Abuja: The African Union Commission’s (AUC) Department of Political Affairs, Peace, and Security (PAPS) has been advancing a transformative agenda for peace, security, and governance across Africa. Under the leadership of Amb. Bankole Adeoye, the current AU Commissioner for Political Affairs, Peace and Security, the department has reinforced the AU’s role as a proactive, unified force in addressing continental challenges.
According to News Agency of Nigeria, PAPS is one of six portfolios rationalised and established during the Eleventh Extraordinary Session held in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia on Nov. 17-18, 2018. The department was created as a merger of the Political Affairs, and Peace and Security departments, which used to be two separate entities. The AU stated that the new department focuses on one of the four key priorities of the continental body: political affairs, peace and security, economic integration, and Africa’s global representation and voice.
The AU also mentioned that PAPS’ mandate was developed from its larger Pan-African vision as defined in the aspirations of Agenda 2063, especially Aspirations 3 and 4. While Aspiration 3 envisions ‘an Africa of good governance, democracy, respect for human rights, justice and the rule of law’, Aspiration 4 envisions ‘a peaceful and secure Africa’. Some of the core functions of PAPS include continuous monitoring of Africa’s political, peace and security trends; and timely assessment, analysis and reporting on political, peace and security trends through early warning systems.
PAPS supports conflict prevention through the development and dissemination of legal and policy frameworks on governance, political, peace, and security issues. It also supports conflict management efforts, including peace-support operations as well as mediation and dialogue interventions; and supports post-conflict reconstruction and development policy and strategy development.
Some stakeholders say that although challenges persist, Adeoye’s vision since his election in 2021 has helped equip PAPS for success. Mr. Brian Kwayedza, a Zimbabwean lawyer and international affairs analyst, said Adeoye’s vision emphasises accelerating the implementation of the African Peace and Security Architecture (APSA). He noted that the same vision has also helped to fast-track the African Governance Architecture (AGA), which he said is guided by shared values of peace and development.
Over the past three going to four years, PAPS has made significant strides. Peace enforcement has been prioritised as a strategic tool to combat violent extremism and terrorism. The department facilitated the peace process that led to the signing of the Cessation of Hostilities Agreement between Ethiopia and the Tigray People’s Liberation Front in Pretoria on November 2, 2022. In addition, PAPS provided strategic and operational support to the Peace and Security Council (PSC), enhancing early warning systems and informed decision-making through regular consultations.
Others credit the commissioner for improved early warning mechanisms, as well as conflict prevention, mediation, and management. They cite the Ethiopia-Tigray peace process, which culminated in the landmark 2022 Cessation of Hostilities Agreement, as being facilitated by Adeoye and his team. An analyst said, ‘He launched the AU Inter-Regional Knowledge Exchange on Early Warning and Conflict Prevention (I-RECKE), which has helped foster collaboration among regional and international stakeholders. Improved early warning capabilities have led to increased intelligence-sharing among bodies such as the Committee of Intelligence and Security Services and the AU Mechanism for Police Cooperation.’
However, critics argue that the AU has barely done enough in terms of conflict prevention, entrenching good governance, and preventing/countering violent extremism on the continent. They highlight recent unprecedented unconstitutional regime changes, increased activities of violent extremists, and higher trans-border terrorism and terrorism funding in Africa. An analyst questioned, ‘It appears that the AU is stuck on a weak conflict management system, which makes many refer to it as a toothless bulldog. For instance, what concrete measures has it taken against the juntas in Mali, Burkina Faso, Niger, Gabon and Chad?’
In 2024, Nigeria hosted a two-day high-level African counter-terrorism summit in the capital, Abuja, aimed at bolstering regional cooperation and institutional capacity. With the theme ‘Strengthening Regional Cooperation and Institution Building to Address the Evolving Threat of Terrorism’, the meeting proffered ‘African-led and African-owned’ solutions to the threats of terrorism and violent extremism that have made the continent a hotbed.
One of the issues deliberated at the summit was the operationalisation of the African Standby Force to enhance the continent’s capacity for rapid response to conflicts. If Adeoye is reelected in March, some stakeholders suggest he should collaborate more in strengthening the institutional capacity of the AUC, especially specialised agencies of the commission. These agencies include the African Centre for the Study and Research on Terrorism (ACSRT), the AU Mechanism for Police Cooperation (AFRIPOL), and the AU Centre for Post-conflict Reconstruction and Development (PCRD).
The AUC also requires global support in strengthening existing counter-terrorism structures such as the Regional Intelligence Fusion Unit (RIFU), the African Centre for the Study and Research on Terrorism (ACSRT), and the Committee of Intelligence and Security Services of Africa (CISSA). In May 2022, at the Declaration of the 16th Extraordinary Summit of the African Union Assembly, the continent’s leaders agreed to establish the African Union Ministerial Committee on Counter-Terrorism. This committee was tasked with serving as a high-level coordination, monitoring, evaluation, and follow-up mechanism for the implementation of the commitments made in its Malabo Declaration.
Analysts encourage PAPS under Adeoye to explore better cooperation and synergy in these areas. Supporters of his potential reelection in March commend his efforts in mobilising resources for the MNJTF and advancing the Lake Chad Basin Stabilisation Strategy by attracting development partners for post-conflict reconstruction. They also praise his adoption of a Monitoring and Evaluation Framework for the AU’s Master Roadmap on Silencing the Guns by 2030, driving accountability and progress.
However, PAPS faces critical challenges, including a limited budget for peace and security, and a lack of human resources and capacity in the department. Other challenges include the exponential spread of terrorism and violent extremism, external interference in African conflicts, and resumed acute geopolitical competition on the continent. Despite these challenges, stakeholders urge the department to continue championing pan-African ideals for effective governance, peace, and stability in line with AU’s Agenda 2063 – The Africa We Want.