Preventing conflict and preventing atrocities do not require the same approach. Nonetheless, as the UN’s Framework of Analysis for Atrocity Crimes highlights, atrocities usually take place in the context of armed conflict. Preventing conflict can therefore contribute to the prevention of atrocities.
The African Union (AU) has made conflict prevention its priority and has established multiple tools to this end. Their effectiveness remains however limited in many cases. A new publication by the Institute for Security Studies evaluates the AU’s conflict prevention instruments and makes recommendations on how to improve them.
