Popular wisdom could enhance Panel of the Wise performance
Addressing longstanding challenges will allow the sixth cohort to do justice to its mandate.
Since its establishment in 2007, the Panel of the Wise (PoW), a key pillar of the African Peace and Security Architecture (APSA), has contributed meaningfully to continental peace and security. The Panel’s primary mandate, under Article 11 of the Peace and Security Council (PSC) Protocol, is to support the efforts of the Council and the African Union (AU) Commission (AUC) chairperson in conflict prevention. To date, five panels have carried out this role, with both challenges and successes.
The fifth PoW was selected during the 35th AU Summit in February 2022 to serve for three years. During its inaugural meeting in March 2022, the Panel committed to ‘supporting ongoing political transitions in Sudan, South Sudan, Chad and Somalia, including deploying its subsidiary mechanisms – the Pan-African Network of the Wise (PanWise), FemWise and WiseYouth’. Despite concerted efforts, the needle on these crises and transitions has not moved due to internal and external hurdles.
Before selecting the sixth PoW, longstanding issues and resource constraints must be addressed
With fewer than six months before the Panel’s term ends it’s important to reflect on the issues and assess its effectiveness against its mandate and objectives. Ahead of the selection of the sixth cohort in February 2025, it is opportune to address longstanding matters and resource constraints. Remedying compounding stumbling blocks and anticipating new challenges will ensure that the next PoW satisfies its mandate.
The fifth PoW
The fifth Panel convened with AUC stakeholders at AU headquarters on 28 and 29 March 2022 to deliberate and map out priorities for its tenure. As outlined in the post-session media release, it was decided to implement regular horizon scanning to determine PSC options for rapid interventions in conflicts and emerging situations. The Panel also undertook to support countries in political transition to enhance elections and constitutionalism and promote consensus-building. Collaboration and effective coordination with similar mechanisms was outlined and the Panel committed to organising the seventh PanWise meeting to revitalise this subsidiary.
The current PoW has recorded moderate achievements having focused its attention largely on the transitions in Chad and South Sudan. Ongoing violence renders Somalia and Sudan more fitting for conflict management than prevention and given the multiplicity of actors’ interests, the Panel has yet to deploy any major engagements in Sudan and Somalia.
Despite its crucial peacemaking role, the PoW lacks political, human and financial resources
A report back on a field mission to Chad was delivered at the PSC’s 1152nd meeting. The Panel made targeted recommendations to the AUC, the Permanent Representative Committee and Chadian authorities to ease tensions and ensure return to constitutional order. It undertook a fact-finding mission to South Sudan in December 2023 to evaluate the implementation of the Revitalised Agreement on the Resolution of the Conflict in the Republic of South Sudan. It also engaged the AU High-level Ad-hoc Committee (C5) on South Sudan and regional countries including Ethiopia, Kenya, Rwanda and Sudan. However, its recommendation that transitional leaders not run for elections fell on deaf ears.
The Panel observed elections in Nigeria, Sierra Leone, Zimbabwe, Liberia, the Democratic Republic of Congo and Comoros in 2023 and 2024. With pre- and post-electoral violence expected in a number of these elections, this shuttle diplomacy helped to manage tensions among political parties, opposition groups, electoral management bodies, state institutions and civil society. Despite duplication of efforts and resources ―with the presence of AUC, international and regional observers ― these missions have contributed towards peaceful elections.
Panel members have also engaged with suspended member states on progress and challenges in their transitions. While informal, the consultations are a welcome development towards easing the friction between suspended member states and the AUC.
Coordination with regional mechanisms
The fifth PoW has also increased contact and coordination with subsidiaries. It convened with PanWise the seventh and eighth annual retreats in Namibia (October 2022) and Rwanda (February 2024) respectively.
Regional economic communities and regional mechanisms participated in both events, fostering greater liaison among continental and regional mechanisms. Yet the 27th statutory meeting of the fifth PoW outlined the need for deeper collaboration with regional mechanisms, with frequent and informal consultations more fitting than annual retreats.
Reflections on the Panel’s mandate, efficacy, and collaboration deserve serious consideration
In addition, while coordination with regional mechanisms and subsidiaries is key, it’s important not to overemphasise this to the detriment of the primary Panel mandate of supporting PSC conflict prevention.
Structural limitations
At its 665th meeting in 2017, the PSC decided that it should meet with the PoW quarterly to enhance the organisation’s conflict-prevention capacity. The requirement has not been fulfilled, with interactions between the two bodies having been minimal at best. This trend has extended to other APSA components, including the early warning system, African Standby Force and Peace Fund. Its taut engagements with the AUC have often left the panel sidelined in favour of special envoys, ad-hoc committees and high-level panels.
Resourcing is also a challenge. Despite PSC communiqué 1 204 highlighting the Panel’s crucial role in peacemaking, it is yet to receive the political, human and financial resources required. Its secretariat is sparsely resourced and required to support other units within the Commission. Sources close to the PSC Report estimate the annual PoW budget for 2024 at US$100 000, barely enough to fund one field mission. While the Panel is expected to receive about US$1 million from the Peace Fund, the financial and human resources should be commensurate with its mandate.
Moving ahead
As member states consider candidates for the next PoW, reflections on its mandate, efficacy, collaboration with other APSA and regional economic community structures and duplication of efforts and resources deserve serious consideration. The Panel will have to prioritise regular engagement with the PSC, the early warning system and the AUC. Apart from the commonalities in their work, the flow of information will help solidify the quest for conflict prevention and enhance the synergy between policy decision-making and implementation. The selection of the sixth PoW should not be a tick-box exercise, but a resolution of longstanding issues to ensure success.
