The African Union's Counterterrorism Architecture

The Institute for Security Studies published in March 2015 a policy brief titled "Good Talk, Not Enough Action: The AU's Counter-terrorism Architecture, and Why It Matters" by Simon Allison , a senior reporter for the South African-based Daily Maverick.

The African Union has implemented a fairly progressive counterterrorism framework, pushing states to coordinate their responses in order to close loopholes and shut down potential safe havens.  Some states have been reluctant to adopt the continental policy, as shown by the poor ratification of key legal instruments and the slow adoption of the model law.  A lack of resources prevents the terrorism research center from operating at full capacity, and there is still no functioning continental court.