The African Union in Peacebuilding in Africa

Abstract

Since its launch in 2002 the African Union (AU) has advanced post-conflict peacebuilding frameworks and institutions as part of the broad project of deepening local solutions to African problems. This chapter argues that while the AU has made significant strides in building norms around peace, security, stability, and governance, it faces tremendous obstacles in realizing the vision and objectives articulated in the 2006 Post-Conflict Reconstruction and Development (PCRD) policy. It, therefore, urges national ownership of peacebuilding as well as a deepening and advancing of normative frameworks amongst various stakeholders. Conflict prevention is viewed as key to sustained peacebuilding in Africa. The chapter concludes that in the absence of mobilization of local resources and capacity, the AU will remain unprepared for the complex and multiple tasks entailed in peacebuilding.