Peace and Security Council Report No 37

Mali has become one of the top issues on the agenda of the Peace and Security Council of the AU. The political and security instability coupled with the humanitarian crisis made the country more fragile then ever. Amidst the talk of international and regional military intervention the analysis examines recent developments in the West African state and proposes possible scenarios of external involvement in Mali.  Libya held its first democratic elections since the fall of Gaddafi. Despite the various security and institutional hiccups, the polls heralded a new Libya. However, the nation is faced with many socio-political, economic and security challenges, uncontrolled militias being one. The article on Libya contemplates the future of the nation in the light of the recent elections.

The report also brings recent developments in Angola to the attention of the PSC. Recent months have witnessed protests staged by ex-combatants in the capital, Luanda, and growing waves of protests by the youth and opposition parties calling for reform. The analysis looks at the potential for the escalation of violence as the nation braces itself for national elections at the end of August. Al-Shabaab continues to lose territory and its constituency. In the meantime, efforts to constitutionlise the state are underway in Somalia. The country analysis of Somalia looks at recent efforts to draft a new constitution and the weakening of Al-Shabaab, as well as challenges faced by the transitional government.

A brief open page article shedding light on the growing China-Africa partnership on peace and security is also part of this report. 

Duke Kent-Brown (Editor)