ABSTRACT
This chapter discusses statebuilding within the context of post-conflict reconstruction and development in Africa. It outlines the policies and practices of, first, the African Union (AU) and then the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS), and explores how these are implemented in fields of political governance, security sector reform, economic reform, and social justice. These areas are crucial to any effective or comprehensive statebuilding process; if they are not adequately addressed, there is a risk of the country concerned reverting to conflict. Both the AU and ECOWAS can be commended for putting in place policy frameworks for promoting statebuilding in the aftermath of conflicts on the continent. The critical issue to examine is the responsiveness and effectiveness of the AU’s approach, using these four fields as our focus. We can then compare the performance of ECOWAS in the same areas.
