Counter-Terrorism Resolutions and Initiatives by Regional Institutions: African Union and African Commission on Human and People’s Rights

Abstract

Terrorism poses a threat to peace, stability, and development in sub-Saharan Africa (SSA). Although efforts to counterterrorist have been heightened, terrorism continues to thrive. Counter-terrorism measures in most African states have been rendered ineffective due to poor security and intelligence planning, porous borders, and weak armies to name but a few. As a result, resource pooling through collective counter-terrorism initiatives has been mooted as an alternative. The African Commission on Human and People’s Rights has laid down principles and guidelines on the conduct of counter-terrorism, while the African Union has provided the political framework and instruments to combat terrorism. Yet, it has been noted that counter-terrorism studies have heavily relied on the security perspective and undermined the political economy drivers of terrorism and counter-terrorism particularly in SSA. Hence, the political economy analysis employed here seeks to foster an understanding on why collective counter-terrorism initiatives do or do not respect fundamental human rights. A consideration of the interaction between actors, their respective interests, the institutions through which they undertake counter-terrorism projects, and the interplay of power relations lends credence to how counter-terrorism projects are conducted. The study examines the African Commission on Human and People’s Rights principles and guidelines and the African Union collective counter-terrorism initiatives with the African Union Mission in Somalia (AMISOM) as a case study.