The Africa Governance Report Since 2001, there has been a change in the scope, scale and nature of armed conflict and violence in Africa. Large-scale wars have declined in proportion to population growth and political violence such as riots and violence against civilians has increased.40Intra-state occurrences are more prevalent than conflicts between different countries. Fewer countries are involved in inter-state conflicts now than they were 20-30 years ago. In some cases, States have declared the end of hostilities (most recently Ethiopia and Eritrea). The AU response to these changes can be seen in its approach to terrorism, which is one of the greatest security threats across Africa. Box 3: African Union Efforts in Fighting Terrorism41 The AU framework for preventing and combating terrorism is inspired by the 1992 (OAU) Resolution on the Strengthening of Cooperation and Coordination among African States [AHG/Res.213 (XXVIII)], the 1994 Declaration on the Code of Conduct for Inter-African Relations [AHG/Dec. (XXX)], the 1999 OAU Convention on the Prevention and Combating of Terrorism, the 2001 Dakar Declaration Against Terrorism and the 2002 AU Plan of Action on the Prevention and Combating of Terrorism. These texts are all intended to combat extremism and terrorism, and its manifestations in sectarianism, tribalism, ethnicity or religion. Terrorism is thus considered a criminal act. For this reason, African countries have been urged to cooperate in fighting such acts through extradition, extra-territorial investigations and mutual legal assistance. The 2002 Plan of Action adopted practical counterterrorism measures such as police and border inspections, legislative and judicial measures, information exchange, and mechanisms to stop financing of terrorism,. The implementation of the 2002 Plan of Acton led to the setting up of the African Centre for the Study of Research on Terrorism (ACSRT) in 2004. The ACSRT is an AU forum for interaction and cooperation among Member States and Regional Mechanisms. Its functions are to research and analyse terrorism and its organization, and to develop counter-terrorism capacity building programmes. The position of AU Special Representative for Counter-Terrorism Cooperation was also created in 2010.. The AU Commission developed the African Model Law on Counter Terrorism that was endorsed by the decision of the 17th Ordinary Session of the Assembly of the African Union in Malabo in July 2011 [Assembly/AU/Dec. 369(XVII)]. The purpose of the model law is to assist AU Member States in implementing continental and international counter-terrorism instruments, including the 1999 OAU Convention on the Prevention and Combating of Terrorism and its related Protocol. 5.8 Achievements in Peace, Security and Governance The African Union has, in terms of policy and practice, established overarching mechanisms to attain peace and security and strengthen democratic governance. The AU has adopted a set of instruments for promoting and safeguarding peace, security and governance. The principal ones are listed above. There is also an elaborate institutional framework for achieving the objectives of a peaceful and prosperous Africa. The principal institutions for promoting peace, security, and development are the African Peace and Security Architecture (APSA), the African Governance Architecture (AGA) and RECs The APSA addresses the continent’s peace and security agenda. It is structured around the following pillars: the AU Peace and Security Council (AUPSC), the AU Commission (AUC), the Panel of the Wise, the African Standby Force (ASF), the Continental Early Warning System (CEWS) and the Peace Fund. The AU Peace and Security Council is the standing organ for decision-making, and has as role to: 40African Union, 2018. Concept Note on the Peace and Security Council Open Session on Africa’s Peace and Security Landscape by 2023 (End of First Ten-Year Plan of the AU Agenda 2063): A Prospective Analysis of Peace and Security Challenges. 41 http://www.peaceau.org/en/page/64-counter-terrorism-ct. Page 61 of 96