African Union Peace, Security Council review 2012 progress

With a composition of 15 countries, the council which was formed ten years ago has been taking gradual steps towards maturity with intentions of making the continent peaceful.

Representatives from different African States and conflict experts have been meeting in Addis Ababa Ethiopia to review the progress of the Peace and Security status of the continent for the year 2012. During the meeting the findings of a research on the performance of Peace and Security Council were also unveiled.

The Annual Review of the Peace and Security Council conducted by the Institute of For Peace and Security shows that Africa’s challenges to Peace are three. The persistence of existing and newly erupted traditional conflicts involving armed rebellion, the rise of non-traditional security threats and governance-related problems.

However, the year 2013 approaches with overlapping conflicts in Africa which analysts say the Council will have to add more efforts on.

On its table the council has challenges all round the continent. For instance the transitional process of Guinea Bissau , elections in Cote de voire , challenges of Sudan and South Sudan’s separation, Elections in Kenya, the Lords Resistance Army rebels who are believed to be hiding in Central African republic , and the rebel invasion of Eastern Congo.

The Peace and Security Council is however accused of being inconsistent on the level of attention it gives to different crisis and the fact that the burden of promoting peace and security in Africa is borne by less than a dozen of countries.

Experts also say a better performance of the Peace and Security Council in 2013 can be best supported by an improved capacity and ability of individual members states to shoulder the responsibilities of emerging conflicts and issues in the continent.