USA Africa Dialogue Series - Africa : Peace and Security Council Report March 2012

Senegal is the only country in main land West Africa that has never experienced a military coup. The country known for its mature democratic system and institutions now faces a serious challenge as the opposition and civil society claim that President Abdoulaye Wade's candidacy for a third term breaches the constitution. The analysis of the presidential election in Senegal looks at possible scenarios in the post-election period, in light of the violence that preceded the recent election.

Mali is also faced with a Tuareg rebellion that has the potential to derail the presidential election scheduled for April 2012. The violence in Mali's northern territory re-surfaced following the proliferation of Libyan weapons and return of large numbers of former pro-Gaddafi combatants fleeing the aftermath of the Libyan conflict. The analysis also looks at possible ways for the African Union and regional and international actors to address the rising crisis in Mali. 

The Port Said football incident that took the lives of more than seventy Egyptians at the beginning of February 2012 added more fuel to existing tensions and violence in Egypt. The subsequent claims and counter claims about conspiracy theories and plots about the incident further exhibit the deep rooted distrust and suspicion within Egypt's political milieu. The differences of opinion that exist among the ruling generals, Egypt's de facto government, and the Islamist and secular liberal groups seeking power and change, is unlikely to be resolved soon. The analysis sheds light on recent developments in Egypt as the nation looks to the coming presidential elections and a new constitution later this year.

While the focus of many analysts was on the AU Commission elections, important elections that received less attention were the elections for membership of the powerful Peace and Security Council of the AU. The AU elected ten members of the Peace and Security Council. The spotlight page of this edition discusses the procedures and processes of the Peace and Security Council elections.

The Pan African Parliament (PAP), which ultimately aspires to become the legislative body of the African Union, held its Sixth Ordinary Session recently, coinciding with the 18^th AU Assembly. The PSC Retrospective examines the prospects concerning its transformation into a legislative body.

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