By Todd M Price MBA
Mar 22, 2023
By Todd M Price MBA
The lack of teeth to bite for APSA has implications for peace and security on the African continent (Jalloh, 2016). The persistence of conflicts on the African continent has led to the loss of life, displacement of people, and destruction of property (Aning, 2015). This has hampered economic development and hindered the achievement of AU's Agenda 2063, a strategic framework for the socio-economic transformation of the African continent.
The delay in the operationalization of the ASF has limited APSA's ability to effectively address conflicts on the African continent (African Union, 2013). The ASF was intended to be a multidimensional force capable of addressing conflicts on the African continent, but the delay in its operationalization has limited its effectiveness. The lack of resources and funding has also limited APSA's ability to address conflicts promptly (Aning, 2015).
African leaders need more political will to support the implementation of APSA, another major challenge (Jalloh, 2016). African leaders have often prioritized their interests over promoting peace and security on the African continent. This has resulted in a need for more political will to provide the necessary resources and support for APSA.
To address the significant challenge of having teeth to bite, the AU must prioritize the implementation of APSA (African Union, 2002). The AU needs to provide the necessary funding and resources to support APSA. This would enable APSA to address conflicts on the African continent effectively. African leaders also need to prioritize promoting peace and security on the African continent. This would require a change in mindset among African leaders, where they prioritize the collective interest of the African continent over their interests (Jalloh, 2016).
In conclusion, establishing APSA was a response to the numerous conflicts that plagued the African continent in the 1990s and early 2000s. Despite the establishment of APSA, the African continent continues to experience conflicts, which raises the question of whether APSA has the teeth to bite. The major challenge of APSA has teeth to bite, primarily due to the delay in the operationalization of the ASF, lack of funding and resources, and lack of political will among African leaders. The lack of teeth to bite has implications for peace and security on the African continent, which hampers economic development and the achievement of the AU's Agenda 2063. To address this significant challenge, the AU needs to prioritize the implementation of APSA, provide the necessary funding and resources, and change the mindset of African leaders to prioritize the collective interest of the African continent over their interests.
References:
African Union. (2002). Protocol relating to the establishment of the Peace and Security Council of the African Union. https://au.int/sites/default/files/treaties/7806-file-protocol_relating_to_the_establishment_of_the_peace_and_security_council_of_the_african_union_e.pdf
African Union. (2013). Overview of the African standby force. https://au.int/en/organs/asf/overview
Aning, K. (2015). The African peace and security architecture: can it deliver? Journal of African Security, 2(2), 157-173. https://doi.org/10.1080/23743670.2015.1079592
Jalloh, C. (2016). The African peace and security architecture: a conceptual framework for analyzing failure. Conflict, Security & Development, 16(5), 449-476. https://doi.org/10.1080/14678802.2016.1211399
Njoya, E. T. (2015). The African peace and security architecture and the responsibility to protect. African Journal on Conflict Resolution, 15(1), 79-104. https://doi.org/10.5860/choice.47-4212