Workshops on the African Peace and Security Architecture APSA we Want?

The project on APSA future scenario building process is aimed at having a structured form of debate over what future developments in the APSA may involve and how current factors influencing these developments should be addressed in order to contribute to the development of robust policy options. To have a better understanding of current trends impacting on the APSA -- such as ad-hoc setup and financial and institutional reform processes – and to build scenarios in reference to aspects of the respective trends and policy implications of the respective scenarios, the FES AU Cooperation Office in coordination with headquarters FES Africa Department and FES Rwanda have organized the first scenario building process on the future of “the APSA we want” workshop in Kigali, Rwanda from October 25-27, 2019 in Kigali, Rwanda. Policy makers, practitioners, academicians, AUMS Ministry experts, civil society, AU and FES representatives participated and engaged in a discussion of identifying key uncertainties that are highly important for the future (2040) of APSA and resulted with four scenarios. The scenarios are formed in axis grid with two main uncertainties i.e member states political will to implement APSA and APSA adapted to challenges on the Continent.  

A second workshop was then organized in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia from December 6-8, 2019 as a follow-up of the first scenario building workshop. Attendants remain almost the same from the Kigali workshop to keep the momentum going.  The workshop enabled to fine-tune the four scenarios, namely Igloo in the Desert, Lighthouse in the Storm, Sanctuary in the Sky and Abandoned Village and discuss implications for current policy and next steps. These policy implications are combined with the scenario descriptions in a paper and a final draft is produced, accompanied by graphic designed video simulation. The APSA Scenarios in 2040 will be launched, presented and disseminated widely to relevant audiences (AU, EU, UN, AURECS, e.t.c).