THE AFRICAN UNION AND CONFLICT MANAGEMENT IN AFRICA: A STUDY OF THE DARFUR CRISIS

The research study evaluated the role of African Union in resolving the Darfur crisis of Sudan. The study made used of only secondary source of data, exploring various literatures on the issue from scholars. The functionalism theory of international relations was adopted and argued that African Union intervened in the Darfur crisis because the nature of the crisis demanded international collaboration and support which the Sudanese Government did not had the capacity to manage the crisis. It was revealed that the Darfur crisis which lasted between 2004 and 2011 ensued as the result of political subjugation, economic exploitation and underdevelopment of the Darfur region of Sudan. The People Southern Sudanese considered these trends as injustice and as such they violently revolted against the Sudanese Government with the agitation for independence. The wanton destructive nature of the crisis necessitated the intervention of the international community. The study revealed that African Union was the first body to intervene in the crisis through mediation and sending of troops in July 2004 before the United Nations took over the mission in 31st December, 2007. The study showed that even after United Nations took over the Peace keeping operation, African Union still made significant contributions in terms of troops, finance, and humanitarian services. It was concluded that despite the weaknesses of African Union in managing the conflict, the success story of United Nations in Darfur region cannot be analyzed without taking into cognizes the effort of African Union put in the crisis. Therefore, it was recommended that African Union should be proactive and timely in intervening in conflict in the continent so as to avoid escalation