The role of African Great powers and national interest in AU security management

1. The role of African Great powers and national interest in AU security management ”Africa has the right and a duty to intervene to root out tyranny….we must all accept that we cannot abuse the concept of national sovereignty….we have the duty to intervene when behind those sovereign boundaries, people are being slaughtered to protect tyranny” (N. Mandela, 1998) “All animals are equal, but some animals are more equal than others” (Orwell) By Thomas Mandrup, Royal Danish Defence College and Stellenbosch University- SIGLA Associate Professor, PHD

2. Who are these great powers - contested • One way of measurement – mere “size” (population, economy, military, but also relational and normative… ability to exercise moral leadership… ex. PSO, championing for the interest of the region in WTO, UN, G20, BRICS, Climate negotiations etc

3. Who are these great powers – contested continued.. • Bull: “The great powers are powers recognized by others to have, and conceived by their own leaders and peoples to have, certain special rights and duties…in determining issues that effect the peace and security of the international system as a whole…. They accept the duty, and are thought by others to have the duty, of modifying their policies in the light of the managerial responsibilities they bear.” And Nye “getting others to want what you want. It co-opts people rather than coerces them. Soft-powers rests on the ability to set the political agenda in a way that shapes the preferences of others” • This is not a given and is contested – a key argument here is that there has been a tacit acceptance of this on the continent, but that we increasingly are seeing changes to this system – arrogance, interest and counter-alliances

4. The AU project – the new normative value • The African Renaissance – the hope • From non-interference to new norms of intervention and good governance/non-indifference • “The right of the Union to intervene in a Member State pursuant to a decision of the Assembly in respect of grave circumstances, namely: war crimes, genocide and crimes against humanity; article 4h”- …..a paradigmatic change….. • Unconstitutional change of governments , but sitting governments..? • From traditional security to human security • Ex. The creation of the PSC – ops. in Burundi, Darfur, Somalia, Comoros, Mali, CAR, anti-LRA, Boko-haram, the DRC, G5 and SSudan • 50 pct of deployed UN peacekeepers from Africa, 2013 80.000 African soldiers in AU/Hybrid missions i.e. major contributor • Good governance …

5. AU- the critique – Mandela’s vision versus “reality”

6. How to implement these principles • Once argued by South Africa “open door, closed door principles”, i.e. by introducing new principles and getting states to sign, they will eventually implement, but… • But why has the AU then been criticised for lack of progress • National interest (seen here as the regional powers ability to maximise there national economic and political interests) there own gain have often turned out to be incompatible…e.g. what is good for South Africa, is good for Africa, …is not necessarily perceived this way by other states…. • Two readings of the AU a liberal and then the realist • Argument - The normative discrepancies between the dominant states questions the core of the AU project, and the level of integration possible…the example of security

7. A normative clash? Collective defence, common security,? From a strategic point of view, the African Standby Force represents a dissuading factor against threats to the sovereignty and territorial integrity of our states. It would be an instrument for intervention (Chissano 2004) or Serve in peace-building efforts, including post-conflict disarmament and demobilisation and humanitarian assistance to alleviate the suffering of civilian populations in conflict areas and support efforts on major natural disasters (Mwanawasa 2007).

8. Consensus politics - Some examples of visible disagreements • Whilst the AU member states prefer to present consensus positions, the differences have become visible ex. • Positions on UNSC reform - • ACIRC vs ASF – post Mali and CAR- African solutions to African problems • Election of AU Chairman in 2014 and anti-Boko Haram – what the eyes see and… • South Sudan crisis - • ICC South Africa+ vs. Nigeria+?

9. ASF vs. ACIRC – • The raison d´être for the establishment of the ASF as a tool of the APSA was to create a tool that could be used and introduced to pre-empt or stop violent conflict from erupting or to intervene under grave circumstances (PSC Protocol, 2002, p. article 13) • The setting up of the ACIRC was a response to the weakness of the ASF structures, both political and militarily, to set up functional capabilities and deployed when called upon let to a call from some of the leading states on the continent to set up and form an alternate military structure, the African Capacity for the Immediate Response to Crisis (ACIRC), which should have a short response time, consist of willing states under AU command, and being detached from the regional entities forming the base of the ASF system. • a symptom/breakaway from the principles common security to a national interest driven, …or taking the principles seriously…

10. Q & A ?

11. South Africa – Pax Africana or Pax Pretoriana – national interest vs ? • Anti-imperialist/African – history and ideology put into the concept of ‘Ubuntu’ – “African solution to African Problems” • Economic interests– what is good for RSA is good for Africa • The White Paper on Foreign Policy - RSA’s destiny is tied to Africa, Southern Africa in particular – need to strengthen Africa’s institutions and having a common approach (APSA) • Support peace and security efforts in the continent to ensure positive growth and development (hotspots are: Libya, South Sudan, DRC and Burundi); • Continue to strengthen North-South relations, particularly the United Kingdom (UK) and the European Union (EU); • Strengthen working relations with the United States of America (USA) to strengthen economic growth through AGOA; • Assume BRICS chairmanship and utilize it as a vehicle for a shared common vision to be pursued through economic cooperation, sharing of technical expertise, knowledge and experience; • RSA is in AU PSC, Chair of SADC, BRICS and IORA at the same time

12. South Africa – vision for AU • South Africa will align its foreign policy engagements with Africa’s Agenda 2063 to contribute to the socio-economic development of the African continent. • South Africa will continue to focus on implementation of the continental integration agenda, regional economic integration and finding African Solutions to African problems through: • Participating in peace missions, and (Peace, Conflict, Reconstruction and Development (PCRD) initiatives • Promotion of Good Governance (APRM) & protection of Human Rights • Contributing to Socio-economic development ( implementation of the New Partnership for Africa’s Development (NEPAD) • A reality right now 1300+ troops in PSO, focus on proximity and national interest – what is good for South Africa….Lesotho ex • ACIRC vs. SASF?? – can’t do both…