African Union’s peace missions yield mixed outcomes, research reveals
The African Union (AU) has become a key actor in peace and security in Africa over the past two decades, deploying missions in countries like Burundi, Sudan, Somalia, Mali, and the Central African Republic. A recent review of 186 academic articles published between 2000 and 2026 shows that AU interventions produce mixed results, reflecting both growing African agency and ongoing challenges such as limited capacities and dependence on external support. The study underscores the complex realities of AU peace operations, which neither fully succeed nor fail, but increasingly shape conflict responses in collaboration with international partners.
Brève Publié le (Africa/Lagos, UTC+1) · date de l'événement : 2026-09-21
The African Union (AU) has emerged as a major player in peace and security on the African continent over the last 20 years, intervening in conflicts in Burundi, Sudan, Somalia, Mali, and the Central African Republic, among others.
A recent exploratory review of 186 peer-reviewed articles published between 2000 and 2026 examined four key themes: the AU’s approaches to peace and security interventions; the legitimacy of these interventions, especially among local populations; their effectiveness in establishing long-term peace and security; and the degree of ownership at both institutional and local levels.
The findings reveal a nuanced picture. While some portray AU interventions as a clear demonstration of African capacity to manage their own security challenges independently, others emphasize dependence on external support, limited operational capacities, and failures.
Overall, the reality is more complex. AU peace and security interventions are neither outright successes nor mere dependent operations. Instead, they illustrate how African actors are increasingly influencing conflict responses while working alongside international partners.
This complexity highlights both the opportunities and limitations of AU interventions in peace and security, reflecting a shift from the non-intervention stance of its predecessor, the Organization of African Unity, to a more proactive role in addressing conflicts on the continent.