From 2-3 October 2023 the African Union (AU) in partnership with the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC), hosted the AU-ICRC 6th Annual Roundtable discussions on Compliance and Accountability in Peace Support Operations (PSOs), which took place in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia.
Over the years, it has become pertinent and beneficial for African deployed PSOs to align themselves with AU authorized, endorsed or recognized PSOs, to ensure that missions operate under international standards and international legal frameworks. Accordingly, the AU and ICRC under took discussions that focused on the regional dissemination and harmonization of Strategic Frameworks on Compliance and Accountability in PSOs. The roundtable initiated discussions amongst the AU, ICRC, United Nations (UN), European Union (EU), Regional Economic Communities (RECs)/Regional Mechanisms (RMs), member states and experts, including ACCORD, on modalities for implementing the newly adopted AU Strategic Framework on Compliance and Accountability (AUCF), which included highlighting challenges that AU PSOs face in compliance and accountability.
Strongly rooted in International Human Rights Law (IHRL), International Humanitarian Law (IHL), and standards of conduct and discipline, the AUCF framework is spearheaded by the AUCF project, a tripartite partnership between the AU, EU and the UN.
The AU-ICRC Roundtable discussions began in 2016 with the purpose of strengthening compliance and accountability with IHL, IHRL and standards of conduct and discipline in AU PSOs. Not only have the discussions culminated in the establishment of the AUCF Framework and the AUCF project, they have also managed to bring on board a myriad of actors that play an important and critical role in the execution of AU PSOs. The AUCF project will compile a report from the Roundtable discussions that will be shared across the African region, with recommendations and a proposed roadmap for future discussions on Compliance and Accountability in PSOs.
ACCORD’s attendance to the Roundtable discussions expands its continued efforts and intricate role in the development and enhancement of AU PSOs and the capabilities of the African Standby Force.
