Assessing the African Union’s Operational Effectiveness in West Africa Under African Peace and Security Architecture

Abstract

This study examined the effectiveness of the African Union (AU), through the African Peace and Security Architecture , in addressing security threats in West Africa. It focused on political divisions among member states and the frequent occurrence of military takeovers. The study had two objectives: to assess the effectiveness of APSA in dealing with political divisions among member states and to examine the challenges affecting its ability to manage military takeovers. Collective Security Theory was used as the theoretical framework. The study adopted a qualitative descriptive research design and relied on secondary data from scholarly publications, African Union documents, policy briefs, institutional reports, and regional governance reports. Data were collected through documentary review and analysed using qualitative content analysis. The findings showed that APSA provides an important framework for preventing and managing conflicts through the Peace and Security Council , Continental Early Warning System , and African Standby Force . These bodies support early warning, preventive diplomacy, mediation, sanctions, and joint efforts to address political instability and insecurity. However, the study found that there is a gap between the goals of APSA and its actual performance. Political divisions, conflicting national interests, weak political commitment, inadequate funding, poor logistics, and limited capacity for rapid deployment affect its ability to respond to security threats effectively. The study also found that dependence on external funding and poor coordination between the AU and the Economic Community of West African States weaken its independence and effectiveness. The study concluded that APSA needs adequate and reliable funding, improved logistics, stronger early-warning systems, and greater cooperation among member states. It recommended improved coordination among relevant institutions, consistent enforcement of AU principles, and stronger collective efforts to promote peace and security in West Africa. E-ISSN 2504-883X P-ISSN 2695 2432

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