The african union counter terrorism framework african union. The plans also seek to give effect to regional, continental and international counter terrorism instruments and to provide a common operational framework for action. Terrorism counter terrorism african union au african commission on. Ecowas counterterrorism strategy economic community of. Conference on human rights, securitisation and counter. African counterterrorism legal frameworks a decade after 2001. Dr kwesi aning is a counterterrorism expert at the african union commission in addis ababa, ethiopia. The african unions work supporting victims of terrorism. The use of civilian aircraft as a weapon in the 911 terrorist attacks led to efforts to enhance aviation security. Partnering to counter terrorism in africa as the 1998 bombings of the u. Protocol to the oau convention on the prevention and combatting of terrorism. Nations, the african union and the east african region on counterterrorism issues. The eu as a global counter terrorism actor in the making.
In 1992, the organization of african unity oau, meeting at its 28th ordinary session, held in dakar, senegal, adopted a resolution on the strengthening of cooperation and coordination. The african union au is a vital partner in confronting the global challenge. Agenda 2063 is the blueprint and master plan for transforming africa into the global powerhouse of the future. Belgian ministry of the interior and for the equality of oppor. It is the strategic framework for delivering on africas goal for inclusive and sustainable development and is a concrete manifestation of the pan african drive for unity, selfdetermination, freedom, progress and collective prosperity pursued under panafricanism and african. Nato is also working with other regional organisations to address the terrorism threat. This study calls for more holistic solutions, with an emphasis on development and better governance to curb the. On april 2, 2020, the governments of niger, nigeria, and chad announced a joint bombing and clearance operation to rid the lake chad region of boko haram and islamic state west african province iswap. Pdf the eu as a global counterterrorism actor in the making. Corruption, human rights violation and counterterrorism. Fourthly, the regional bloc in 2004 established the african centre for the study and research on terrorism acsrt, in algiers algeria to serve as a structure for centralizing information, studies and analyses on terrorism and terrorist groups and to develop counter terrorism capacity building programmes aupsc, 20. Assessing the role of the african union in preventing and. The opening remarks were followed by a welcome statement of the officerin charge of the ctitf office, mr. Operation bomas wrath was spearheaded by chad in coordination with niger and nigeria.
The views expressed in this paper are those of the authors and do not necessarily re. African centre for the study and research on terrorism acsrt. Pakistan seeks to deepen relationship with african union. This is seen in the fact that there is an average of three terrorist attacks per day in africa.
The eu as a global counterterrorism actor in the making. Considering the organization of african unity oau convention on the prevention and combating of terrorism, signed at algiers, algeria, on 14 july 1999, which, inter alia, provides a common african definition of terrorist acts, and the protocol thereto, signed at addis ababa, ethiopia, on 8 july 2004. Feb 18, 2016 the latter half of the book contains a useful critique of current african union au and u. Framework for cooperation on countering terrorism and violent. On 3031 may, the 8 th meeting of the african union regions steering committee of small arms and light weapons salw and disarmament, demobilization, and reintegration ddr was held at au headquarters in addis ababa, ethiopia. Last year, we signed the joint united nations african union framework for an enhanced partnership in peace and security. In this paper, a framework is proposed that aims at relieving these problems, using. The operation is a response to a boko haram attack on a chadian military base that killed over 98. Nov 23, 2015 continental efforts in preventing and combating terrorism have a long history. Iss monograph 177 african counterterrorism legal frameworks. Oau convention for the elimination of mercenarism in africa adopted 3 july 1977, entered into force 22 april 1985. At african union summit, guterres outlines unau approach to. The african union counter terrorism framework union. Notably, all the anti terrorism conventions adopt a suppressionist approach despite the traces of some preventive action.
Despite the slow start, the african union au has implemented a fairly progressive counter terrorism framework, pushing states to coordinate their responses in order to close loopholes and shut down potential safe havens. The african victims symposium that we held in october last year here at the african centre for the study and research on terrorism was the first step to bring the issue onto the agenda of the. Assessing eu actorness in global counter terrorism. Legal document outlining the counter terrorism initiatives of the african union. Au, counter terrorism, terrorism, anti terrorism, framework, system.
Conference on human rights, securitisation and counterterrorism in africa the centre for human rights, university of pretoria and the school of law, university of ghana, legon, in collaboration with the united nations office on drugs and crime unodc are pleased to announce a oneday conference on human rights. Feb 10, 2014 as well as the scaling up of domestic counter terrorism efforts, the african union has continued to support counter terrorism both through the various plans and protocols associated with its counter terrorism framework see acsrt and through the deployment of african union peacekeeping forces, such as the african union mission to somalia amisom. Challenge of tackling terrorism threat can be achieved. The fact that terrorism has intensified in scope is clear evidence of a counterterrorism strategy that is not working. Terrorism counterterrorism african union au african commission on. This period provides an opportunity to reexamine counter terrorism.
Breif synopsis of the african union counter terrorism initiative system. Framework for cooperation on countering terrorism and violent extremism new delhi, february 23, 2018 as multicultural, diverse, pluralistic societies, committed to democratic principles, human rights and the rule of law, india and canada recognize the grave challenges posed by terrorism, violent extremism and radicalization to violence. An overview of the western african response to the international counter terrorism legal framework 19 premised on a suppressionist approach, which was also endorsed by general assembly resolutions of the time. Traditional counter terrorism approaches, with their emphasis on the military, are failing. The organization of african unity oau, now the african union au, was founded as an anticolonist. Today marked the beginning of a threeday consultative workshop to commence preparation leading to a rollout of this ambitious project. Ecowas political declaration and common position against terrorism ecowas political declaration and common position against terrorism we, the heads of state and government of the economic community of west african states ecowas. An overview of the western african response to the. Continental efforts in preventing and combating terrorism have a long history. Decision on the budget of the african union for the 2017 financial year, au ex. At european union level, member states have agreed on a minimum definition in the eu.
Nations, the african union and the east african region on counter terrorism issues. Our publications can be downloaded from our website for free. As such, early introduction of mine action and explosive management planning and activities in postconflict situations provides major benefits and enables humanitarian responses, peacebuilding. The framework includes cooperation in the field of countering terrorism and. Peace and conflict monitor, the role of regional integration.
Mine action and explosive management activities are part of the fundamental preconditions for human security and human development in emerging postconflict societies around the world. In april 2019, nato and the african union held their first joint counter terrorism training in algiers. Pdf counterterrorism resolutions and initiatives by regional. Reaffirming our commitment to the revised ecowas treaty signed at cotonou, benin, on 24 july 1993, in particular. Since then the oaus successor, the african union, has further developed africas continental approach. At the same time the general assembly expanded the framework to include. Countering terrorism, protecting human rights osce.
In ascertaining the necessity for the african union to develop ways to adequately implement its counter terrorism agenda, the study carries out an assessment of the agenda and established its link with the united nations counter terrorism framework. For some years, both its predecessor the organisation of african unity oau and the au have worked to end the scourge of terrorism on the continent. On 3031 january, the african union held its 26 th ordinary session of the assembly of the union in addis ababa. The african union is in talks with the government of cuba to start postgraduate medical education in africa. Secretarygeneral, at security council, stresses shared. According to martin ewi and kwesi aning, two african experts on terrorism and. Accordingly, the first step of moving toward an effective online counter terrorism is to relieve these barriers. Channels for such support included the african union counterterrorism fund, the african centre for the study and research on terrorism, and the nouakchott and djibouti processes, he said. Jan 27, 2018 no single nation, institution, or organization can defeat terrorism in africa or anywhere else, united nations secretarygeneral antonio guterres told a special meeting of the african union peace and security council in addis ababa, ethiopia, on saturday, as he called for a sustained, cooperative and coordinated approach in tackling this complex, everevolving menace. Nov 08, 2016 written by marcin grajewski the attack in paris on the satirical newspaper charlie hebdo in january 2015, and the ensuing wave of violence in which 17 people were killed, together with subsequent events in belgium and denmark, has prompted a debate in the european union on strengthening its counter terrorism strategy. Counter terrorism legal framework, attended by ministers of foreign affairs and heads of delegation of 26 west and central african countries, took place in madrid, spain, from 25 to 26 may 2006.
African union counterterrorism frameworks and implementation. Voicing the subregions ambivalence about joining the international counterterrorism campaign, south african president mbeki used his. The african union counter terrorism framework african. Article information, pdf download for african union counterterrorism.
Oau convention on the prevention and combating of terrorism. At a time of rising transnational criminal activities and terrorism in west africa, the declaration was hailed as a historic achievement in ecowass efforts to combat terrorism. Oau convention on the prevention and combating of terrorism adopted on 1 july 1999, entered into force 6 december 2002 african union protocol to the oau convention on the prevention and combating. In the same year, the au established the african centre.
Seven priorities for the african union in 2018 crisis group. The crucial role of primary sources, icct background note, international centre for counterterrorismthe hague. African union has implemented a fairly progressive counterterrorism framework, pushing states to coordinate their responses to close loopholes and shut down potential safe havens. Countering terrorism and violent extremism in africa accord. Jul 19, 2017 channels for such support included the african union counter terrorism fund, the african centre for the study and research on terrorism, and the nouakchott and djibouti processes, he said. In 1992, the organization of african unity oau, meeting at its. The au has a welldeveloped normative framework to combat terrorism with the 1999 au convention on the prevention and combatting of terrorism and its 2004 protocol which gives responsibility to the au psc to coordinate and harmonize continental efforts in the prevention and combating of international terrorism in all its aspects. The rise in terrorism and violent extremism in africa has created severe. In 1992, the organization of african unity oau, meeting at its 28th ordinary session, held in dakar, senegal, adopted a resolution on the strengthening of cooperation and coordination among african states ahgres. This framework has limitations, however, especially in terms of implementation. It is the strategic framework for delivering on africas goal for inclusive and sustainable development and is a concrete manifestation of the panafrican drive for unity, selfdetermination, freedom, progress and collective prosperity pursued under panafricanism and african.
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