In Hindsight: The African Union’s Peace-making Role in Cote d’Ivoire’s Post-Election Crisis (2010-2011)

Abstract

ABSTRACT Whereas the literature on the role of the African Union (AU) in the Ivorian post-election crisis has focused mainly on the use of mediation as a strategy of intervention, this paper demonstrates that the AU’s role was more than mediation, but encompassed the whole scope of peace-making, including good offices, conciliation and enquiry. The paper however posits that, the use of force to resolve the crisis was not sufficient to suggest the ineffectiveness or failure of the peace-making procedures/measures as conflict resolution mechanisms. Rather, it indicates the constraints of the AU and its capacity shaped by international political environment.