By Evelyne Asaala & Dire Tladi
Abstract
This article seeks to provide an assessment of the relational mandate of the UN and the AU in maintaining international peace and security. The analysis undertaken in this article is based on an assessment of the respective instruments of both organizations, doctrine and practice of the organisations. In particular, the article assesses the potential for both competitive and cooperative division of labour between the AU and UN. Our article is divided into four sections. After this introduction, the second section defines the respective mandate of the UN and the AU in maintaining international peace and security as outlined in their instruments. The third section identifies areas of potential conflict and also establishes the cooperation framework between the two institutions. Central to the purpose of this section is the identification of the scope and extent to which the two institutions corporate with each other in the exercise of their mandate. Finally, we offer some concluding remarks.