Highlights of PSC decisions in April 2017

In April the PSC urged AU member states to prevent hate crimes and the ideology of genocide on the continent.

Published on 17 May 2017 in PSC Insights

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PSC Report

In April 2017 the Peace and Security Council (PSC) intensified efforts to bring peace to Somalia. In addition, the PSC adopted the draft concept of operations (CONOPS) of the Joint Force of the G5 Sahel and examined the progress of the Multinational Joint Task Force (MNJTF) against Boko Haram. Member states of the African Union (AU) were also urged to prevent hate crimes and the ideology of genocide on the continent.

Preventing hate crimes and genocide in Africa

Following the commemoration of the 1994 genocide in Rwanda on 7 April, the PSC held a meeting on 11 April on the prevention of hate crimes and the ideology of genocide in Africa. AU Commission Chairperson Moussa Faki Mahamat travelled to Kigali to attend the commemoration, where he was received by Rwanda’s President Paul Kagame. In its statement following the meeting the PSC underscored the necessity of clear early warning and early responses to thwart potential situations of genocide.

The PSC underscored the necessity of early responses to thwart potential situations of genocide

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While condemning all acts of genocide, the PSC denounced the use ‘in the African traditional and cultural settings’ of household implements such as spears and machetes to commit organised and systematic violence against particular sections of a society. Media agencies were also encouraged to be responsible and balanced in their reporting on crisis situations. The PSC urged member states to establish the necessary legal frameworks and infrastructure for peace in order to prevent mass atrocities.

Combating the terrorist threat in the Sahel

At its meeting on 13 April the PSC reviewed the draft Strategic CONOPs of the Joint Force of the G5 Sahel. The strategy was submitted by the leaders of the G5 Sahel (Mali, Chad, Burkina Faso, Niger and Mauritania), which had established a joint force on 6 February in response to the mounting terrorist threat in Mali and the Sahel region as a whole.

The PSC endorsed the CONOPS and authorised the deployment of the mission for an initial period of 12 months, with the possibility of renewal. The primary mandate of the joint force is to ‘combat terrorism, drug trafficking and human trafficking in order to create a secure environment by eradicating the actions of the Terrorist Armed Groups and other organized criminal groups’. The force is also meant to contribute to the restoration of state authority and the return of displaced people.

The primary mandate of the joint force is to combat terrorism, drug trafficking and human trafficking

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The strength of the force was capped at 5 000 personnel, including military, civilian and police components. The PSC also highlighted the need for mutual support between the Joint Force of the G5 Sahel, the United Nations (UN) Multidimensional Integrated Stabilisation Mission in Mali (MINUSMA) and other international forces present in the region.

Addressing the crisis in the Lake Chad Basin

The PSC held a meeting on 18 April on the progress of the MNJTF against Boko Haram. While noting the headway the MNJTF has made in degrading and dislodging Boko Haram from its strongholds, the PSC expressed concern over the continued attacks by Boko Haram and the serious humanitarian situation in the region.

The PSC expressed concern over the continued attacks by Boko Haram

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The council welcomed the pledges made at the Oslo Humanitarian Conference on Nigeria and the Lake Chad Basin region on 24 February, and called on all stakeholders to honour and swiftly disburse these pledges to alleviate the humanitarian crisis. It also called for enhanced financial, material and logistical support to MNJTF to eliminate Boko Haram.

Greater push for peace in Somalia

The PSC held two meetings on Somalia in April. On 26 April it examined the outcome of its field mission to Somalia from 23–26 March. Despite the progress made in Somalia, the council observed that al-Shabaab still has the capacity to launch attacks, and that it retains a presence in the Middle Juba, Lower Shabelle and Middle Shabelle regions.

The PSC welcomed the government’s decision to prioritise defeating al-Shabaab within the next two years and called on all stakeholders to expedite the planned Operation Juba Valley II to neutralise the group. The council urged the government to develop a national security roadmap with specified timelines, to build and train the Somali security forces to eventually take over the security responsibilities in the country. This includes establishing effective local administration structures in areas liberated from al-Shabaab.

The PSC welcomed the government’s decision to prioritise defeating al-Shabaab within the next two years

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The PSC acknowledged that military might alone could not solve the Somali crisis. Therefore it called for inclusive and multipronged approaches to address the situation. The council also called for an urgent international response to the humanitarian crisis caused by the drought and famine in the region.

At a follow-up meeting on 28 April the PSC renewed the mandate of the African Union Mission in Somalia (AMISOM) for another six months, until 30 November 2017. While expressing its appreciation for the support of the European Union and the UN, as well as other bilateral donors, the PSC urged them to step up logistic and financial support to AMISOM operations.

Highlights of decisions