Defence and Strategic Issues

Background

A number of African peace and security priorities can be classified as defence and strategic issues, such as security sector reform and transformation (SSR/T), including gender mainstreaming of the defence forces; disarmament, demobilisation, rehabilitation and reintegration (DDRR); the African Standby Force and peace support operations; and the issue of former child soldiers and other children affected by conflict, amongst others.

A priority for the continent is the transformation of the security sector in line with the principle of human security and the needs of the African peace and security agenda. This requires an analysis of current and future threats to peace and human security, an understanding of the capacities required to respond to those threats, and a collaborative framework for developing those capacities across the continent. Gender mainstreaming of the security sector, both in terms of increasing the participation of women at all levels and improving the responsiveness of the security sector to gender issues, is another critical component of this area.

DDRR is a key component of the activities in the AU policy on post-conflict reconstruction and development, and impacts directly on the provision of security in post-conflict settings. The policy calls for comprehensive and well-blended DDRR programmes that focus on both former combatants and the communities that receive them. It is critical to approach DDRR holistically, in conjunction with issues of security, economic recovery, justice and reconciliation, with particular attention to the needs of female ex-combatants and former child soldiers.

There has been significant progress toward the operationalisation of the African Standby Force, which will be composed of five regional brigades—one from each region of Africa— but much remains to be done. The deployment of AU peace support operations in Burundi, the Sudan and other countries in Africa has provided valuable lessons that must be incorporated into the operational guidelines of the ASF.

Because of the large number of children affected by conflict in Africa, this issue has been prioritised by the AU for policy development and a pilot programme in support of former child soldiers has commenced in the Great Lakes Region.

Activities

Ongoing/Planned Activities

The Programme is supporting the AU Commission on a number of strategic issues, including:

Development of an African definition of, and guidelines for, DDRR
Development of an African definition of, and guidelines for, SSR/T
Development of a continental policy on children affected by conflict

The Programme is assisting AU Member States on a number of defence and strategic issues, by:

Briefing government departments and agencies (including Foreign Affairs, Defence, the Presidency and Parliament) on the APSA
Assisting Departments of Defence with preparation and training for participation in peace support operations
Assisting Departments of Defence with the process of gender mainstreaming of the security sector, through facilitation of workshops, development of training materials and other forms of support

Past Activities

Provided support to the AU Peace Support Operations Division for the Workshop in September-October 2006 on the harmonisation of the African Standby Force workshop outputs.
Participated in the process that led to the development of the Common African Defence and Security Policy (2004)
Offered expertise to the four meetings of the African Chiefs of Defence Staff that produced the Policy Framework for the African Standby Force (developed in 2003 and adopted in 2004).
Provided technical support to the SA DoD for the 2nd National Conference on Women in Defence in May 2006, which led to a plan of action for gender mainstreaming in the DoD.
Provided technical support to the SA Department of Defence (DoD) for the 4th Women’s Peace Table Seminar in 2005, that resulted in an action plan to enhance the participation of women in the APSA
Sponsored, organized and facilitated the Third Women Peace Table Seminar (October 2003) of the South African Department of Defence