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INTRODUCTION

Member States have gathered for the Third Summit of the African Union (A.U.) in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia from June 29 through July 8, 2004. Since its inauguration in 2002, the A.U. has played an increasingly important role in addressing conflict situations across the continent.

The A.U.’s architects have articulated the paramount importance of a continental commitment to take full responsibility for improved peace and security. The Constitutive Act of the African Union includes “the right of the Union to intervene in a Member State pursuant to a decision of the Assembly in respect of grave circumstances, namely: war crimes, genocide and crimes against humanity,”¹ and “respect for the sanctity of human life, condemnation and rejection of impunity and political assassination, acts of terrorism and subversive activities.”²

Human Rights Watch is encouraged by the efforts of the A.U.’s newly established Peace and Security Council to address conflicts in Africa. The A.U. has developed plans for an African Standby Force, consisting of five regional brigades that will be deployed under the authority of the Peace and Security Council (PSC). The Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) has already committed to establishing a force of 6500 for West Africa. Plans are also underway to develop a Continental Early Warning System that would enable preventative diplomacy. In February 2004, at an extraordinary summit of the A.U., the Assembly considered a draft Non-Aggression and Common Defense Pact that includes the possibility of intervention in cases of inter-state and internal conflict.

Human Rights Watch commends the A.U. for undertaking a commitment to peace and security. Having committed to these necessary and laudable goals, the A.U. now bears a daunting burden. We believe that through constructive involvement, the A.U. can play a critical role in preventing and stemming conflict and in protecting human rights.

Deliberations within the current Assembly of the A.U. will include discussions to address the state of peace and security on the African continent.  We respectfully draw the Assembly’s attention to three crises that have been characterized by widespread abuses against civilians and that threaten to escalate rapidly if not urgently addressed: Darfur, Sudan; Côte d’Ivoire; and the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC). We urge the A.U. Member States to use this opportunity to discuss these crises and take decisive action to address them.