Publication

The African Standby Force (ASF) was originally designed to perform prompt and more effective interventions in the Continent’s post‐Cold War conflicts. Initial attempts to operationalize the force stalled in 1995 and 1997, although renewed efforts occurred in 2003, when the ASF Policy Framework set a standup date of 2010. Given the inability to meet that deadline and beyond, there are now concerns about when and whether the ASF will ever exist. This policy brief reviews the progress made thus far in creating the ASF, as well as highlighting the policy challenges that continue to compromise its development.