The Future of Peace Support Operations in Africa

Despite the contributions made for advancing the implementation of peace agreements and protection of civilians (such as in Darfur and South Sudan) and creating conditions for stabilization and peace (such as in Somalia), Peace Support Operations (PSOs) are faced with major challenges in Africa. These include gaps between what PSOs are able and mandated to deliver and the demands of the conflict setting, as well as changing expectations from host authorities for PSOs to actively support fighting against insurgencies and declining support from mandating authority due to geopolitical tension and division in the UN Security Council. 

The approval of a framework for the financing of African Union (AU) Peace Support Operations (PSOs) by the United Nations (UN) Security Council on December 21, 2023, with the adoption of Resolution 2719, represents significant progress in the development of the UN-AU partnership in peace and security as well as a commitment from the security council to support the adequate, predictable, and sustainable financing of AU-led PSOs and also hope in addressing pressing challenges of peace support operations in the continent. 

In light of this new development, Amani Africa and the FES AU Cooperation Office organized a policy dialogue to explore UNSCR 2719's opportunities to address the challenges facing PSOS in Africa, including the protection of civilians, the flexibility and capability to respond to new and emerging conflict dynamics, and establishing the groundwork for a credible political strategy to resolve underlying conflicts.

 Officially opened with a welcoming speech from Dr. Solomon Dersso, Founding Director of Amani Africa, and Mr. Alexander Geiger, Director of FES-AU Cooperation Office, distinguished panelists, namely Amb. Frederic Gateretse-ngoga, Senior Advisor for International Partnerships, AUC PAPAS, Mr. Abu Sherif, Senior Policy Officer in the African Union Peace Support Operations Divisions (AUPSOD), and Colonel Nurudeen Azeez, Chief of Operational Planning and Advisory Section of UNOAU, shared their insights on the topic. Key issues discussed in the dialogue included, among others, the implications of this new development in the AU-UN Strategic Partnership, sustainable financing, the complex nature of conflicts in the continent, and the current challenges of PSOs. The dialogue also brought Dr. Dimpho Deleglise, a peacebuilding consultant from UNUCRIS, on board, who shared her insights on the topic with special emphasis on the protection of civilians and women and peace and security issues in peace support operations, especially in light of her recent publications titled’ Towards People-Centered International Peace Support Operations in Africa.”