Spotlight: Policy for AU policing in peace operations endorsed
The ISS helps draft policy that recognises the vital role of police in AU peace support operations.
Published on 27 January 2016 in
Impact
‘Excellent and well written’. This is how African Chiefs of Police (ACOP) described the draft Policy for Policing in Peace Support Operations mandated by the African Union (AU). Presiding AU Commissioner for Peace and Security, Ambassador Smaïl Chergui, concurred and commended the Police Strategic Support Group (PSSG) for formulating the draft policy.
It’s a significant achievement for the PSSG, which was established by the Chairperson of the AU Commission and initiated by the AU Peace Support Operations Division (PSOD) police component. The Institute for Security Studies’ (ISS) Training for Peace (TfP) Programme provided technical and financial support to the PSSG.
The draft policy, which ensures that African Union Police (AUPOL) are officially recognised as a key player in African peace operations, was endorsed on 14 December 2015 at a senior meeting of the ACOP and the African Mechanism for Police Cooperation in Algiers, Algeria. The draft policy also recognises the critical role AUPOL plays in enhancing the rule of law, human rights and the protection of civilians in conflict and fragile environments.
The draft policy was presented on behalf of the PSSG by Assistant Commissioner of Police Crowd Chirenje, Chief of Capability Development Unit and Police Coordinator at the AU PSOD.
The draft policy ensures that the AU Police are now a key player in peace operations
The next step is to present the drafts of the policy, guidelines and standard operating procedures to the relevant organs of the AU, starting with the next meeting of Specialized Technical Committee on Defense, Safety and Security, which is expected to take place in May 2016. Approval at this meeting will open the door for implementation.
On behalf of Sivuyile Bam, Head of the AU PSOD, Chirenje expressed his deepest appreciation to the PSSG community for its unwavering support to the PSOD and the AU Commission during 2015. He expressed the hope that the PSSG will continue to provide its support in 2016 and beyond.
The ACOP also congratulated the PSSG on its progress in 2015, which included submitting the AUPOL Statute, Policy, and Guidelines and Standards for individual police officers and formed police units in AU peace support operations to the AU Commission. Prior to this, AUPOL relied on the African Standby Force’s standard operating procedures that did not sufficiently address the distinct role police play in peace and security matters.
As a police strategic advisory body to the AU Commission, the PSSG helps the AU coordinate, harness and develop African police capacities. It provides substantive advice, assistance and other technical support in all matters relating to international policing for peace support operations in Africa.
The ISS-TfP programme works closely with the AU PSOD, including joint planning to ensure that the programme’s support fulfils the AU PSOD’s goals and objectives. The ISS-TfP also supports the work of the PSSG and the AU PSOD as a technical advisor on policing in Africa and policy development. It conducts joint training needs analysis and delivers mission-specific police training. The programme also works with the AU PSOD to steer objectives and support implementation such as the AUPOL guidelines and standard operating procedures.
From January 2016, the ISS-TfP will broaden its scope to collaborate with the AU to promote the African Peace and Security Architecture (APSA) Roadmap 2016-2020, as well as strengthen the collaboration between APSA and the African Governance Architecture.
For more information, contact:
Annette Leijenaar, ISS: +27 82 908 1877, [email protected]
