African Union and The Resolution of Malian Conflict, 2012-2022

This study investigated the efforts of African Union towards conflict resolution in Mali between 2012 and 2022. The Malian conflict is a very complex issue with multiple contributing factors such as historical tension and fall-out of crisis of governance between the government and the northern Mali (Taureg Separatist group) demanding for a stake in the government, because the region felt marginalized. The study is grounded in the collective security theory, which emphasizes the collective efforts of the African Union in joining hands together to fight an aggressor (terrorists) within African continent. The study adopted qualitative descriptive analysis of the data collected from secondary sources. Findings revealed that lack of adequate resources like funds, manpower and equipment was a major impediment in the resolution of the conflict. Towards addressing the problems, the study recommended that African Union and the agencies of African Union mandated for resolution of Malian conflict and that of others needs to have their missions spelt out and jurisdiction sorted out, this will help each organizations to know and plan how to effectively and efficiently implement their policies so as to be effective and efficient in achieving their goals; finally African Union must find viable sources of funding for its operation. Without such resources, the policies are just plans on paper