New wine in old wine skin : an assessment of African Union’s peace and security initiatives in Africa

Abstract: The need for continental freedom, peace, security, and unity were among the major reasons for the formation of Organization of African Unity (OAU). This organization fought acidulously to guarantee independence for the African countries and end apartheid regime in South Africa. With time, both intended and unintended internal activities of independent African countries led to series of conflicts that jeopardized the peace, security and unity of the continent. The need for a more dogged organization that would fit into the trending globalization and create peace and security in the continent therefore led to the formation of the African Union (AU). This research therefore employed qualitative historical method of data collection and analysis as a way juxtaposing the extents the two organizations went in maintaining peace, security and unity of the continent. It tried to examine the extent AU was different from the OAU. The study weighed the strengths and weaknesses of the two organizations. Some of the weaknesses were evident: the OAU was more like a toothless bulldog as it failed in many occasions to back plans with actions; the AU also beclouds the Article 4(h) with conceptual ambiguities that retard its functionalities. The strength of the OAU is evident in the attainment of independence while the AU can boast of success in peacebuilding in the post-Cold War Africa. The study recommended increased peacebuilding efforts and transformative national leadership as the sustainable road to African peace, security and development