so  without   international   assistance’   (Bellamy,   2005,   p.   44).   Assistance   continues   to   be  
  • 8. required,  however  the  AU  may  be  well  placed  to  make  further  progress  in  areas   of  its  CA  if  logistical  factors  can  be  improved.         In  a  critique  of  the  AU,  logistical  challenges  and  the  lack  of  infrastructure  warrant   consideration,   for   these   aspects   continually   impede   the   efforts   of   the   AU.   Logically,  progress  in  many  of  the  areas  targeted,  such  as  health,  cannot  be  made   if   the   problems   cannot   be   physically   accessed.   Bellamy   (2005,   p.   44)   cites   logistics  as  a  major  factor  in  the  failure  of  the  AU’s  intervention  in  Darfur.  Cilliers   (2008,  p.  6)  states  that,  despite  the  numerous  advancements  of  the  ASF,  logistical   issues  remain  a  substantial  problem.  And  recently,  the  logistical  challenges  faced   by  the  AU  were  mentioned  in  a  ten-­‐year  review  by  the  Berlin  Colloquium  which   put   forth   infrastructure   improvement   as   a   key   policy   recommendation   (Paterson,   2012,   p.   4).   It   is   overwhelming   to   consider   the   numerous   requirements  for  building  a  few  decent  roads  and  bridges  in  Africa.  And  counter   to  this,  it  is  useful  to  consider  what  further  progress  the  AU  could  achieve  under   better  logistical  conditions.       Nevertheless,  regional  organisations  are  closer  to  crises  in  African  nations  and   can  respond  quicker  and  at  lower  cost  (Weiss  and  Welz,  2014,  p.  889).  Leaning   on   the   UN   adds   further,   intercontinental,   logistical   layers   to   the   challenges   of   improving   conditions   in   Africa.   Beebe   (2011)   argues   that   ‘Africans   best   understand  a  human  security  narrative,  and  should  the  West  earnestly  adopt  this   human   security   narrative   in   addressing   Africa,   a   great   deal   more   could   be   accomplished’.  This  author  agrees  wholeheartedly.  But  the  narrative  cannot  be   fully  engaged,  or  results  improved,  unless  the  AU  can  access  the  regions  of  its  53   active  members.  Infrastructure  and  support  for  the  AU  could  even  be  considered   as  more  important  than  handing  over  operations  to  the  UN.     Security   and   development   on   the   African   continent   are   ‘inextricably   linked’   (Beebe,  2011).  The  AU  has  demonstrated  it  can  reduce  conflict  as  a  multilateral   institution.  Through  a  process  of  norm  creation  and  internalisation  and  action  it   is  possible  that  further  issues,  such  as  HIV/AIDS  prevention,  disarmament,  and   child   protection   could   be   funnelled   into   this   process   and   progress   made   in  
  • 9. further  issues.  Such  a  scenario  is  envisioned  by  Beebe  (2011)  where  using  the   military  to  train  participants  in  civilian  vocations  progress  is  two  fold;  firstly  in   value  adding  to  society  and  reducing  the  predatory  element  of  the  military,  and   secondly   by   producing   a   workforce   capable   of   supporting   the   human   security   paradigm.  If  such  a  viable  force  were  to  be  created  through  the  efforts  of  the  AU,   then   the   constructivist   paradigm   could   make   progress   in   other   critical   areas   addressed  by  the  CA  such  as  health  and  poverty.       Conclusion         Improvement   in   Africa   through   the   AU   is   a   significant   challenge.   Factors   deleterious  to  progress  in  the  region  are  ever-­‐present,  and  due  to  colonialism,   are  largely  distinctive  to  Africa.  African  solutions  to  uniquely  African  problems   might  sound  logical,  but  post-­‐colonial  challenges  are  not  easily  fixed,  for  the  50   year   period   of   the   OAU   was   marred   by   some   of   the   most   vicious   conflicts   of   contemporary   times.   However,   the   advent   of   the   AU   brought   progress   in   the   areas  of  security,  and  thus  further  potential  for  progress  exists.     Facilitating  the  process  of  norm  creation  and  internalisation  in  the  AU  will  result   in  cultural  and  regional  factors  being  considered  in  its  actions.  Disproportionate   outside   influence   may   taint   this   process.   In   Africa,   while   the   realist   paradigm   seems  appropriate  due  to  violent  post-­‐colonial  history,  the  paradigm  of  human   security  is  better  suited  to  advance  the  CA.  Considering  the  success  of  the  AU  in   delivering  regional  stability,  it  would  be  encouraging  to  see  additional  concerns   of   the   AU   addressed   to   facilitate   regional   advancement.   According   to   Beebe   (2011),   this   is   possible.   African   solutions   to   African   problems   can   continue   to   work  and  expand  into  other  aspects  of  the  CA.  Through  its  success  in  security,   the   African   Union   has   created   the   groundwork   for   further   progress.   If   some   decent   roads   and   bridges   could   be   put   in   place,   the   African   Union   may   yet   produce  long  awaited  results  in  further  areas  of  its  Constitutive  Act.          
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