Assessing PAPS’s role in AU’s Agenda 2063

By Ekemini Ladejobi

Africa is faced with various degrees of security challenges. In the west are the Boko Haram and other mushroom insurgents, in the east, there are Al-Shabaab, the conflicts in the north are on many fronts while in the south, terrorists are harassing Mozambique.

In 2024, over 11,200 people died in the Sahel region of Africa alone due to militant Islamist violence.

This number is more than triple the number of deaths in 2021, according to Africa Center for Strategic Studies.

To address this challenge, given its transborder nature, requires a robust response from the continental body, the African Union (AU).

Observers of security situations on the continent say the AU Commission’s (AUC) Department of Political Affairs, Peace, and Security (PAPS) is 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.

PAPS is one of six portfolios rationalised and established during the 11th 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 said 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.

AU also said 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.

It 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 said 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, the 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,” he said.

Others credit the commissioner for an improved early warning mechanism, 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.

“He launched the AU Inter Regional Knowledge Exchange on Early Warning and Conflict Prevention (I-RECKE), which has helped in fostering collaboration among regional and international stakeholders.

“Improved early warning capabilities has led to increased intelligence-sharing among bodies such as the Committee of Intelligence and Security Services and the AU Mechanism for Police Cooperation,” an analyst said.

However, critics say the AU has barely done enough in terms of conflict prevention, entrenching good governance, and pre- venting/countering violent extremism on the continent.

“Africa has recently experienced unprecedented unconstitutional regime changes, increased activities of violent extremists, and higher trans-border terrorism and terrorism funding.

“It appears that the AU is stuck on a weak conflict management system, which makes many refer to it as a toothless bulldog.