Africa’s position on United Security Council reforms and its implications on Africa’s peace and security aspirations.

Abstract

The overall objective of this study is to interrogate the correlation between Africa's call for reforms and the Council's effectiveness in responding to peace and security challenges on the continent. To unpack this objective the study also examined the Africa‟s peace and security aspirations, historical relations between the Council and Africa, the AU reform proposal and its implications on Africa's peace and security challenges. The study is based on the case study of Africa. The study was grounded in qualitative research in which the researcher utilised purposive sampling to select knowledgeable and experienced participants for in-depth interviews. Documentary research was also utilised to collect secondary data. Thematic analysis and Content analysis were also used to analyse both primary and secondary data respectively. Elements of Collective Security, Multilateralism, Regional Security Complex Theory and Constructivism shaped the framework for analysis for this study. The study established that the AU aspires to have a secure and peaceful continent by 2063. Africa believes that only a reformed Council will effectively contribute to this end. The study also established that although the intended reform will enhance the Council lost legitimacy, this would not automatically contribute to the Council‟s efficacy due to divisions among African countries on the basis of colonial history and sub-regional blocs, regional interests versus national interests and the global geopolitical realities that will continue to shape global peace projects. The study concludes that there is need to balance the moral argument for equitable geographical representation and global power realities which seems to be the springboard of state action in international system. The study recommends that AU should embrace global power polities and realities, establish written text based negotiations on the criteria for selecting Africa representatives in the Security Council and foster continental unity among African Countries as this would enables the AU to strategically position itself beyond the ideal architectural framework of the Security Council.