The African Union Peace and Security Council - Handbook 2023 - Guide on the Council’s Procedure, Practice and Traditions

Sep 18, 2026

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The African Union Peace and Security Council Handbook 2023 provides an authoritative, one-stop reference for understanding the Council’s mandate and functioning. It presents the Council’s working methods, decision-making processes, and policy tools, supported by documented practices since the PSC’s operationalization in 2004. The Handbook also serves as an institutional memory on the origins and development of the PSC, offering guidance on procedures, practice, and traditions while enhancing the Council’s visibility through regular yearly updates.

LanguageEnglish

CategoryResearch & Report

FormatPDF

Pages284

Reading Time11 h 56 min

AccessFree to download

Acknowledgments

Foreword

Part One: The Peace and Security Council of the African Union

Background to the establishment of the PSC

PSC Protocol

Mandate of the Council

Powers and functions of the PSC

Composition of the PSC

Representation and rotation

Article 5(2) requirements for membership

Current membership of the PSC

Part Two: PSC Decision-Making Process

Agenda setting

Organization of work of the PSC

Annual indicative program of work

Monthly provisional Program of work of the PSC

Agenda of individual PSC meetings

Delisting of an item from the agenda of the PSC

Meetings of the PSC

Levels of PSC meetings

Frequency of PSC meetings

Form of PSC meetings

Format of decision-making and outcome of PSC meetings/activities

Proceedings of PSC meetings

Drafting of Outcome Documents

Consideration of and negotiations on draft outcome documents

Publication of outcome documents

Praise to the second edition of the Handbook ‘The Handbook is a critical resource that provides readers with practical information and analysis on the Council and its engagement with the broader institutional structure of the AU and other policy actors in the maintenance of peace and security in Africa.’From the Foreword to the 2021 edition of the Handbook by Ambassador Bankole Adeoye, AU Commissioner for Political Affairs, Peace and Security ‘The Handbook offers an authoritative, one-stop source of reference that provides a comprehensive analysis of the working methods, decision-making processes and policy tools of the PSC, drawing on data on the work of the PC since its operationalization in 2004.’ From the Introduction to the 2021 edition of the Handbook by Fiona Lortan, Former Acting Director, AU Department of Political Affairs, Peace and Security This Handbook goes beyond just creating awareness and generating interest on the Council. It creates an understanding on its mandate and functioning. In this connection, the Handbook serves as: • AU Institutional Memory on the origins and development of the PSC; • A support tool and guide to the functioning of the Council; • A reference book on the Council’s procedure, practice and traditions; and • A Platform to enhance its visibility. The emerging tradition of reviewing and updating the book yearly enhances its reliability and credibility as a source of information on peace and security in Africa. H.E. Ambassador Churchill Ewumbue-Monono, the Permanent Representative of the Republic of Cameroon to the AU Praise to the first edition of the Handbook ‘commendable work, which guides, not only the PSC members or the AU Member States on the working methods and the work of the PSC, but also to all African citizens, including researchers.’From the introductory remarks to the launch of the inaugural edition of the Handbook, Neema Chusi, Ag Head of PSC Secretariat‘Important source of reference, which documents the practices and traditions of the PSC, for which in the past we used to rely on words of mouth of members’ Biniam Berhe, Head of Eritrea’s Permanent Mission totheAU andUNECA‘It must be on the shelves of all African diplomats!!!’Ambassador Alain ANyamitwe, Former Minister of EXternal Relations and International Cooperation of Burundi and former member of the PSC.‘Extremely important Handbook ... by an African institution’Ambassador Osama Abdel Khalek, Permanent Representative of Egypt‘It demystifies the PSC andits work, thereby making it understandable for all...it prepares the mind of those who aspire tobe members of the PSC...commend you for this amazing tool you bequeathed not just the PSC and Africa but also the world’Ambassador Catherine Mwangi, Permanent Representative of Kenya who also wrote the Foreword to the 2020 edition of the Handbook The Handbook contributes to a ‘principled based approach to the prevention, management and resolution of conflicts’Ambassador Francisco de Cruz, Permanent Representative of Angola The African Union Peace and Security Council Handbook 2023 Guide on the Council’s Procedure, Practice and Traditions The AU Peace and Security Council Handbook 2022: Guide on the Council’s Procedure, Practice and Traditions Amani Africa Media and Research Services On the Corner of Equatorial Guinea St. and UNECA Road, Zequala Complex, 7th Floor Tel.+251118678809 Copyright © 2023 by Amani Africa Media and Research Services All rights reserved. No part of this publication maybe reproduced, distributed, or transmitted in any form or by any means without the prior written permission of the copyright holder, except in the case of brief quotations embodied in critical reviews and certain other non-commercial uses permitted by copyright law. Published by Amani Africa Media and Research Services TABLE OF CONTENTS Acknowledgments..............................................................i Foreword ...........

FAQs

What is the purpose of the African Union Peace and Security Council Handbook 2023?

It provides a practical understanding of the PSC’s mandate and functioning, including its working methods, decision-making processes, and policy tools.

How does the Handbook describe the PSC’s institutional value?

It functions as AU institutional memory on the origins and development of the PSC, and as a support tool guiding the Council’s procedures, practice, and traditions.

What content is covered under the PSC’s decision-making process in this Handbook?

It covers agenda setting, organization of work, types and frequency of PSC meetings, decision-making formats and outcomes, proceedings, drafting and negotiation of outcome documents, and publication of those documents.

Sep 18, 2026

Uploaded by Ivy