1) Peacekeeping operations in Africa face ongoing issues that require discussion of approaches beyond just peacekeeping, such as conflict prevention under the African Peace and Security Architecture (APSA). 2) The APSA provides a comprehensive framework for conflict management in Africa, balancing continental and regional responsibilities. It relies on cooperation between the African Union (AU) and Regional Economic Communities/Regional Mechanisms (RECs/RMs) in two-thirds of conflict interventions. 3) Strategic partnerships will remain important to support African peace operations. Cooperation is needed between the AU, UN, EU, and other partners on funding, capabilities, and institutional reform while ensuring African leadership.

1. Peace keeping operations in Africa
Reflections on the APSA and strategic partnerships
Volker Hauck, ECDPM
P&S Conference - Abuja, 31 October 2017

2. Content / outline here
1. Key issues and contemporary discussions on peace
operations in Africa
2. Looking beyond peace keeping operations – conflict
management under the APSA
3. Strategic partnerships in support of peace operations
4. Improving support to peace operations and conflict
management
2

3. 1. Key issues and contemporary discussion on
peace operations in Africa
3

4. 4
Source:SwedishDefenceResearchAgency(FOI)
Point of
departure:
APSA
Key characteristics:
• A comprehensive Peace
Architecture
• A holistic concept
• Balance between
continental lead and
regional responsibilities
• Growing participation of
civil society

5. 5
APSA
Financing
Strategic
partnerships
Subsidiarit
y (AUC-
RECs/RMs)
• Kaberuka
report
• Kagame
report

6. 6
Peace operations => part of larger interventions
In: EU Guidance note on the use of Conflict Analysis in support of EU external action (2013)

7. 2. Looking beyond peace keeping
operations - conflict prevention
under the APSA
(2013-2015)
7

8. 8
APSA Impact
Assessment

9. Combination of AU and REC/RM interventions
(2013-2015)
9
• AU & REC/RM
combine
interventions
in 67% cases
(average
2013-2015)
Diplomatic efforts; mediation; peace support operations

10. AU and REC/RM engagements in mediation
efforts (2013-2015)
10
• AU &
REC/RM
joint
engagement
in mediation
efforts: 48%
(average
2013-2015)

11. AU/REC involvement in peace agreements
(2013-2015)
• On average,
AU/REC were
involved in
73% of
processes
leading to the
signing of
peace
agreements
11

12. Some insights on subsidiarity ... a pragmatic
perspective
• “All actors responding to a conflict need to ensure
close and regular communication to enable
assessments of comparative advantage, deployed
capabilities and available resources, as well as
efficiency and legitimacy.”
Michelle Ndiaye,
Director of the Africa Peace and Security Programme,
Institute for Peace and Security Studies, Addis Ababa and
Head of Secretariat of the Tana High-level Forum
on Security in Africa.
Source:C.DeConingetal.2015.TheFutureofAfricanPeace
Operations.NordicAfricaInstitute
12

13. 3. Strategic partnerships in support of peace
operations
13

14. 14
Source:EUInstituteforSecurityStudies“UnderstandingAfrican
armies”,ReportN.27,April2016
PSOs:
A rich
body of
knowledge
from the
last 15
years ...
EU funding:
Two
approaches
(AMISOM
& MNJTF)

15. Towards an interest-based partnerships ...
• Despite intense policy reforms, AU can’t do all on its own
=> Strategic partnerships will remain relevant
• Cooperation and division of labour between African and
external actors will remain crucial to sustain and improve
peace operations in the foreseeable future (=> funding;
specialised capabilities; technical advice; support to
institutional reform)
• Various forms of cooperation between different actors,
multilateral, regional, bilateral, national, civil society will
be needed ... and need to be managed (!)
• Strategic partners: UN; NATO; EU and selected EU
Member States; new powers, e.g. China, India, etc. – but
are all 40+ APSA supporters strategic => ?
15

16. Reinforcing policy coherence and operational
complementarity
16
UN
AUEU
Funding & political dialogue
Transition of peace
operations &
complementarity
Policy coherence &
joint engagement

17. 4. Improving support to peace operations &
conflict management:
What the AU-EU partnership should pay
attention to
17

18. Supporting African capacities in PSOs
Civilian
capacities
* DDR; SSR;
border control;
rule of law;
socio-economic
development
Military
capabilities
* Logistics;
equipment;
force
protection;
communication
Rapid
deployment
capabilities
* Training for
military, police,
civilian
personnel
18
A global-regional partnership – under African lead

19. Four “undervalued” domains ...
Mission support
Civilian components
Conflict management
capacities
Institutional cooperation
19

20. Mission support
• Investments needed in:
• Planning
• Management
• Procurement
• Communication
• Institutional strengthening at
AU & REC levels
• Need for harmonising
standards and equipment
20
One of the weakest
and most neglected
domains

21. Civilian & police dimensions
• Protection of civilians
• Human rights
• Intern. humanitarian law
• Gender, sexual abuse
• Stabilisation
• Security & governance
• Institution building
• Humanitarian Support
• Civilian-military
coordination
• Security of IDPs & refugees
21
Military dimensions
outweigh civilian &
police dimensions

22. Conflict management & post-conflict engagement
• Linkages early warning – early
response
• Mediation & conflict
prevention
• Complementarity between
support to civilian dimensions
& resilience/ development
• Post-conflict peace building/
rehabilitation & development
22
Particular attention
needed for the levels
of RECs & below

23. 23
Last but not least ...
Improve
institutional
cooperation &
working level
exchanges
More regular AU-EU high-level
exchanges
Joint high-level missions
Regular operational exchanges between
AU and EU Commission Departments
Joint (conflict) assessments & joint
evaluations
Work through partner platforms (AU-
EU-UN & other partners)
Sharing practical lessons & information
& implement these

24. Thank you!
www.ecdpm.org
European Centre for Development Policy Management
24