UN Must Back Up AU Peacekeeping Efforts

BYLINE: Hussein Solomon

and Amelia du Rand

In response to Africa's myriad conflicts, the African Union (AU) envisions creating a standby system that will build on the military capabilities of African regional organisations.

According to the AU's Policy Framework for the Establishment of the African Standby Force (ASF), presented to the third meeting of the African Chiefs of Defence Staff in May 2003, the ASF will consist of five regionally-managed, multidisciplinary contingents comprising 3 000 to 4 000 troops, between 300 and 500 military observers, police units and civilian specialists on standby in their countries of origin.

These regional brigades will be deployed under AU mandates and placed under AU or UN operational control, as applicable.

The AU forces are often under-equipped, under-armed and under-manned. The absence of adequate funding for an airlift capability is also cause for concern.

If the force is to be worthy of the "standby" in its name, the issues of funding, airlift and logistical support in the field have to be sorted out. Ad hoc arrangements with wealthy nations are not enough to guarantee …

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Publication information: Article title: UN Must Back Up AU Peacekeeping Efforts. Contributors: Not available. Newspaper title: Cape Times (South Africa). Publication date: October 12, 2006. Page number: 11. © 2009 Independent News & Media PLC. COPYRIGHT 2006 Gale Group.

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