Seeking Peace and Security in the Horn of Africa: the Contribution of the Inter-Governmental Authority on Development
By Sally Heal. International Affairs, November 2011.
The security outlook for the Horn of Africa remains bleak, with protracted instability in Somalia and deep hostility between several neighboring states. The Inter-Governmental Authority on Development (IGAD), the regional body meant to manage these challenges, remains severely weakened by deep mutual suspicion and frequent power plays among member states. In order to strengthen its collective security architecture, IGAD will have to build on several small crisis management successes, including contributions to the Comprehensive Peace Agreement in Sudan and transitional structures in Somalia, in order to demonstrate its credibility as a respected political forum.
Download the Article: [PDF]Building Africa's Airlift Capacity: A Strategy for Enhancing Military Effectiveness
By Birame Diop, David Peyton, and Gene McConville. Africa Center for Strategic Studies, August 2012.
Growing security threats posed by agile and maneuverable forces such as narcotics traffickers, coastal pirate gangs, and nonstate militias have underscored the critical importance of security force mobility to monitor and protect Africa's enormous land mass and more than 30,000 km of coastline. While commonly viewed as too expensive, airlift assets provide vital capabilities and multiply the effectiveness of Africa's resource-limited militaries and collective peace operations.
Download the Brief: [ENGLISH][FRANÇAIS][PORTUGUESE]The Role of ECOWAS in Managing Political Crisis and Conflict: The Cases of Guinea and Guinea-Bissau
By Gilles Olakounlé Yabi. Friedrich-Ebert-Stiftung, September 2010.
ECOWAS's preparations to deploy forces in Guinea-Bissau and Mali echo earlier interventions in Guinea and Guinea Bissau where the West African organization similarly demonstrated that it is willing and able to apply its resources and influence to shape political transitions and reduce tensions. However, the subregional body's interventions often lack the persistence, coordination, and wherewithal critical to realizing more complex institutional reforms at the national and subnational levels to prevent crises from recurring.
Download the Article: [ENGLISH][FRANÇAIS]The African Union’s Conflict Management Capabilities
By Paul D. Williams. Council on Foreign Relations, October 2011.
The African Union’s founding documents envisaged an organization empowered to play a major role in resolving Africa’s armed conflicts. However, its practical abilities in the field of conflict management suffer from a persistent capabilities-expectations gap, falling well short of its ambitious vision. The organization can more effectively realize its goals by pursuing technical reforms in its key strategic planning offices and streamlining its partnership with the UN and Africa’s regional economic communities.
Download the Article: [PDF]The China-Africa Toolkit: A Resource for African Policymakers
By South African Institute for International Affairs, 2009.
In addition to $100 billion in annual two-way trade, China provides $13 billion in assistance and supports several peace operations in Africa. To better shape this relationship in a form that enhances and sustains development Africa's policymakers should familiarize themselves with the fundamental drivers of Chinese interests on the continent.
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