Protecting civilians in African Union peace support operations: key cases and lessons learned

Since 2003, the African Union (AU) has authorised its peacekeepers to protect civilians in nearly a dozen missions. This book provides pioneering analysis, from mainly practitioners in the AU Commission, on the theory and practice of how to protect civilians in AU peace support operations. It summarises the AU’s approach to defining “protection of civilians” (PoC) and some of the successes and gaps in the implementation of civilian protection mandates in peace support operations. The book reflects on the key cases of operations in Central African Republic, Mali, Somalia and Sudan (Darfur), which illustrate the successes, ambiguities, and challenges facing the AU as it seeks to enhance its political and technical frameworks, to protect civilians through its peace support operations. In doing so, the book provides practical and critical perspectives on the importance of the AU’s emerging approach to civilian protection that can help improve understanding amongst policymakers, academics and other relevant stakeholders. It will also be useful to those working on these issues within the United Nations system and Africa’s Regional Economic Communities and Regional Mechanisms as they seek to strengthen partnerships with the AU to promote the civilian protection agenda.