A Review of the Shortcomings and Consequences of the African Union Peace Ideals: The Interventions in Libya and Cote D’Ivoire

Abstract

The interventions in the internal conflicts of Libya and Cote d’Ivoire, by NATO and France, may be indications that the resolve of the African Union (AU) to embark upon more proactive engagement with peace efforts, within the continent, has its shortcomings. In several instances since the AU Constitutive Acts entered into force (such as Burundi, Sudan and Somalia) the organisation has been unable to undertake peace operations without help from foreign powers. The paper posits that the fact that it has continually relied on western democracies (and the UN), to assist its humanitarian interventions in the continent demonstrate its limited capacity. It also illustrates the challenges that face a politically or economically weak regional organisation to achieve the ideals set out in its Charter. The paper further argues that this perception may have led to the disregard of the AU’s peace efforts at the time of the interventions (especially in Libya) by western states. The paper concludes that there is the risk that the interventions may present negative implications for the effectiveness of the AU as a regional body. As such, it examines the impact of the intervention to the regional organisation and proposes how the AU may approach its funding challenges without losing its leadership over its regional security efforts.