AUBP overview

For a more detailed overview, click here and visit the AUBP website.

In January 2007, the 8th Ordinary Session of the Assembly of Heads of State and Government of the African Union took a decision that encouraged the Commission to pursue efforts aimed at structural prevention of conflicts through the implementation of the African Union Border Programme (AUBP).

In June 2007, the African Ministers in charge of border issues adopted the Declaration on the African Union Border Programme and its Implementation Modalities.

AUBP Vision: A united and integrated Africa with peaceful, open and prosperous borders. 

AUBP Mission: The prevention and resolution of border-related disputes and the promotion of regional and continental integration, which constitute a tool in the structural prevention of conflicts in Africa.

 

Justification for the Establishment of the AUBP

• To address the persistence of lack of delimitation and demarcation that gives rise to ‘undefined zones’, within which the application of national sovereignty poses problems, and constitutes a real obstacle to the deepening of the integration process.

• To address cross-border criminal activities through pragmatic border management.

• To consolidate the gains made in the regional integration process, as demonstrated by the existence of the Regional Economic Communities (RECs) and of numerous large-scale cooperation initiatives.

• To facilitate the development of cross-border integration dynamics, which are sustained by local stakeholders.

 

Strategic Objectives of the AUBP

• Facilitating and supporting the delimitation and demarcation of African boundaries where such exercise has not yet taken place.

• Reinforcing the integration process, within the framework of the RECs and other large- scale cooperation initiatives.

• Developing, within the framework of the RECs and other regional integration initiatives, local cross-border cooperation.

• Building the capacities of member states in border management, as well as in border studies and research.

• Advising the Commission and other organs of the African Union on border-related matters.

 

AUBP Guidebooks

With support from the Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ), AUBP is publishing a series of guidebooks on African border management. These cover the legal, technical and political aspects of border delimitation, demarcation and cross-border cooperation.

ABORNE members will especially find the "Collection of Official Texts on African Borders from 1963 to 2012" interesting.

All books are available here in both English and French.

 

AUBP and ABORNE:

On the 23rd of April 2011 ABORNE and AUBP signed a Memorandum of Understanding to formalize their working relationship. This includes co-financing of ABORNE activities in order to enable participation by African scholars and continuous exchange on issues of scientific and policy relevance.

For further information, please contact:

Peace and Security Department
African Union Commission
P.O.
Tel:
Fax:
Email: