Strengthening the African Union (AU) Counter-Terrorism Strategy in Africa : A Re-awakened order - Research

The demise of colonialism in the 1960s and 1970s in Africa was a welcomed move through which Africans regained their dignity. However, it also trigerred a series of endemic conflicts, some of which were caused by ethnicity, religious differences and the fight over boundaries. Lately, the deadliest among all these conflicts is terrorism which has ravaged the continent with no workable solution. Despite efforts by countries such as Nigeria, Mali, Kenya and Somalia, terrorist groups continue to cause havoc. This challenges the strength of the African Union (AU) and its sub-regional bodies. Against this background, the present article assesses the dynamics of terrorist groups in Africa. It also evaluates the role of the AU in counter-terrorism and the constraints inherent in the AU in combating the groups. The study concludes that the AU should be bound by its plan of action on the prevention and combating of terrorism in Africa.