ISS Conference: BY INVITATION ONLY: An International Research Symposium on `AU-Nato Collaboration: Implications and Prospects`

Date: 2012-02-01

Venue: , Addis Ababa, Sheraton Hotel

Jointly Organised by the Institute for Security Studies, Addis Ababa and the NATO Defense College (NDC) Research Division with the support of the Royal Norwegian Embassy in Ethiopia (NATO contact mission to the AU) 

With its decision to implement UN Security Council Resolution 1973 to protect civilian populations in Libya, NATO’s contributions to peace enforcement have attracted top-level debates, discussions, consultations and even marked concern about the role of NATO in conflict resolution in Africa. The ISS in partnership with the NDC will bring together leading experts and scholars from Africa and beyond to analyze and discuss with senior policy makers, civil society and the research community, the future of the AU-NATO collaboration in the field of peace and security. ISS believes that some important issues should be addressed through evidence-based research and policy debate. 

The aim is to provide a platform for experts, academics, officials and policy-makers to present their views and analysis. By so doing, such an event may facilitate the search for new perspectives and, clarify differences and misconceptions that may be present among people, organizations and states. Further, it is important to study the possibilities for a continuous dialogue between different protagonists and to investigate past and current AU-NATO collaboration such as on peacekeeping in Somalia and maritime security as well as to explore opportunities for future partnership based on mutual respect of each other’s mandate.

SPEAKERS

• Professor Bola A. Akinterinwa, Director-General, Nigerian Institute for International Affairs
• Lieutenant-General Arne BÃ¥rd Dalhaug, Commandant, NDC 
• Professor Christopher Coker, London School of Economics

The Institute for Security of Studies (ISS)

The Institute for Security of Studies (ISS) is a pan-African organization that undertakes applied policy research, provides teaching and training as well as technical assistance. While the ISS is among the top three best think-tanks in Africa, it has just launched its strategy 2012-2015 with the aim of consolidating its position as the leading ‘go-to’ applied policy research, training and technical assistance think-tank on human security on Africa with particular attention given to further improving on the quality and impact of the work of the Institute. As a leading Pan-African policy research and training organisation, the ISS is guided by the broad concept of human security and works towards the vision of “a peaceful and prosperous Africa for all its people.” The mission and overall goal of the ISS is “To advance human security in Africa through evidence-based policy advice, technical support and capacity building.” Further, the ISS undertake its activities through partnerships with national governments, sub-regional organizations such as the Regional Economic Communities, the African Union and its relevant departments and relevant civil society organizations.

As a pan-African organization, the ISS works throughout Africa through its offices in Pretoria and Cape Town, South Africa, Dakar, Senegal, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia and Nairobi, Kenya. The Addis Ababa Office of the ISS has been in operation since 2007. Currently, it has three components. These are Conflict Prevention and Risk Analysis, Peace and Security Council Report Programme and the African Centre for Peace and Security Training. The focus areas of the Addis Ababa Office are continental and regional human security issues. The principal stakeholders of the office are therefore the African Union with all its relevant departments and policy bodies such as the Peace and Security Council and the sub-regional organization the Inter-Governmental Authority on Development (IGAD). On these and related areas of its work, the ISS works and collaborates with the Ethiopian International Institute for Peace and Development (EIIPD). 

The NATO Defense College (NDC)

Founded in 1951, the NATO Defense College (NDC) is the Atlantic Alliance’s premier academic institution. NDC’s mission is to contribute to the effectiveness and cohesion of the Alliance, to foster strategic level thinking on pol-mil matters, and to develop as a major center of education, research and outreach.  Its Research Division serves as a forum for discussion and debate about  NATO security policy in the spirit of academic freedom.  A core operating principle of the Division is the development of objective, policy-relevant analyses and publications of the highest academic standard. 

The Objectives of the Symposium

With its decision to implement UN Security Council Resolution 1973 to protect civilian populations in Libya, NATO’s contributions to peace enforcement have attracted top-level debates, discussions, consultations and even marked concern about the role of NATO in conflict resolution in Africa. In organizing this symposium, ISS in partnership with the NDC, aims to bring together leading experts and scholars from Africa and the Euro-Atlantic area to analyze and discuss with senior policy makers, civil society and the research community, the future of the AU-NATO relationship in the field of peace and security. ISS believes that some important issues should be addressed.

Consequently, ISS in collaboration with NDC, intends to provide a forum for debates and discussions on this current issue. ISS and NDC, through this forum and debate, aim to provide experts, academics, officials and policy-makers with a timely opportunity to present their views and analysis. ISS and NDC strongly believe that in doing so, such an event may facilitate the finding of new perspectives and clarify differences and misconceptions that may be present among people, organizations and states. ISS’ goal is to study the possibilities for a continuous dialogue between different protagonists and investigate past and current AU-NATO collaboration such as on peacekeeping in Somalia and maritime security as well as to explore opportunities for future partnership based on mutual respect of each other’s mandate.

In organizing such an event and debate on what for many is a particularly sensitive issue, ISS and NDC offer their joint expertise and knowledge to help foster a mature and constructive conversation. ISS and NDC intend to provide a platform for all views to be aired and discussed openly and in a forward-looking manner.  ISS and NDC strongly believe that by setting up such a gathering a better understanding among all protagonists and stakeholders will result. . A compilation of selected papers presented at the Symposium will be jointly published by ISS and the NDC following the event in order to foster continued informed dialogue about the ways and means to guide AU-NATO relations along a positive trajectory in the interests of international peace and security.