The African Union’s Pursuit of Pax Africana: From Continental Cadet to Globally Revered Generalissimo?

Abstract

The ever-changing global arena (following the independence of Africa from colonial rule as well as the end of the Cold War) and key events (such as the 1994 Rwandan genocide) has brought to fore the increasing reluctance of the United Nations (UN) and former colonial powers, on the one hand, as well as Africa’s incapacity, on the other hand, to manage Africa’s numerous, complex, and intractable conflicts. Consequently, “African ownership” and “responsibility” of the peace and security on the continent became increasingly regarded as a necessity among African leaders and led to the institutionalization of Pax Africana within APSA. However, although the AU has made many inroads towards the realization of Pax Africana at the start of the twenty-first century, APSA’s long-standing inoperability has ultimately jeopardized the full achievement thereof. The chapter explores Africa’s initial pursuit of Pax Africana; beginning from the birth of the concept in the 1960s up until the 1990s. In so doing, it will show that Africa’s achievement of Pax Africana during this period was obstructed by the following three factors: Firstly, the Cold War Superpower rivalry between the United States (US) and the Soviet Union (which found its expression in the numerous proxy wars waged on the continent); secondly, the ineffectiveness of the OAU to respond to Africa’s intra-state conflicts in the Post-Cold War period; and, thirdly, the failure and growing reluctance of the UN to act as an international guarantor of peace and security on the African continent-particularly during the 1990s.