To ensure maximum synergy, effectiveness and transparency, NATO's assistance is aligned and coordinated closely with other international organizations – principally the United Nations and the European Union – as well as with bilateral partners.
Through its assistance, the Alliance has developed a "very positive and promising" level of cooperation with the African Union, according to AU Commissioner for Peace and Security Said Djinnit, on a visit to NATO HQ, March 2007. In view of the repeated AU requests for NATO assistance, the AU seems keen to build on and expand this collaboration.
Providing support for missions and capacity-building
NATO’s support to the African Union started in 2005 with assistance to the AU Mission in Sudan (AMIS). This was the Alliance’s first mission on the African continent and as such represents a landmark decision by the North Atlantic Council. Since then, NATO has committed to support other AU missions and objectives.
Assisting the AU in Somalia
NATO has accepted to assist the African Union (AU) mission in Somalia (AMISOM) by providing airlift support to AU member states willing to deploy in Somalia under AMISOM.
NATO has put into practice airlift support from Burundi to Mogadishu and has escorted an AU ship that carried Burundi military equipment for one of the battalions that it had airlifted into Mogadishu.
NATO also provides two subject matter experts for the AU Strategic Planning and Management Unit (SPMU) that supports AMISOM. They are based in Addis Ababa and are assigned to these positions for a period of six months renewable (23 June-December 2008; January-July 2009; July-December 2009). The two experts currently deployed are specialized in maritime planning, and financial planning and monitoring. Previously, NATO supplied an expert in the area of air movement coordination and another in military manpower management.
In addition, NATO has agreed to assist the AU in its contingency planning effort for AMISON by deploying an expert for three weeks. This planning has not yet begun.
Contributing to the establishment of an African stabilization force
NATO has responded positively to an AU request for support with a study, which has yet to commence, on the evaluation and assessment of the operational readiness of the African Standby Force (ASF) brigades.
This continental force, which is intended to be deployed in Africa in times of crisis, is part of the AU’s efforts to develop long-term peacekeeping capabilities. The ASF could be seen as an African contribution to wider international efforts to preserve peace and security.
Assisting the AU in Darfur, Sudan
The African Union Mission in Sudan (AMIS) aimed to end violence and improve the humanitarian situation in a region that has been suffering from conflict since 2003.
From June 2005 to 31 December 2007, NATO helped the AU expand its peacekeeping mission in Darfur by providing airlift for the transport of additional peacekeepers into the region and by training AU personnel. NATO support did not imply the provision of combat troops.
Alliance support ended on 31 December 2007 when AMIS was transferred to the United Nations/African Union Mission in Darfur (UNAMID). The Alliance expressed its readiness to consider providing support to the new UN-AU hybrid peacekeeping force made up of peacekeepers and civilian police officers, if requested.
The evolution of NATO’s support to the AU
In June 2005 and at the request of the African Union, NATO began assisting the AU in its mission in the Sudanese province of Darfur. NATO assistance was terminated on 31 December 2007 when AMIS was completed. NATO has offered its support to the UN-AU hybrid mission in Darfur (UNAMID), which succeeded AMIS on 1 January 2008.
In March 2007, during a visit to NATO Headquarters, AU Commissioner for Peace and Security, Said Djinnit, evoked expansion of NATO-AU cooperation into new areas, including possible long-term capacity-building support by the Alliance to the AU.
In June 2007, NATO agreed in principle to provide support to the African Union Mission in Somalia (AMISOM). This agreement on providing airlift support has been extended several times and, so far, until 31 January 2010.
On 5 September 2007, as part of NATO’s capacity-building support to the AU, the North Atlantic Council – NATO’s top political decision making body - agreed to provide assistance to the African Union with a study on the assessment of the operational readiness of the African Standby Force (ASF) brigades. NATO received a Note Verbale from the AU on 13 December 2007 on continued NATO support to the ASF. Furthermore, in response to an AU request, NATO is sponsoring the participation of AU staff officers in relevant courses run at the NATO School in Oberammergau, Germany.
Consultations between African Union and NATO staff will identify further areas for Alliance assistance to the ASF.
The bodies involved in decision-making and implementation
Based on advice from NATO’s military authorities, the North Atlantic Council is the body that agrees to provide support to the African Union.
More specifically, with regard to NATO’s support to the AU mission in Sudan (AMIS), the Joint Command Lisbon – under the overall command of Allied Command Operations - had the responsibility for the NATO Senior Military Liaison Officer (SMLO) team operating out of Addis Ababa.
The SMLO team was NATO's single military point of contact in Addis Ababa with the African Union. In addition, it was the NATO military point of contact with the representatives of the countries contributing troops to the AMIS operation, the representatives of the donor nations pledging support to the African Union, the United Nations, the European Union and various embassies.