In 1992, the organization of african unity oau, meeting at its 28th ordinary session, held in dakar, senegal, adopted a resolution on the strengthening of cooperation and coordination among african states ahgres. There is no universal agreement on the definition of terrorism. Protocol to the oau convention on the prevention and combating of terrorism. Fund shall be the african union special fund on prevention and combating terrorism and violent extremism in africa. Pdf taking stock of regional responses to terrorism. The rise of terrorism in africa is as a result of the instability, crisis, precarious situations and quagmires among others which are on top notch. This islamist extremist group from northeast has killed lots of. An assessment of the threat to africa and the countermeasures. Peace and security council psc means the peace and security council of the african union. Despite broad consensus that the threat of terrorism needs to be addressed urgently, the positions adopted by individual countries, regional and international organisations have resulted in a. Rise of terrorism in africa manohar parrikar institute. The problem with the department of defence definition is that it covers all sorts of terrorist activities, it does not discern it clearly enough from other forms of violence. Reprinted by permission of westview press, a member of.
Mulgas for an assessment of the african union s plan of action for the prevention and combating of terrorism. Increasing access to and delivery of new health technologies for patients in need summary the regulation of health technologies is a critical component of any wellfunctioning health system, as it enables access to health technologies of assured quality, safety and efficacy. Nairobi, kenya the au peace and security council psc should set the agenda for africa s response to terrorism to ensure an approach based on collective and multilateral actions. Its predecessor was the organization for african unity oauestablished in 1963.
The united states code distinguishes between terrorism, international terrorism and who a terrorist is in its title 22, section 265f d. Pdf west africa, the sahel, and north africa are caught between the terrorist presence of the wellestablished alqaeda in islamic maghreb aqim and the new but quickly expanding isil islamic state of iraq and levant. Acsrt african centre on the study and research of terrorism, algiers au african union. The objective of the africa terrorism bulletin is to provide a fortnight assessment of terrorism and violent extremism situation and trends on the continent. The charter that created the oau was the result of several multinational african conferences held in the 1950s and 1960s aimed at supporting africans. In essence, the united states has a different understanding of the definition of terrorism than do member nations of the african. Combating terrorism in africa by maxim worcester political and economic environment to 2015 the underlying structural causes of state weakness in subsaharan africa relatively low population densities, problematic population distribution and poor infrastructure will remain. Aus inability to eliminate the terrorist threat posed to the continent and its people. About two weeks ago, the african union had a summit of the peace and security council at the level of heads of state, and the theme was counterterrorism.
Pdf icon oau convention on the prevention and combating of terrorism fr. The council also welcomed the creation of the african antiterrorism model law, which will seek to harmonize domestic counter terrorism legislation, and endorsed the au assembly decision to establish the african mechanism for police cooperation afripol in its role to enhance interstate police cooperation. The outcome of that meeting clearly indicates that for africa to counter terrorism, it has to be a multidimensional, multisectoral approach. These definitions will set the background in putting the african union s auoau6 definition into context. Africas response to terrorism the africaamerica institute. For some years, both its predecessor the organisation of african unity oau and the au have worked to end the scourge of terrorism on the continent.
It is the strategic framework for delivering on africa s goal for inclusive and sustainable development and is a concrete manifestation of the panafrican drive for unity, selfdetermination, freedom, progress and collective prosperity pursued under panafricanism and african renaissance. The au was announced in the sirte declaration in sirte, libya, on 9 september 1999, calling for the establishment of the african union. Kathryn sturman at a senior officials meeting held in algiers from 1114 september 2002, the african union proved ready and able to provide the political cohesion and sense of purpose needed for africa to combat terrorism. Security cooperation between the eu and middle eastnorth africa region. Moreover, governments have been reluctant to formulate an agreedupon and legally binding definition. The african union au is a continental union consisting of 55 member states located on the continent of africa. We focus on identifying terrorists and preventing their activities. Assessing the role of the african union in preventing and. African union on behalf of african union heads of state and government, welcome to the 2018 edition of the african union handbook. These are the basis of our police training on the use of chemicals in terrorist incidents. It is my pleasure to begin a new tradition of the outgoing assembly chairperson introducing the book each year. The bloc was founded on 26 may 2001 in addis ababa, ethiopia, and launched on 9 july 2002 in durban, south africa.
Understanding definitions of terrorism the international community remains divided over a universally acceptable definition of terrorism. It is composed of 53 countries in africa and is loosely based on the european union. This is aimed at providing african union member states up to date information on terrorism incidents and its related activities. Adopted by the european council in 2005, this strategy commits the union to combating terrorism globally, while respecting human rights and allowing its citizens to live in an area of freedom, security and justice. It is for this reason that a comparison is necessary to clarify the scope ofthe operation of the terrorism risk insurance programmes. Definition of terrorism act under the oau convention. Therefore, the eu has developed a holistic counter terrorism response the eu counter terrorism strategy pdf. Strengthening security cooperation to counter terrorism. Terrorism threat to security in nigeria and the african union. Executive council means the executive council of the african union. An assessment of african union counterterrorism strategies. This module is a resource for lecturers the african region african union counter terrorism instruments the african continent has had to wrestle with many different forms of terrorism and terrorist actors, including al qaida, al shabaab, boko haram and the lords resistance army.
Is the african union equipped to serve africa s people for another 50 years. The african union by makaria green the african union au was established on july 8, 2001. Counter terrorism initiatives african union resource database. Pdf the role of the african union in continental peace. African union should lead the continents response to. The year 2017 is one in which we saw our member states focus on what unites us, how africa. Pdf the purpose of this study is to assess the effectiveness of the oau convention in preventing and combating terrorism africa. African counter terrorism legal frameworks a decade after 2001. The au plan on terrorism joining the global war or leading an african battle. This selection of eprs research has been prepared for the press seminar on.
Notwithstanding the lack of a universally accepted common definition of terrorism, the au, in its 1999 oau convention onthe prevention and combating of terrorism, article 1 paragraph 3, a and b, and article 3, defines what constitutes a terrorist act. Pdf icon oau convention on the prevention and combating of terrorism en. Abstract nowadays, boko haram is inarguably a major problem confronting nigeria, with consequences going beyond security and into the political and socioeconomic aspects of governance. One of the ways that the african union au addresses threats to africas security is by authorising. Counter terrorism and radicalisation european commission. The terrorist threat is escalating, spreading across the continent with an alarming 22 countries in africa targeted by terrorists. Pdf of the protocol for the convention on prevention and.
Oau convention on the prevention and combating of terrorism. The unlawful use of force or violence against persons or property to intimidate or coerce a government, the civilian population, or any segment thereof, in furtherance of political or. Difficulties arise from the fact that the term has become politically and emotionally charged. It says in the organization of african unity oau convention on the prevention and combating of terrorism, article 1. Various legal systems and government agencies use different definitions.
As soon as men decide that all means are permitted to fight an. Member state means any member state of the african union. This network has taken advantage of the chaos and disorder in libya to establish a province there. Counterterrorism initiatives african union resource. Simultaneously, nine other us government departments have come forward with nine other definitions. Continental efforts in preventing and combating terrorism have a long history. Understanding and sharing this information is critical to identifying terrorists and disrupting their activities. African union noun an organization of african states established in 2002 as successor to the oau. African union should lead the continents response to terrorism. There have been some definitional differences in the use of the terms terrorism and act of terrorism between oecd countries. Africas challenges and the role of the african union. Counter terrorism cooperation between the eu and the maghreb north african countries takes place primarily through the european neighborhood policy enp, the eus main arena for relations with its neighbors to the south. Reprinted by permission of westview press, a member of perseus books group.
Africa s response to terrorism an aai symposium february 17, 2006. The african union is one of the worlds most important intergovernmental organizations. Ecowas counterterrorism strategy economic community of. Is the african union equipped to serve africas people for. Au has built on the counterterrorism platforms already created by its.
Continental peace and security governance 157 india quarterly, 66, 2 2010. The au has helped throw off colonialism and resolve conflicts since its birth in. Report by an expert of the african union on terrorism and violent extrmism in the member states. Plan of action of the african union highlevel intergovernmental meeting on the prevention and combating of terrorism in africa, algiers, algeria, september 1114, 2011, african centre for the study and research on terrorism accessed march 27, 2017 14. Plan of action means the african union plan of action on the prevention and combating of terrorism in africa. The protocol on terrorism 26july2004 african union. African union model law for medical products regulation. Statute means the present statute establishing the african union special fund on. In 1992, the organization of african unity oau, meeting at its 28th ordinary session, held in dakar. The african union s convention on the prevention and combating of terrorism contains a long, complex, and confusing definition of a terrorist act that is unlike the definition contained in title 22 of the u. The african union counter terrorism framework african.
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