“Protocol” means the Protocol Relating to the Establishment of the Peace and Security Council of the African Union; t) “Regional Mechanism” means African Regional Mechanisms for Conflict Prevention, Management and Resolution; “State Party” means acceded to this Pact; a Member State that has ratified or "Terrorist Acts’ means those acts or offences defined in the OAU Convention on the Prevention and Combating of Terrorism; “Threat of Aggression” means any harmful conduct or statement by a State, group of States, organization of States, or non-State actor(s) which though falling short of a declaration of war, might lead to an act of aggression as defined above; "Trans-national structured group period of time committing one national in scope, international law, Against Organized Criminal Group" means a of three or more persons, existing for a and acting in concert with the aim of or more serious crimes which are transor offences established in accordance with including the United Nations Convention Trans-national Organized Crime and thereto, the purpose being which to obtain, indirectly financial and other material benefits; y) “Union” means its Protocols directly or the African Union; OBJECTIVES Article 2 The objectives of this Pact are: (i) (ii) to promote cooperation among the Member States in the areas of non-aggression and common defence, to promote peaceful co-existence in Africa,