The African Peace and Security Architecture (APSA) Organizational Structure in Context of Implementation of Peace and Security in Eastern Africa

Abstract

The African Peace and Security Architecture (APSA) was established in 2002 as a long-term structural response to the peace and security challenges across the continent. Unfortunately, Africa, especially the Eastern Africa region is involved in some of the world’s longest armed conflicts (DRC, Sudan / South Sudan, Somalia). The region is also occupied by states with vast geographical differences from the Horn of Africa countries, Small Island Developing States to majority of the African Great Lakes region states. The African Union (AU), despite its many attempts, has increasingly faced challenges in its work on conflict resolution and maintaining peace on the continent. Several challenges, for example lack of funds to support the institutions, have been cited over the years, however, one that strikingly misses is the organizational structure of APSA. As such, this article, using Eastern Africa region as a case study, seeks to critically analyse the APSA organizational structure. As a result, the author is able to unravel the gaps that exist in the architecture that does not reflect the distinct features of the region. The author concludes that there is an urgent need to restructure the APSA to offer tailor-made solutions to peace and security challenges that face the region.