ABSTRACT
RECs play a significant part within the African security regime complex. As regional IOs they are placed at the forefront and are often the first to feel the impact of violent conflict. However, the closeness to conflict can have inhibiting consequences and thus cooperation with external actors is rather the rule than the exception. In general, RECs face very similar challenges to the UN and AU. Resource scarcity in terms of well-trained troops and financial means are the most common obstructing factors in addition to weak political leadership and power rivalries. This section will provide a brief overview of REC security concepts and activities of Western, (ECOWAS), Southern (SADC), Eastern (IGAD/EAC) and Central Africa (ECCAS). Northern Africa has been left out only because it has not been able to craft a convincing regional institution to confront security issues. While there have been several regional organisations entrusted with security issues such as the AMU, NARC, CEN-SAD or the LAS, they have failed to craft a stable institutional environment able and willing to contribute to the APSA or establish a regional security structure. The Arab Spring in 2011 aggravated the situation and at the moment there is no clear direction visible to which Northern Africa is moving.
