Abstract:
This article argues that the African Union (AU) approach to peacebuilding,
out of Africa’s historical experience and lessons from the United Nations
(UN), is comprehensive and holistic, but requires the existence of a
legitimate government, a functional society and domestic parties for
dialogue to begin. Without these conditions, the approach leads to extended
peace enforcement rather than peacebuilding. Yet, whatever the conditions
that prevail, peacebuilding in Africa has experienced limited success due
to the failure to fundamentally transform the inherited post-colonial
state, society and politics. The neo-colonial conditions helped to stall the
achievement of lasting peace. The African experience with peacebuilding
demonstrates a need for a more fundamental peace than is internationally
the norm – a peace paradigm that hinges on the continued decolonisation
of the African state and society in order to give rise to what may be called
a decolonial peace.
