The African Capacity for Immediate Response (AICRC) to Crisis is adopted

Addis Ababa, 27 May 2013 – The Heads of State and Government of the African Union today took a decision of historic nature and scope when they adopted the African immediate Crisis response Capacity (AICRC). This decision was informed by the overwhelming dependence of the Union on funds provided by partners and which affects the implementation of African solutions to African problems. For instance, 100% of African Union (AU) Mission to Somalia (AMISOM) is funded by partners. It represents an annual budget of 500 million USD. In the same vein, African leaders agreed in the case of the armed rebellion in Mali that Africa could have moved faster and made the French intervention dispensable if it had the appropriate tools and mechanisms. As Africa celebrates the 50th anniversary of the founding of the Organisation of African Unity and of the African Union, leaders of the continent felt it unfortunate that after 50 years of independence, African security is so dependant of foreign partners.

This statement was made by Ambassador Lamamra Ramtane, AU Commissioner for Peace and Security at a press conference held after the conclusion of the 21st AU Summit.

The AICRC “is to provide Africa with a strictly military capacity with high reactivity to respond swiftly to emergency situations upon political, decisions to intervene in conflict situations within the continent. The aim is to establish an efficient, robust and credible force, which can be deployed very rapidly, able to conduct operations of limited duration and objectives or contribute to creating enabling conditions for the deployment of larger AU and/or UN peace operations” says the report of the Chairperson of the AU Commission. It is an interim tool as the African Standby force (ASF) is meant to be operational by 2015.

On a voluntary basis, Member States of the African Union will contribute troops and finance the capacity so as to act independently. So far, South Africa, Uganda and Ethiopia have pledged to implement the decision on the establishment of the capacity. Command and control will be ensured by the AU Peace and Security Council upon request of a Member State for intervention.

During the press conference, Commissioner Lamamra also briefed the journalists on the state of peace and security on the continent. During the 21st AU Summit, Heads of State and Government reviewed the state of peace and security on the continent and the steps needed to hasten the attainment of the objective of a conflict-free Africa.

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