World: Addis Insights: Highlights of PSC decisions in August 2015

Burundi, the Central African Republic (CAR), Libya, South Sudan and Guinea Bissau were among the countries discussed by the Peace and Security Council (PSC) in August. The council also received reports on Sudan and on the United Nations (UN) review of peacekeeping missions.

The meetings of the PSC in August 2015 started with a discussion on Burundi – a country that has dominated the PSC’s work for the past six months. The PSC received a briefing from the AU Commission on the parliamentary and presidential elections held in Burundi on 29 June and 21 July 2015. The elections were held in defiance of a request from the PSC for a postponement. In a poll boycotted by most of the opposition, the incumbent president, Pierre Nkurunziza, was re-elected. Reaffirming its appeal for the August 2000 Arusha Accord to be respected, the council called for the formation of a government of national unity, while expressing concern about the deteriorating security and humanitarian situation in the country. The meeting welcomed the deployment of AU human rights observers in Burundi.

Cooperation with the UN again on the agenda

The issue of cooperation between the UN and the AU has been a subject of discussion for many years. In 2014 the UN formed the High-Level Independent Panel on United Nations Peace Operations (HIPPO) to consider the issue and recommend a way forward. The panel presented its report, ‘Uniting Our Strengths for Peace, Politics, Partnership and People’ to the PSC on 10 August.

Noting the Common African Position on this review, the meeting commended the contents of the report as ‘a comprehensive approach to strategic and operational aspects of peace operations’ and emphasised the need for strategic shifts in response to new trends in conflict. The council commended a call made by the authors of the report for more resources to be devoted to conflict prevention and mediation efforts. The PSC recommended the use of AU resources such as the African Standby Force (ASF) in cases where the UN is slow to deploy.

The council also commended the panel for revisiting the recommendations contained in the Report of the AU-UN Panel on Modalities for Support to AU Peacekeeping Operations headed by former Italian prime minister Romano Prodi and commonly known as the Prodi Report. The meeting requested the AU Commission to work on lessons learned during the transition from AU to UN peacekeeping operations.

The Central African Republic and Guinea Bissau

At a meeting held on 17 August the council discussed both the CAR and Guinea Bissau. It welcomed what it called ‘the overall positive evolution of the situation in the CAR’ following the Bangui Forum for National Reconciliation, held in May 2015, and commended the efforts made by the transitional authorities in that country. Voter registration had started on 26 June 2015 and the meeting emphasised the importance to the successful completion of the transition of holding the legislative and presidential elections as scheduled, in October 2015. Member states were urged to show ‘African solidarity’ by making monetary contributions to help resolve the financial challenges faced by Bangui.

The PSC discussed the issue of sexual violence and abuse in the CAR. It requested the AU Commission to submit a report in this regard with recommendations for peacekeeping or peace support operations on the continent.

With regard to Guinea Bissau, the council discussed the political tensions and instability in the West African country and warned that recent developments in the government could compromise the progress made after the April 2014 presidential and legislative elections. Appreciation was expressed for the efforts of the current chairperson of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS), President Macky Sall of Senegal, to resolve the political crisis and the council called for respect for the principles of transition.

Problems in Libya and South Sudan

Libya was back on the agenda of the PSC on 18 August. The council discussed the deteriorating security situation, the decline in human rights and the expanding presence and reach of the Islamic State (IS). It reasserted its support for the UN-led Libyan political dialogue and urged parties to reach an agreement to form a government of national accord. It also endorsed the outcome of the fourth meeting of the International Contact Group for Libya (ICG-L), held in June 2015 in South Africa. The council requested the AU Commission chairperson to produce and submit a comprehensive report including proposals for a future approach to the crisis.

On 24 August discussion focused on the evolution of the peace process in South Sudan. The PSC reasserted its support for the peace process led by the Intergovernmental Authority on Development (IGAD) and welcomed the signing of the latest agreement by the leader of the Sudan People’s Liberation Movement in Opposition (SPLM/IO) Riek Machar and by Pagan Amum, representing the Former Political Detainees on 17 August 2015. The government of South Sudan finally signed the agreement in Juba on Wednesday 26 August.

On 25 August the PSC discussed the activities of the AU High-Level Implementation Panel (AUHIP) for Sudan and South Sudan. The council, which heard a briefing from the chair of the panel, former South African president Thabo Mbeki, ‘strongly’ called on Khartoum to show commitment to the democratic transformation of Sudan by creating an ‘all-inclusive, transparent, adequately prepared and credible national dialogue’. The PSC also strongly requested the government of Sudan to stop activities that would undermine national dialogue within Sudan and called on Khartoum and Juba to continue to respect the terms of their Cooperation Agreement. The meeting repeated its call to hold discussions that would precede the National Dialogue at the AU headquarters. It also requested the AUHIP to examine the situation on the ground and assess whether the environment is conducive to holding the dialogue. It has asked the AUHIP to report back to it within three months.

AU Commission to look into Dadaab

On 24 August Kenya met with the PSC to discuss the future of Dadaab, the world’s largest refugee camp. Kenya has indicated that the camp serves as a base for al-Shabaab militants and wants it closed down, but this would be contrary to Kenya’s international obligations.

A press statement from the PSC, published on 31 August and condemning terrorist acts perpetrated by al-Shabaab, reads:

‘Council took note of the planned relocation of the Dabaab refugee camp, as part of the Kenyan government’s overall efforts to prevent attacks by the al-Shabaab terrorist group. Council agreed to undertake further consultations on this issue with all concerned stakeholders, with a view to contributing to the search for a sustainable solution that would take into account Kenya’s overall national security concerns, whilst respecting relevant international and African instruments.’ The AU Commission has been asked to submit a report on the issue by early October 2015.

The PSC’s Inaugural Annual Consultative Meeting with the African Court on Human and People’s Rights was held on 26 August. The meeting took place in a year in which there has been a series of controversial events and debates about Africa and the international jurisdiction regime. The council stressed the need to enhance cooperation and institutionalise relations between the two bodies. The two organs agreed to hold their second meeting in Arusha, Tanzania, in 2016.