The planning, conduct and management of peace operations by the United Nations (UN), the African Union (AU) and its regional economic communities/regional mechanisms (REC/RMs) have improved significantly when compared to the early 1990s. Multiple factors have converged to explain this development, but critical among them is the impact of high-quality research under...

The article describe how the African Union has established institutional mechanisms to support its role in the prevention, management and resolution of conflicts, particularly through the establishment of its Peace and Security Council (PSC) in March 2004. This is the most critical institutional component of the African Union?s peace and security architecture. More...