Eastern Africa Region And Conflict Management: Case of Eastern Africa Standby Force

The Eastern Africa Region (EAR) has remained as one of the most conflicted zones in Africa drawing the attention to emergence of new experiments in managing conflicts. This has led to formation of African Union (AU) with specialized organ of African Standby Force (ASF) to untangle complex interstate and intrastate conflicts. Regional Security Organizations (RSO) are established under the auspices of ASF such as Eastern Africa Standby Force (EASF) for interventions to conflict ravaging states within the region. Despite various efforts to contain conflicts within the EAR, the region is compounded by violent conflicts, terrorism and threats towards peace and security. Ostensibly, the efforts of EASF in managing conflicts within the EAR has remained futile due to under representation in conflict interventions within the region. The objective of the study was to examine the rationale for the establishment of EASF as a regional organization (RO) in conflict management within the EAR. The study adopted neo-liberal institutionalism theory to underpin the rationale for establishment of security organizations by states. This study used both primary data from the interview guides, questionnaires and secondary data from document analysis, reports, MoUs, library books among others. The qualitative data is thematically organized to answer the research objective. The findings of this research established that EASF was founded under the authorization of the UNSC to address regional conflicts within the Eastern African region. Also, EASF has a legal framework as an international organization through international legal personality and immunities, and privileges. The study recommends that member states should have more cohesion for effective EASF operationalization.