The OAU and African Subregional Organisation: A Closer Look at the 'peace pyramid'

The aim of this paper is to try and place African subregional organisations in a security context, and to identify their place in conflict management

At the end of 1998, the International Peace Academy (IPA) joined the Organisation of African Unity (OAU) in presenting a Seminar on Peacemaking and Peacekeeping in Africa. The seminar was more challenging than most conferences that have been held on "peacekeeping in Africa." It devoted significant attention to the interrelated and urgent themes of "Relationships between the OAU and Sub-Regional Organisations on Peacaekeeping in Africa" and the "Development of Sub-Regional Mechanisms for Conflict Management."

Future relationships between the OAU and subregional organisations in the realm of conflict management and peacekeeping will depend, in no small measure, upon the development of both entities. Most analysts understand the nature and limitations of the United Nations as a mechanism for conflict management. Most African analysts and a good number of international scholars are also coming to understand the merits and limits of the OAU as an intergovernmental conflict resolution body. However, such understanding dissipates rapidly as we move into the realm of subregional organisations in Africa — for these entities are extremely diverse in terms of structure, resources and orientation.

The aim of this paper is, firstly, to try and place African subregional organisations (and their member states) in a security context, and to identify their perceived place in conflict management endeavours. This is followed by the generation of a few general guidelines for action, and the suggestion of some structural issues that need to be addressed in an effort to enhance the role of subregional organisations and to better define relationships between these and the OAU.  

Author

Mark Malan, Peace Missions Programme, Institute for Security Studies