Question NW240 to the Minister of International Relation s and Cooperation:

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22 February 2022 - NW240

Profile picture: Msane, Ms TP

Msane, Ms TP to ask the Minister of International Relation s and Cooperation:

What are the (a) details of how the African Union intends to capacitate the African Standby Force in order to decisively deal with insurgencies and coups on the continent and (b) timeframe in this regard? NW251E

Reply:

At the35th Ordinary Session of the African Union (AU) that took place from 5 to 6 February 2022, the outgoing chairperson of the AU, DRC President Thisekedi, emphasized the need to exert concerted efforts in realizing Africa’s 50-year continental development Agenda 2063; namely the need to silence the guns across the African continent; to consolidate the African architecture of peace and security and to immediately reactivate the African Standby Force (ASF) to enhance its preparedness to act should the need arise. At this time, a draft MoU between the AU and RECs/RMs on the ASF, which will formalize and strengthen partnership between the AU and sub-regional organizations on the deployment of the ASF, is being circulated. The MoU will provide the official framework in terms of which the AU anRECs/RMs collectively deploy the ASF, when required in terms of the AU Constitutive Act and the Protocol on the Establishment of the AU peace and Security Council (PSC).