“The institution of a standing African force tasked with a peacekeeping responsibility, however, should be assessed in a sober and dispassionate manner and is, for political and practical reasons, more a medium to long term matter than it is an immediate kneejerk solution. Few African countries would dispute the necessity of such a response capability which, as part of a broader series of political and diplomatic initiatives on the continent, could play an important role both in peacekeeping and humanitarian operations in the long term. They would, however, contest some of the central assumptions and principles underpinning the US proposal. It is these principles and assumptions that need to be queried if, as is to be expected, the US will continue to vigorously champion the concept of an ACRF in the future.”
