Annual Review of the African Union Peace and Security Council 2013/2014

A critical analysis of PSC decisions highlights concerns that need urgent attention if Africa's response to violent conflict is to improve this year

From the Central African Republic (CAR) to the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) to Egypt, Libya and Mali, Africa experienced a resurgence of conflict and violent instability in 2013. These and other crisis situations drew a wide range of responses from the Peace and Security Council (PSC) – the body that offers Africa the opportunity to realise Pax Africana. The 2013/2014 Annual Review presents data and analysis relevant to policy, both with regard to the work of the PSC during the year and to major developments shaping the peace and security landscape of Africa in 2013. As such, it provides comprehensive information on and analysis of the decisions adopted by the PSC in its effort to maintain Africa’s peace and security. Drawing on experiences in various crisis situations, including Mali, Madagascar, CAR and Somalia, it also critically examines the roles of the PSC, the African Union Commission (AUC), regional mechanisms and international actors working with or alongside the PSC, highlighting areas where these diverse role-players did and did not work well together and the implications thereof. In so doing, the Annual Review draws attention to existing and emerging issues requiring attention for improving Africa’s response and international engagement on peace and security in Africa.

About the author

Solomon Ayele Dersso is a Senior Researcher at the Addis Ababa office of the Institute for Security Studies. As a researcher on African Union (AU) affairs, apart from studying and publishing on the Peace and Security Council of the AU for several years, he briefed the Council on different occasions. He recently served as the Legal Advisor to the AU High Level Implementation Panel (AUHIP) Team of Experts on the boundary dispute between Sudan and South Sudan. Solomon holds a PhD degree in constitutional and international law from the University of the Witwatersrand.