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Securing Africa: the Role of the African Standby Force UNIVERSITY OF NAIROBI INSTITUTE OF DIPLOMACY AND INTERNATIONAL STUDIES (IDIS) SECURING AFRICA: THE ROLE OF THE AFRICAN STANDBY FORCE By Mwanzia Richard W. R50/67767/2013 Supervisor Prof Maria Nzomo A RESEARCH PROJECT SUBMITTED IN PARTIAL FULFILLMENT OF THE AWARD OF MASTER OF ARTS IN INTERNATIONAL STUDIES, UNIVERSITY OF NAIROBI SEPTEMBER 2015 DECLARATION I, Mwanzia Richard Wambua hereby declares that this research project is my original work and has not been presented for a degree in any other university. …………………….. ………………………. Signature Date MWANZIA RICHARD W This project has been submitted for examination with my approval as the appointed university supervisor. ………………………. ………………………. Signature Date AMB. PROF MARIA NZOMO ii ACKNOWLEDGEMENT The completion of this research project would not have been possible without the material and moral support from various people. First of all I thank the Almighty God for granting me good health and strength to be able to balance the demands of the course and those of my work place. Secondly I am greatly indebted to Prof. Maria Nzomo who was my supervisor, for her commitment in providing unequaled guidance, assistance, encouragement and freely sharing her abundant wealth of experience in the academics. It was indeed a great honour. I would also like to extend my gratitude to the rest of the lecturers who taught me, and the members of the EASTBRIG HQ in Karen for sharing the insights of the ASF framework and my superiors at the work place for allowing me to undertake my Masters program. My final appreciation goes to my family who has continued to offer total support and encouragement in all my undertakings. iii DEDICATION I would like to dedicate this work to all my friends and colleagues, who have bravely and fearlessly continued to protect the territorial Integrity of our Nation and provide service to humanity at the African Union Mission to Somalia (AMISOM), and those who have had to pay the ultimate price with the lives. iv ABBREVIATIONS ACDS: African Chiefs of Defence and Security APSA: African Peace and Security Architecture ASF: African Standby Force AU: African Union CPX: Command Post Exercise EASBRIG: East Africa Standby Brigade EDF: European Development Fund FOMAC: Force Multinationale de ‟ Afrique Centrale IDPs: Internally Displaces Persons ISIL: Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant ISIS: Islamic State of Iraq and Syria LRA: Lord‘s Resistance Army MSC: Military Staff Committee NASBRIG: North Africa Regional Standby Brigade OAU: Organization of African Unity PSC: Peace and Security Council RECs: Regional Economic Communities RTF: Regional Task Force SRCCs: Special Representatives of the Chairperson of the Commission UN: United Nations‘ UNAMSIL: United Nations Mission in Sierra Leone UNAVEM: United Nations Angola Verification Mission v UNEF: United Nations Emergency Force UNMIS: United Nations Mission in the Sudan UNOC: United Nations Operation in Congo UNOMUR: United Nations Observer Mission in Uganda and Rwanda UNSC: United Nations Security Council UNTSO: Nations Truce Supervision Organization vi TABLE OF CONTENTS DECLARATION............................................................................................................... ii DEDICATION.................................................................................................................. iii ACKNOWLEDGEMENT ............................................................................................... iii ABBREVIATIONS ............................................................................................................v TABLE OF CONTENTS ............................................................................................... vii ABSTRACT ...................................................................................................................... xi CHAPTER ONE ................................................................................................................1 1.1 Background to the Study ........................................................................................... 1 1.2 Statement of the Problem .......................................................................................... 3 1.3 Objectives to the Study ............................................................................................. 5 1.4 Literature Review ...................................................................................................... 5 1.5 Significance of the Study ........................................................................................ 13 1.6 Study Hypothesis..................................................................................................... 14 1.7 Theoretical Framework ........................................................................................... 15 1.8 Research Methodology ............................................................................................ 16 1.9 Chapter Outline ....................................................................................................... 17 CHAPTER TWO .............................................................................................................20 AFRICAN STANDBY FORCE AND ITS OPERATIONS IN AFRICA ...................20 2.0 Introduction ............................................................................................................. 20 2.1 Past efforts at securing Africa in the absence African standby force...................... 20 2.1.1 Main Bodies: The Peace and Security Council and the AU Commission.........22 2.1.2 Composition of the Peace and Security Council ...............................................23 2.1.3 Objectives of the Peace and Security Council ...................................................24 2.1.4 Peace and Security Council Guiding Principles ................................................24 2.1.5 The Peace and Security Council and the AU Commission today .....................25 vii 2.2 African Standby Force as a Mechanism of AU Peace and Security Council in Enhancing Peace Support Operations in Africa ............................................................ 25 2.3 African Standby Force Concept and Plan ............................................................... 29 2.4 The role and purpose of African standby force ....................................................... 31 2.5 The African standby force in the African Security Architecture ............................ 34 2.6 Strengthening African Peace Support Operations; Future of the African Standby Force .............................................................................................................................. 35 2.6.1 Recognizing deployment politics ......................................................................36 2.6.2 Strengthening AU- Regional Economic Communities Relations .....................37 2.6.3 Adjusting the planning scenarios use of ASF ....................................................38 2.6.4 Institutionalizing flexibility ...............................................................................39 2.6.5 Strengthening multi-dimensionality ..................................................................41 2.6.6 Improving joint planning ...................................................................................42 2.6.7 Securing predictable funding .............................................................................43 2.7 Operationalizing the African standby force: Progress and problems ...................... 45 2.8 Conclusion ............................................................................................................... 47 2.9 chapter summary ..................................................................................................... 48 CHAPTER THREE .........................................................................................................50 PROSPECTS AND CHALLENGES OF AFRICAN STANDBY FORCE AND THE KEY FACTORS THAT INFLUENCE ITS CAPACITY FOR ENHANCING PEACE SUPPORT OPERATIONS IN AFRICA .........................................................50 3.0 Introduction ............................................................................................................. 50 3.1 Patterns of Peace Operations in Africa ................................................................... 50 3.2 Challenges Facing ASF as AU Mechanism for Peace Operations in Africa .......... 52 3.2.1 Policy challenges ...............................................................................................56 3.2.2 Political Challenge .............................................................................................57 3.2.3 Training challenge .............................................................................................58 3.2.4 Infrastructural challenge ....................................................................................59 3.2.5 Operational challenges ......................................................................................60 3.2.5 Administrative challenges .................................................................................61 viii 3.3 Policies Influencing Enhancement of Peace Support Operations in Africa ............ 61 3.3.1 Just-in-time Rapid Response .............................................................................62 3.3.2 Establishment of early warning system .............................................................64 3.3.3 Panel of the Wise ...............................................................................................68
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