This handbook takes stock of the African Union’s Vision 2020 to rid the African continent of wars, civil conflicts, human rights violations, and humanitarian disasters – including violent conflicts and genocide – and provides recommendations on how to address contemporary threats to peace and security in Africa. It explores the continent’s current peace and security landscape, including new actors, emerging threats, and the prospects for achieving sustainable peace.

The concept of peace : an African perspective --Sustaining peace in Africa -- The African union agenda for sustainable peace and security -- Securing peace and security in north Africa -- Building peace, in east Africa -- Securing lasting peace in west Africa -- Peace and security in central Africa -- Sustaining peace and security in southern Africa -- Cybersecurity threats in Africa -- The proliferation of popular protests in Africa -- Countering extremism in Africa -- The future of violence in Africa -- Social media, peace and security in Africa -- Emerging epidemics and pandemics in Africa -- Protection of human and people’s rights in Africa -- The governance conundrum in Africa -- Organized crime in Africa -- Resource conflicts in Africa -- Combating piracy in African waters -- Post-electoral violence in Africa -- Illicit small arms and light weapons in Africa -- Weapons of mass destruction Africa -- Supporting the agenda for peace and security in Africa -- Addressing youth unemployment in Africa -- Increasing the role of women in peace and security in Africa -- Respecting the law of armed conflict in Africa -- Promoting peace and reconciliation in Africa -- Enhancing conflict resolution in Africa -- Preventing illicit resource outflows from Africa -- Curbing the migrant crisis in the Mediterranean sea -- Funding the African peace and security agenda -- Combating corruption in Africa.