The Scramble for African Security
The Deutsche Welle article notes the AU's upcoming summit will scrutinize its 'unsuccessful peace and security initiatives.' This framing implicitly concedes what has been a stark reality for decades: the continent's security agenda is rarely its own, and its institutions are perpetually constrained. First Instance: The OAU Foundation and Cold War Interference (1963) When the Organization of
African Unity (OAU) was founded in 1963, its Charter explicitly enshrined non-interference in internal affairs. This was a direct response to colonial legacy and a bulwark against external meddling. Yet, from its inception, the OAU was forced to navigate Cold War dynamics, with both the US and USSR actively vying for influence and supporting proxy conflicts across the continent. This meant that
'African solutions to African problems,' a mantra often invoked, were frequently diluted or bypassed by the strategic interests of global superpowers. Example: The Angolan Civil War (1975-2002) saw direct intervention from the US (via South Africa) and the USSR (via Cuba), completely eclipsing any OAU-led peace efforts. The OAU’s inability to enforce its own resolutions against South African
apartheid’s destabilizing actions further demonstrated its structural limitations (Archival records, OAU, 1970s). Repetitions: AU and the 'Responsibility to Protect' Era (2000s) The transition from the OAU to the African Union (AU) in 2002 was predicated on a more robust security mandate, including the right to intervene in member states under grave circumstances, aligned with the 'Responsibility