Peace and Security Council Report No 44

This month our researchers in Addis Ababa analyse the latest developments in Tunisia, the Lord’s Resistance Army (LRA), the newly elected Peace and Security Council members for 2013 and East Africa’s Regional Economic Communities (RECs).

The country analysis on Tunisia focuses on the impact of the assassination of Chokri Belaïd, a prominent human rights lawyer and political activist, and the subsequent resignation of Prime Minister Hamadi Jebali. The article also considers the role of opposition parties and unions, as well as the country’s economic woes, all of which make the political transition more uncertain.

The regional security analysis on the Lord’s Resistance Army notes that despite recent African Union (AU) and international efforts to eliminate this terrorist scourge, as well as the contribution of troops by the Democratic Republic of Congo to the AU-led initiative against the LRA, the group could still form opportunistic alliances with governments or other rebel groups in the region.

The spotlight article on the election of the new PSC members provides useful data on the states that sought election in 2013, those states that were successfully elected, and the fifteen states from the five African regions that will serve on the PSC from 1 April 2013. Aspects of the election process and interesting PSC election trends are covered.

The open page article provides background on the East African Community (EAC), the Inter-Governmental Authority on Development (IGAD), the Common Market for Eastern and Southern Africa (COMESA) as well as the Indian Ocean Commission (IOC).

Duke Kent-Brown (Editor)