SOUTH AFRICA AND THE AFRICAN UNION’S PEACE AND SECURITY ARCHITECTURE: OLD RESPONSIBILITIES AND NEW CHALLENGES

Abstract

The African Union established a Peace and Security architecture to prevent and resolve conflicts, which have remained endemic on the continent. The initiative was also to distinguish the AU from its predecessor, the Organisation of African Unity, which had an appalling record in conflict resolution. However, in addition to the familiar challenges of financial constraints and perennial conflicts, the PSA faces a new challenge in the form of contradictory postures by South Africa on critical security issues. Together, these challenges vitiate the ability of the AU to swiftly end conflicts. As well, South Africa’s contradictory positions on certain security issues undermined unity mong AU members. The latter was demonstrated in the initial lack of consensus in the election of the Chairperson of the AU Commission.