The EU and peacekeeping in Africa: the case of AMISOM

Abstract

This article engages with the main focus of cooperation between the European Union (EU) and the African Union (AU), that of peacekeeping. It will also analyse EU support for the AU Mission in Somalia (AMISOM) as one specific case study. Peacekeeping in Africa is a major topic because Africa is the most conflict-prone region in the world. In the last 20 years, the United Nations (UN), the Regional Economic Communities, the EU, ad hoc coalitions and individual states have launched a large number of peacekeeping operations in Africa. Despite some successes, there have also been significant failures and challenges. Hence, there is an ongoing debate about peacekeeping in Africa and the involvement of the EU in supporting such operations. While it is true to argue that there is a direct relationship between the EU and the AU in the form of the Joint Africa–EU Strategy (Roadmap 2014–2017), a lot of the issues addressed in this Strategy, including the focus on peace and security, are related to the UN's agenda. Thus, it is inadequate to speak solely of an EU–AU relationship. The UN is without doubt an inseparable part of this partnership and it is therefore more appropriate to speak of the AU–EU–UN nexus.