Panel of the Wise

Tim Murithi (Institute for Security Studies)—From the outset the architects of the African Union (AU) recognised that the institution had to establish a framework for promoting peace and security that was qualitatively different from that of its predecessor, the Organisation of African Unity (OAU).

Following the inauguration of the AU in July 2002, in Durban, South Africa, the continental body promulgated a Protocol Relating to the Establishment of the Peace and Security of the African Union, at the 1st Ordinary Session of the Assembly of Heads of State and Government. The Protocol articulated a wide-ranging framework for implementing preventive diplomacy, peacemaking, and peacekeeping, as defined by the United Nations (UN) Agenda for Peace which had been published ten years earlier in 1992.

The AU’s peace and security architecture includes a Peace and Security Council (PSC); an African Standby Force (ASF); a Military Staff Committee (MSC); a Continental Early Warning System (CEWS) and a Panel of the Wise.

According to Article 11 of the AU Protocol on Peace and Security the Panel of the Wise has the mandate ‘to support the efforts of the Peace and Security Council and those of the Chairperson of the Commission, particularly in the area of conflict prevention’ (AU Protocol 2002: Article 11.1). Specifically, the Panel of the Wise has the mandate to ‘advise the Peace and Security Council and the Chairperson of the AU Commission on all issues pertaining to the promotion, and maintenance of peace, security and stability in Africa’ (AU Protocol 2002: Article 11.3).

In addition, ‘at its own initiative, the Panel of the Wise shall undertake such action deemed appropriate to support the efforts of the Peace and Security Council and those of the Chairperson of the Commission for the prevention of conflict’ (AU Protocol 2002: Article 11.4). This endows the Panel of the Wise with the authority to facilitate and mediate potential or ongoing disputes on its own volition.

In January 2007 the AU Assembly appointed a number of distinguished African personalities to the Panel of the Wise for a period of three years. They include:
1. Salim Ahmed Salim, former Secretary-General of the Organisation of African
Unity, representing the East African region;
2. Brigalia Bam, Chairperson of the Independent Electoral Commission of South
Africa, representing the Southern Africa region;
3. Ahmed Ben Bella former President of Algeria, representing the North Africa
region;
4. Elisabeth Pognon, President of the Constitutional Court of Benin, representing
West Africa; and
5. Miguel Trovoada, former President of Sao Tomé and Principé, representing
Central Africa.

On 9 August 2007, the AU Peace and Security Council was supposed to discuss the modalities of operationalising the work of the Panel of the Wise, however this has been postponed. It is crucial that this discussion take place and that concrete steps follow. In order to be effective the Panel of the Wise needs a robust mediation support unit within the African Union Commission. It also requires significant input from qualified political officers who have experience in bilateral and multilateral negotiation settings. Without such a staff complement it will be difficult for the Panel to conduct its affairs of analysing and mapping conflicts and determining who the key parties, secondary actors and spoilers are in a given situation.

Furthermore, the Panel of Wise needs a mediation support unit which can provide it with timely analysis of the positions, underlying interests, and options available to disputing parties. It is only on this basis that the Panel will be in a position to effectively pursue preventive diplomacy and peacemaking.

The importance of ensuring political buy-in from the rest of the AU peace and security architecture as well as AU member states is absolutely vital for the efficacy of the Panel of the Wise. In the absence of system-wide coordination there is a very real danger that the activities of the Panel will be routinely undermined. In particular, a pragmatic appreciation of the nexus between preventing conflicts, making peace once conflicts have escalated, and keeping peace following agreements will determine how effective the Panel of the Wise will be.

It goes without saying that the Panel of the Wise is a welcome innovation and its work programme as far as Africa is concerned is already evident. Wisdom will indeed be required to achieve the peaceful hopes and aspirations of millions of Africans who remain affected and afflicted by the plague of violent conflict.

*Dr. Tim Murithi is a Senior Researcher at the Institute for Security Studies’ Direct
Conflict Prevention Programme in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia.

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