Book Review: Africa’s New Peace and Security Architecture: Promoting Norms, Institutionalizing Solutions

Abstract

Ulf Engel and Joao Gomes Porto, eds. 2010. Africa's New Peace and Security Architecture: Promoting Norms, Institutionalizing Solutions, London: Ashgate, pp. xix+179.The book is a part of a series of books brought out by Ashgate on global security in the changing world. The series is an attempt to comprehend the dynamics and implications of security and the dramatic changes that the contemporary world is experiencing due to globalisation. This process has thrown up many new security concerns that include poverty, the consequences of inequality, climate change, terrorism and bio-warfare. The edited book in its eight chapters aims to understand these changes and the responses that have evolved in the African continent in the new millennium, especially after the formation of the African Union. The editors were part of the process that tried to develop an early warning system for the continent, thereby having a ringside view of the changing architecture.In 1963, Organisation of African Unity was established. Amongst its different mandates it was also expected to promote the various anti racial and liberation struggles that were being waged in the continent. It also took upon itself the responsibility to ensure the preservation of independence of these newly independent colonies. The principle of equality, respect for national sovereignty, non interference, and territorial integrity became the foundations that guided the organisation's actions. Despite its initial successes in achieving complete decolonisation of the continent, the last decade of the last millennium saw an unprecedented increase in violent conflicts and their intensity. These conflicts caused massive casualties and refugees and disrupted the developmental process in the region. This increasing disruption, the editors argue, led to a steady disengagement from the continent of different international players. This disengagement got significant impetus in the aftermath of the crisis in Somalia where a newly assertive American efforts to act as the global policeman ended in a major embarrassment. This pushed the international players to disengage and reached its nadir in Rwanda in 1994. The world allowed the genocide to unfold without paying any serious attention or call for action.The growing inability of the OAU to act and adapt to changing conditions and provide continental leadership resulted in a series of moves amongst the African leadership. These efforts in the latter half of the 1990s fructified and resulted in formation of the African Union. As a consequence, discussions and negotiations led to the decision to overhaul the entire organisation and evolve new norms and rules to deal with peace, security and development. These resolves found legal and institutional expression in a meeting in September 1999 in Sirte in Libya where the African leadership agreed to transform the OAU. This was followed by the 36th Ordinary Summit of Heads of State of the OAU at Lome where the Constitutive Act of African Union was adopted following a long and difficult negotiation process.The Constitutive Act was more than just a change of nomenclature, it encompassed a radically new vision and mission. It set for the new organisation a clear set of defined objectives and responsibilities. It envisaged an expansion of the sources of authority rather than limit it to just the political heads. Apart from the Assembly of the Heads of State and Governments, a new judicial pillar meant the establishment of the Court of Justice for the continent. The next basis of expansion of authority was the democratic pillar envisaging the formation of the Pan African Parliament. The executive wing of the organisation was given more precise substance by the creation of the African Commission along with a recognisable political mandate. Another basis for enhancing the authority of the African Union was the creation of a civil society pillar namely the Economic, Social and Cultural Council. …