I read with great interest the article: AU: From non-interference to non-indifference (NA, March). Despite Prof Alpha Konare's championing a new policy, it has to be said that the record of the African Union so far indicates that it has hardly lived up to its potential in the field of peace, security

From its inception, the AU had a chance to show its effectiveness but failed, with the collapse of Cote d'Ivoire into civil war. Instead, the AU pusillanimously gave its blessing to that arch neo-colonialist, President Jacques Chirac of France to broker the Marcoussis so-called peace accord which have never worked as it was imposed from outside.

After that, the AU also failed to do anything about the military takeover of the government of President Patasse in the Central African Republic by General Bozize. All the AU did was to issue mealy-mouthed words of condemnation. Didn't the AU say it would not tolerate anymore military coups in Africa?

Again, in 2003, the AU did nothing about the shameful overthrow of a constitutional government by force in Sao Tome e Principe. It was Nigeria and Ecowas that acted effectively. The AU has also failed to halt the genocide in Darfur. The only positive note is in Burundi where the AU has successfully implemented a peace deal.

The AU urgently needs a strong well-resourced African Defence Force to play an active part in maintaining peace and security in Africa.

The AU has to be prepared to invoke Paragraph 11 of Article 4 of the Constitutive Act and intervene in African states where genocide and other serious violations are going on.

As long as African leaders choose not to form a strong well-equipped Africa Defence Force, but choose instead to rely on old colonialist powers to intervene in their conflicts, then they can't complain of Western interference in Africa. Let's have peace and security in Africa.

Trevor Johns

Bromley, England

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