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The University of Pretoria’s Centre for the Advancement of Scholarship (CAS) in South Africa; the Nordic Africa Institute (NAI) in Uppsala, Sweden; and the Konrad Adenauer Stiftung (KAS) office in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, convened a high-level policy dialogue on "Pax Africana and Africa’s Post-Cold War Security Architecture: Peacemaking, Peacekeeping, and Peacebuilding." The meeting was held on 19 and 20 May 2023 in Addis Ababa. Representatives of the African Union (AU), the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS), the Intergovernmental Authority on Development (IGAD), as well as key policymakers from the United Nations (UN)and the European Union (EU); joined by leading academics, diplomats, and civil society activists, participated in the policy dialogue. The meeting addressed the role of key domestic, regional, and external actors in strengthening Africa’s post-Cold War security architecture across the continent’s five sub-regions. This report is based largely on key discussions and policy recommendations from the policy dialogue., Published by: Centre for the Advancement of Scholarship (CAS), University of Pretoria, South Africa; The Nordic Africa Institute (NAI) in Uppsala, Sweden; and the Konrad Adenauer Stiftung (KAS) office in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia., Nordic Africa Institute's Projects on the UN Security Council and the Elected Ten

How does rapid urban growth affect risks of communal violence in cities? In rapidly growing cities, poor planning and weak institutions combined with an unregulated influx of migrants can create a potent recipe for violent mobilization. In addition, politicized identity groups often compete for resources and interact in close proximity in urban areas. Despite a growing research agenda on the relationship between rapid urban growth and urban violent unrest, findings remain inconclusive. One explanation for the disparate conclusions is that the theoretical pathways connecting urban growth and unrest largely fail to consider both the violence-generating and violence-stemming effects of urban growth. With a focus on conflict-ridden societies, we theorize processes through which urban growth influences different aspects of group relations in the city, and thereby contribute to prevent, suppress or generate communal violence. To illustrate the framework, we draw on insights from Nairobi, Kampala and Addis Ababa. By paying attention to processes, we are able to identify a range of developments associated with city growth which in turn have different implications for communal violence.

The UN Security Council is the world’s most established forum for safeguarding international peace and security. It has, however, suffered from significant deficiencies in legitimacy and effectiveness. The permanent five (P5) members control the Council’s agenda and block action on conflicts because of their own national interests and geopolitical rivalries. New research (see Graham, 2022; Olsson, Muvumba Sellström, and Chang, 2021; and for example, Bode, 2018; Pay and Postolski, 2022; and Farrall, Loisell and Prantl, 2020) suggests that the elected ten (E10) members are, however, able to project their own interests and preferences, and shape decisions from inside the Council, particularly on conflict situations and themes that affect Africa. Indeed, conflict in Africa makes up two-thirds of the Council’s workload, and 85% of UN military peacekeepers are deployed to the continent. This short article explores the recent memberships of Sweden (2017-18) and South Africa (2019-20). Elected states have played an active role in terms of promoting cross-cutting themes, including strengthening Africa’s Peace and Security Architecture (APSA) and the women, peace, and security (WPS) agenda, to varying degrees. Elected members can distinguish their short tenures on the Council by signalling their contribution to global affairs through thematic events and resolutions. By presenting South Africa and Sweden’s record of conduct on these themes, the article explores differences and similarities in E10 practice. The main contribution is an illustration of how elected states pursue a common agenda, using diverse methods of engagement. This variation is important for understanding the UNSC, since it demonstrates the Council’s pluralist nature, and the interplay of its least powerful members through policy practices of specialization and interdependence., Shattering glass: How elected members of the UN Security Council fight for women, peace and security

Au cours des dix dernières années, les pays nordiques (Danemark, Finlande, l’Islande, Norvège et Suède) ont renforcé leurs relations avec l’Afrique en soutenant l’Architecture africaine de paix et de sécurité (APSA). Ce rapport donne un aperçu de leur coopération entre 2012 et 2021 en matière de paix et de sécurité, et présente plusieurs études de cas dans ce domaine. Cette coopération peut se manifester de différentes formes : soutien aux processus de paix, renforcement des capacités et formation pour une gestion inclusive des conflits, contribution aux opérations de paix, promotion de l’égalité des sexes, adaptation au climat et amélioration de la résilience. Le document offre une réflexion sur des thèmes transversaux (femmes, paix et sécurité, jeunesse, lutte contre l’extrémisme violent et partenariat avec l’Union Africaine), et présente à la communauté politique une cartographie de la coopération entre les pays africains et nordiques afin d’aboutir à la paix et la sécurité en Afrique., Table des matières: Préface -- Résumé -- Introduction -- Première partie : Études de cas sur les pays nordiques: Le Danemark / Jakob Dreyer -- La Finlande / Prince Duah Agyei -- L'Islande / Silja Bára R. Ómarsdóttir et Guðrún Sif Friðriksdóttir -- La Norvège / Ingvild Brox Brodtkorb --La Suède / Fredrik Söderbaum et Sören Stapel -- Deuxième partie : Perspectives thématiques:Capacité de soutien à la paix en Afrique / Vasu Gounden -- Les femmes, la paix et la sécurité / Olivia Ebenstål Almeida -- La jeunesse, la paix et la sécurité / Martha Kiiza Bakwesgha -- Maintien de la paix et lutte contre l'extrémisme violent / Fiifi Edu-Afful et Kwesi Aning -- Le partenariat de l'Union africaine et le Fonds pour la paix / Hafsa Maalim -- À propos des auteurs -- Bibliographie--Traduction du titre: A shared commitment: African-Nordic peace and security cooperation : a report from the Norwegian Institute of International Affairs (NUPI) and the Nordic Africa Institute (NAI) / Cedric De Coning & Angela Muvumba Sellström (eds), 2023.

Shattering glass: How elected members of the UN Security Council fight for women, peace and security, Sweden in the UN Security Council 2017–2018: Promoting Women, Peace and Security as Core Council Business

Over the past decade, the Nordic countries – Denmark, Finland, Iceland, Norway, and Sweden – have strengthened their relationship with African states and societies by supporting the African Peace and Security Architecture and promoting African involvement in conflict prevention, mediation, peacekeeping, and peacebuilding efforts. This report offers an overview of the partnership between African and Nordic countries in peace and security from 2012 to 2021. It features original case studies on Nordic country cooperation with African actors and institutions, across an array of efforts, including support to peace processes, building capacity and training for inclusive conflict management, contributing to peace operations, and advancing gender equality, climate adaptation and resilience. It also includes perspectives on cross-cutting themes such as women, peace and security, youth, countering violent extremism, and partnership with the African Union. The report aims to be a resource for the policy community, mapping African-Nordic cooperation, in pursuit of peace and security in Africa., Contents: Preface -- Executive summary -- Introduction -- Part 1: Nordic country studies - Denmark / Jakob Dreyer -- Finland / Prince Duah Agyei -- Iceland / Silja Bára R. Ómarsdóttir and Guðrún Sif Friðriksdóttir -- Norway / Ingvild Brox Brodtkorb -- Sweden / Fredrik Söderbaum and Sören Stapel -- Part 2: Thematic perspectives -- African peace support capacity / Vasu Gounden -- Women, peace, and security / Olivia Ebenstål Almeida -- Youth, peace, and security / Martha Kiiza Bakwesgha -- Peacekeeping and countering violent extremism / Fiifi Edu-Afful and Kwesi Aning -- The African Union (AU) Partnership and the Peace Fund / Hafsa Maalim--Also available in French: Paix et sécurité: un engagement mutuel entre l'Afrique et les pays nordiques : un rapport de l'Institut norvégien des affaires internationales (NUPI) et de l'Institut nordique de l’Afrique (NAI) / Cedric De Coning & Angela Muvumba Sellström (Éd.), 2023.

The five permanent members (P5) of the UN Security Council have a lot of power – thanks largely to their right of veto, but also on account of other advantages. To curb the imbalance in power and strengthen their position, the ten elected (E10), non-permanent members should collaborate more and share their experiences – both among themselves and with the next group of E10 states waiting to replace them. One of the best means of gaining influence is to work with civil society. There are different ways of doing this, and many have shown themselves to be constructive in advancing the agenda for women, peace and security (WPS).

Nordic Africa Institute's Projects on the UN Security Council and the Elected Ten