The G8's Africa Programme – An overview of German commitment

Security is vital to development. This fact has been widely realized in recent years. Africa wants to solve its many conflicts itself so as to guarantee security and take the continent's future into its own hands. The African Union (AU) is building an African peace and security architecture capable of tackling crises quickly and effectively. The Federal Foreign Office is providing support to this AU initiative, both as part of the G8 and EU, and on a bilateral basis.

The creation of a stable security architecture includes cooperating with the AU in building the African peacekeeping forces, reforming the security sector (supporting police work) in post-conflict countries, and addressing the causes of the conflicts through the G8's Africa Programme.

Enlarge image New radio relay station, Sudan (© FFO) The AU has already conducted peace missions on its own and will do so more frequently in the future. Here it relies on close cooperation with the United Nations (UN) and other partners.

To date, most of the missions in Africa have been led by the UN, which bears ultimate responsibility for peace and security in the world. Almost half of the 17 UN peace missions currently being conducted are in Africa, and over two-thirds of the "blue helmets" are stationed there. Germany also provides troops, police officers and civilian experts for UN peace missions in Africa, as well as making a major financial contribution by assuming around nine percent of the total costs.

The tasks entrusted to these missions by the UN have changed significantly over the years. Often, peace missions today focus not merely on military but also on civilian tasks, for example police and justice reform, election implementation and monitoring, support for economic reconstruction, the creation of rule-of-law structures and human rights protection. Experience has shown that peace consolidation is stronger and more sustainable the sooner any military peacekeeping can be accompanied by post-conflict peace-building measures.

In all these fields Germany supports efforts by the UN, the AU, regional organizations, or initiatives in the countries concerned. Existing political impetus must be used and enhanced ­ willingness by these countries to embark on reforms is vital for the success of initiatives affecting the countries' core structures.