A Critique of State Level Implementation of African Union Counterterrorism Instruments

Abstract

This article examines the implementation of the African Union counter-terrorism framework by member states. It argues that the state level governance involved in implementing AU policy provisions is often ineffective due largely to a lack of relevant capacity by many African states. This article first critiques terrorism and the military approach to counter terrorism by member states; then evaluates institutional capacity in a number of African states, showing that they often lack sufficient security governance to implement AU policies; and concludes with an evaluation of the inability of member states to contain Islamophobic tendencies within their jurisdictions.