Date of Award

5-31-2022

Document Type

Open Access Thesis

Degree Name

Master of Arts (MA)

Department

Conflict Resolution

First Advisor

Rita Kiki Edozie

Second Advisor

Karen Ross

Third Advisor

Darren Kew

Abstract

Intrastate conflicts, many of which are caused by almost similar factors continue to wreak havoc across Africa. These conflict demand decisive action by the African Union (AU), the intergovernmental organization that presides over peace and security on the continent. The AU has by its own declaration, adopted the principle of non-indifference, taking upon itself to intervene through various means mostly diplomatic, into the internal affairs of member states who have failed or struggle to ensure domestic stability. The rationale for resorting to the use of diplomacy rather than military intervention is, the security complex and implementation of AU structures differ from one conflict to the other. Thus, reason why it adopts a context-specific approach in conflict prevention, management and resolution in each situation.

The determination to reduce conflicts that wreck the region have always been judged as being insufficient at times, ignoring the complexity of the situation on the ground. In order therefore to understand this claim, this study assesses the AU’s involvement in the Anglophone Crisis in the Republic of Cameroon. The discourse shall be stimulated by the central question: How effective is the African Union’s towards managing the Anglophone Crisis in the Republic of Cameroon? In order to answer this, an extensive literature survey is employed to present the AU regional security complex in relation to its efforts towards managing the conflict.

Moreover, the study empirically reconstructs the historical development and background of the conflict, explores the conflict management journey, and subsequently assesses the areas, modalities and challenges that still render its resolution far-fetched from a point of view of AU response efforts. Based on the findings, the research presents in a final close on the AU’s strengths and weaknesses, and recommendations for improvement of its institutional ability to attain set goals.

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