This normative shift increased when the founding protocol of the Peace and Security Council (PSC) of the AU came into effect December 26, 2003.FES: "The African Peace and Security Architecture. A Handbook", P.17 The protocol defines a broad agenda for peace and security, including central elements such as conflict prevention, early warning, preventive diplomacy, conflict management, peacemaking and peacebuilding as well as support for and development of democratic policies, humanitarian actions and conflict management.FES: "The African Peace and Security Architecture. A Handbook", P.17 Consequently, the PSC founding protocol can be seen as the basis for the APSA.
