Operationalisation of the Abuja Treaty (1991) and the Impact of Economic Regionalism on the African Union’s Peace and Security Architecture

Ever since its institutionalisation, the African Union’s (AU) Peace and Security architecture has faced myriad operational challenges in its mandate to keep conflicts in check in Africa. Undoubtedly, chief among these challenges is the financial capacity conundrum, which has assumed the reputation of the Achilles heel of the AU’s Peace and Security counter-conflict agenda. The study interrogates the 1991 Abuja Treaty and links it to the AU’s attempt at economic and security regionalism. Therefore, for the AU’s Peace and Security architecture to attain the critical mass that triggers a positive impact on its peace and security objectives, there is an urgent need to fast-track the operationalisation of the Abuja Treaty, particularly the African Monetary Union obligation.