ABSTRACT
The transformation of the Organization of African Unity (OAU) into the African Union (AU) generated the expectation that Africa's premier international institution would have the strength and capacity to deal with the peace and security challenges facing the continent. This chapter discusses some of the inner institutional dynamics, workings, and processes of the Peace and Security Council (PSC) and its emerging working culture. It seeks to develop and provide a far enhanced knowledge of who the key decision-makers are and how such decisions are made. The chapter explores the manner in which the PSC has applied its principles, norms, values, powers, and functioning modalities to explain its decision-making processes during real-time conflicts. The Regional Economic Communities (RECs) are seen as the pillars of the African peace and security architecture (APSA). Although the RECs are not part of the PSCs conflict management process, it however relies heavily on the initial actions undertaken by the RECs.
