Journal of Global Peace and Conflict

Towards a New Pax Africana: Africa’s Conflict Management Techniques and The Architects of Convergence
Dr. Dawn Nagar

Abstract
The African Standby Force (ASF), has certainly taken on a different form in intervening in regional conflicts. Initiatives such as the African Capacity for Immediate Response to Crises (ACIRC) developed a largely statedriven process without the regional economic community viewed as the focal point. The Southern Africa Brigade mainly led by South Africa and included Tanzania and Malawi, contributed 3,000 troops for a Neutral Intervention Force (NIF), which was authorised to conduct offensive peacekeeping, protect civilians, and neutralise armed groups, namely the rebel March 23 Movement (M23), which operates primarily in the North Kivu region. In November 2012, Goma – the regional Congolese capital – fell into the hands of M23 rebels, despite the presence of 6,000 armed peacekeepers under the United Nations Organisation Stabilisation Mission in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (MONUSCO). The UN Security Council ordered the UN Department of Peacekeeping Operations (DPKO) into action, and the UN Security Council authorised its first ever offensive UN force in April 2013 with the key responsibility of neutralising armed groups. Africa’s troubled states had to scramble resources together in order to address the major conflicts, but the parochial interests of the state are moving towards the forefront in prioritising regional security. This chapter is thus concerned with the conflict management techniques deployed and the African Standby Force (ASF) – its progress, problems and prospects for achieving the objectives of a continental brigade, which has been conceived as a troop contribution from five regional economic communities (RECs). The African Union (AU) has conceptualised how the ASF can assist the continent achieve peace and security. This chapter poses two fundamental questions: What have the AU and Africa’s RECs achieved in their efforts towards security convergence? And what are the important actors and factors promoting or hindering regional security?

Full Text: PDF     DOI: 10.15640/jgpc.v5n1a4