Challenging Issues in the Horn of Africa (2016-2021): The Role of the African Union Commission in Conflict Resolution

International Journal of Research and Innovation in Social Science (IJRISS) | Volume V, Issue VII, July 2021 | ISSN 2454–6186

Challenging Issues in the Horn of Africa (2016-2021): The Role of the African Union Commission in Conflict Resolution

Magdalane Malinda Kikuvi
Pan African Institute of Governance, Nairobi, Kenya

Abstract
This discussion paper reviews the African Union Commission peace and security achievements in 2020, and outlines the emerging issues in the Horn of Africa, The African Union Commission elected a new chairperson for the term 2021-2024 in February 2021 and the chairperson is expected to lead the continental secretariat towards achieving the 2021-2024 term plan in line with African Union Agenda 2063. In order to understand the achievements and emerging issues from the Horn of Africa during the period under study, data was collected using desk review and 3 key informant interviews (referred to as KII1, KII2 and KII3) from the Horn of Africa region, the African Union and Intergovernmental Authority on Development actors. Data analysis was done using themes. Amidst the first year of the Covid-19 pandemic, the Commission was instrumental in negotiating and requisitioning vaccines for the African Union member States. It has also continued to intervene in Somalia, South Sudan and Ethiopia to ensure peace and stability. However, the emerging issues such as border, and election-induced disputes, resource-based conflicts, upcoming volatile elections, and external actors in the Horn of Africa have slowed down Commission’s mandate. Based on data analysed, to achieve better results at the Horn of Africa, this paper recommends a strengthened political will among the leaders of the Horn of Africa and the empowering of the inter-governmental Authority to intervene in a humanitarian crisis with or without government intervention.

Index Words: African Union Commission, Horn of Africa, resource-based conflicts, election-induced disputes, volatile elections, border-induced conflicts.

I.INTRODUCTION

The African Union Agenda 2063 objective aims at establishing the highest level of cooperation, a political union, with the creation of a United Africa, actualizing Step 6 of the Abuja Treaty. The Constitutive Act of African Union (AU) Article 20 allows for establishment of the body’s commission organ. The Commission’s current chairperson took office in February 2021 for his second four-year term since 2017, expected to expire in 2024. It is the African Union Commission (AUC) chair’s role to oversee the administration and finance of the Commission, promote and popularize AU objectives, enhance its performance, consult, and coordinate with member States, development partners, and Regional Economic Communities (RECs). Under the ongoing

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