AFRICAN STANDBY FORCE: PROSPECTS FOR REGIONAL SECURITY
CHAPTER ONE
INTRODUCTION
1.1  BACKGROUND ………………………………………………… 1-9
1.2  STATEMENT OF THE PROBLEM……………………………       9-12
1.3  OBJECTIVES OF THE STUDY……………………………… 12-13
1.4  RESEARCH HYPOTHESIS………………………………….. 13-17
1.5  SIGNIFICANCE OF THE STUDY……………………………… 14
1.6  SCOPE OF THE STUDY…………………………………………. 15
1.7  RESEARCH METHODOLOGY………………………………….. 15
1.8  LIMITATIONS OF THE STUDY………………………….….   17
1.9   ASSUMPTIONS…………………………………………………….…        17
1.10  CONCEPTUAL DEFINITIONS……………………………………        18-27
REFERENCES………………………………………………………………….         28-32
CHAPTER TWO
LITERATURE REVIEW
2.1  CONFLICT AND CONFLICT MANAGEMENT……………………   33-35
2.2  COLLECTIVE AND REGIONAL SECURITY………………………… 36-38
2.3  STANDBY FORCES AND THE AFRICAN STANDBY FORCE… 38-42
2.4  SUMMARY………………………………………………………………….. 42-43
REFERENCES……………………………………………………………………… 44-47
CHAPTER THREE
SECURITY CHALLENGES FACING THE AFRICAN UNION
3.1  RESPONDENT PROFILE……………..…………………………………. 48-51
3.2  SECURITY CHALLENGES CONFRONTING THE AFRICAN UNION………………………………………………………………………………..   51-57
3.3  HOW THE ASF CAN HELP COMBAT SECURITY                  CHALLENGES FACING THE AFRICAN UNION…………………….    57-58
3.4  PROGRESS MADE SO FAR IN ESTABLISHING THE                 AFRICAN STANDBY FORCE………………………….……………………….  58-65
3.5  DATA ANALYSIS AND FINDINGS……………….……….…………       66-73
CHAPTER FOUR
AFRICAN STANDBY FORCE: THE WAY FORWARD
4.1  ADMINISTRATIVE AND LOGISTICS FACTORS………….……. 74-79
4.2  OPERATIONAL FACTORS……………………………………………..      79-80
SUMMARY……………………….…………………………………………………     81
REFERENCES…………………………………………………..…………………     82-83
CHAPTER FIVE
CONCLUSION AND RECOMMENDATIONS
5.1  CONCLUSION…………………………………………………………….       84-85
5.2  RECOMMENDATIONS…………………………………………………       86-87
BIBLIOGRAPHY…………………………………………………………………       88-95
APPENDIX I………………………………………………………………………..    96-97
APPENDIX II…………………………………………….…………………………    98-100
APPENDIX III………………………………………………………………………    101-103
APPENDIX IV…………………………………………….……………………..…. 104
                                        ABSTRACT
1.   This research was carried out to analyse the concept of the African Standby Force (ASF) and its prospects for regional security on the African continent. Series of conflicts in Africa and their attendant problems have killed millions, destroyed property and hindered Africa’s growth. If African countries are to achieve any meaningful development, they must be relatively crises free. However, responsibility for security in Africa is devolving to African states and sub-regional organizations.
2.   Several conflicts on the continent have shown that the UN and the developed countries are slow to react to conflicts in Africa, especially where their national interests are not affected. Thus Africa can no longer fold its arms and watch from the sidelines while conflicts continue to ravage the continent. Moreover, Africa is the major loser from such conflicts. The need to find an African solution to African problems thus gave birth to the ASF.
3. The ASF is a system whereby troops are kept ready for rapid deployment to conflict areas. The establishment of the ASF reaffirmed the determination and commitment of African leaders to handle African problems themselves. The very existence of the ASF and the knowledge that it would be effectively used would serve as deterrence to would-be trouble makers across the continent. Furthermore, the ASF would greatly reduce the response time for international intervention in conflict situations. This is necessary to ‘nip conflicts in the bud’ and prevent further bloodshed and suffering.
4.   The descriptive research method was used for the study. The study examines the security challenges confronting the AU and how the ASF can help combat these challenges. The study also examines the progress so far made in establishing the ASF and strategies to fully operationalise the ASF.
