Amani Africa, a pan-African think tank, and the ICRC Delegation to the AU launched a special research report on December 12, 2022, at the Hyatt Regency Hotel in Addis Abeba with the goal of examining the progress made by the AU in integrating and implementing IHL principles and values into the various legal instruments, decisions, policies, and activities of the AU’s constituent organs.
In its efforts to incorporate and apply IHL into its policies and practices, AU has encountered both successes and setbacks, which are discussed in the research report. Additionally, it urges member states to strengthen IHL domestication through necessary legislative actions.
It pushes for the inclusion of fundamental IHL lessons in educational curricula and recognizes the significance of political support for the implementation of the AU IHL compliance framework. The study emphasizes the necessity of improving coordination between the AU and the UN to bring coherence to compliance mechanisms and urges cooperation with Regional Economic Communities (RECs)/Regional Mechanisms (RMs) through training and awareness-raising campaigns on upholding IHL.
It also makes the case that policies and operational guidelines should be combined into a comprehensive AU document on IHL compliance.
“The launch of this handbook is significant as it coincides with the 30th anniversary of the African Union and ICRC partnership where ICRC has been working in integrating IHL in AU policy frameworks by providing legal support, influencing policy and by levying on various decisions over the years,” said Bruce Mokaya Orina, Head of Delegation of the ICRC Delegation to the African Union in his opening remark. Furthermore, the Founding Director of Amani Africa, Dr. Solomon Dersso, emphasized how current conflict situations and dynamics have made IHL even more pertinent than ever. He went on to explain how IHL serves as the very last defense of common humanity where everything else fails in conflicts.
Mr. Zinurine Alghali, the acting head of the AU Peace Support Operation Division, spoke on behalf of the African Union and described the steps the organization has taken to integrate IHL over the years, starting with its first mission to Burundi and continuing with the creation of the AU compliance framework, among other things. He also acknowledged that the AU and its member States must constantly integrate IHL.
In the presence of distinguished members of the Peace and Security Council, representatives from the Political Affairs, Peace and Security Department, and other important organs, Member States, RECs, academic communities, and the larger diplomatic community, the launching event was successfully held.