Africa's Engagement with the Responsibility to Protect in the 21st Century (Africa's Global Engagement: Perspectives from Emerging Countries)

This book sheds light on the practice, challenges, and prospects of the Responsibility to Protect (RtoP) amidst wide contestation, backlash, operational challenges, and expectation gaps associated with the theory and practice of the RtoP. Diverging from existing works, it provides a renewed perspective and alternatives for future deployment of the RtoP and critical insights to the readers on how issues such as support, consolidation, and institutionalization within the broader context of regional dynamics of the RtoP can be best achieved in Africa. The book will be of particular interest to diplomats, international relations experts, scholars, RtoP advocates, the United Nations, and the African Union. Nicholas Idris Erameh has a Bachelor of Science (BSc), a Master of Science (MSc), and a Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) in Political Science with a Specialization in International Relations from the Department of Political Science, University of Ibadan. Erameh's research interests cut across the areas of Human Security, Armed Conflict, Human Rights, Ecological Security, Holocaust and Genocide Studies, Peacekeeping, Refugee and Migration, Humanitarian Intervention and the Responsibility to Protect (RtoP). Erameh is currently a senior research fellow at the Nigerian Institute of International Affairs (NIIA) and a post-doctoral fellow at the Department of Political Studies and International Relations, North-West University, South Africa. Before joining NIIA, he taught at the Department of Political Science and International Relations, Chrisland University, Abeokuta, Ogun State. Erameh is a recipient of several grants, awards, and scholarship prizes. Prof Victor Ojakorotu is the Deputy Director, School of Government Studies, Mafikeng at North West University, Mafikeng, South Africa. His research interests are African Politics, Nigeria, Conflict and Peace, Environmental Politics and Security. He is widely published in internationally accredited academic journals on the vexing subject of the Niger Delta. Some of books he has published on the Niger Delta are Contending Issues in the Niger Delta of Nigeria, Fresh Dimensions on the Niger Delta Crisis of Nigeria, Checkmating the Resurgence of Oil Violence in the Niger Delta of Nigeria and Anatomy of the Niger Delta Crisis: Causes, Consequences and Opportunities for Peace Contents Notes on Contributors Abbreviations List of Tables Philosophical, Theoretical and Historical Overview of The Responsibility to Protect Africa’s Engagement with the Responsibility to Protect in the Twenty-First Century Introduction References Responsibility-to-Protect and a Tri-dimensional Methodology: Exploring the Epistemic-Morality of an Interventionist Principle Introduction and the Problem Statement The Conceptual Framework and Analysis The Principle of the Responsibility-to-Protect (RtoP) at the International Level: A Brevity of the Evolution Some Arguments For and Against the RtoP Principle in Contemporary Period Against For A Tri-dimensional Methodology of Evaluation, the R2P Principle, and Justification Summary and Conclusion References From Peacekeeping to Responsibility to Protect: Unpacking the Genealogy and History of the RtoP Doctrine in the International Humanitarian System Introduction Peacekeeping: Unpacking Its Origin, Development and Contexts Conceptualizing Peacekeeping Origins and Development of Peacekeeping The Contexts of Peacekeeping Responsibility to Protect (RtoP) Doctrine: Origin and Contending Views What Is the Responsibility to Protect (RtoP)? Origin and Evolution of the Responsibility to Protect (R2P) Pillars of the R2P Doctrine The First Pillar The Second Pillar The Third Pillar From Peacekeeping to Responsibility to Protect (RtoP): A Metamorphosis of Mandate? A Prognosis on the RtoP and the Rise of Responsibility While Protecting (RwP) Conclusion References Theory and Pratice of The Responsibility to Protect in Africa Responsibility to Protect in Libya or Regime Change? What We Have Learned? Introduction Background to NATO Invasion of Libya The Principle of Just Cause and Libyan Intervention The Responsibility to Protect (RtoP) Implementation in Libya, How Far Did NATO Prevent, React, and Rebuilt Libya? Conclusion References Horizontal Inequality and Violence in Cote d’Ivoire: The Complexity of the Responsibility to Protect (RtoP) Doctrine Introduction Build-up to Armed Violence in Côte d’Ivoire Application of the Principle of Responsibility to Protect (RtoP) in Côte d’Ivoire References On Responsibility for the Security of Others: An Ethnographic Case Study of Civilian Joint Task Force Insurgent Peace in Borno State, North-Eastern Region of Nigeria Introduction Insurgent Peace and the Responsibility to Protect Local Security and Insurgent Peace The CJTF’s Responsibility to Protect Versus Local Security The Introduction of the Responsibility to Protect The Direction of the CJTF Local Security Local Security and the Responsibility to Protect: An Unstable Calm? Standpoints from Fieldwork in Borno State Ideological Misperceptions The Conflation of Local Security Mechanisms and the Responsibility to Protect The Local Politics of the Responsibility to Protect Implications of the Responsibility to Protect Mandate for the CJTF’s Insurgent Peace Plan and Local Security Conclusion References Conflict-Proofing Civilian Protection Rules in the Sahel: The Challenge of the Responsibility to Protect Introduction The Right to Protect Civilians in Non-international Armed Conflicts Obligations Not to Direct Attacks Against Civilians Prohibition of Indiscriminate Attacks Prohibition of Attacks on Non-military Objects Prohibitions Relating to Human Rights in Armed Conflict Prohibition of Serious Human Rights Violations Prohibition of Acts of Sexual Violence The Ineffectiveness of Local Prevention and Protection Approaches Insufficient Civilian Means of Prevention Inadequate Protection Responses Conclusion References The Anglophone Cameroon Conflict and the Responsibility to Protect Introduction Perspectives on Anglophone Cameroon Crisis: A Literature Review The Genesis of the Anglophone Cameroon Crisis: A Historical Background The Anglophone Cameroon Crisis The Situation in Anglophone Cameroon and the RtoP: Making a Case for the RtoP Challenges to the RtoP in Anglophone Cameroon: Reasons for Failure Conclusion References The Responsibility to Protect and International Community Response to the Boko Haram Insurgency in Nigeria Introduction Conceptual Clarification & Theoretical Discourse The Ethology of International Community Response to the Boko Haram Insurgency in Nigeria. Conclusion References From Regionalization of Peacekeeping to the Responsibility to Protect (RtoP) in Africa: The Gambia Experience Introduction Review of Related Literature Gambia's 2016 Election Crisis: A Brief Overview The Post-Election Crisis in the Gambia and Regional Efforts to Maintain Peace ECOWAS's Military Intervention, the People’s Reaction and Its Implications Conclusion & Recommendation References The Responsibility to Protect in American Foreign Policy Towards Africa Introduction Literature Review on U.S. Foreign Policy Towards Africa Responsibility to Protect and the Making of U.S. Foreign Policy in Africa Temporary Protected Status to Cameroon Nationals Military Intervention in Libya’s Arab Spring The Strategic Relevance of the U.S. Africa Command Concluding thoughts References Emerging and Contending Issues from The Pratice of The Responsibility to Protect in Africa The African Union, Responsibility to Protect and the Mantra of African Solutions to Africa Problems Introduction The Responsibility to Protect The Mantra of African Solutions to African Problems AU and R2P in Africa AU and the Operationalization of African Solutions to African Problems Problems Associated with AU Operationalization of African Solutions to African Problems Conclusion References Implementing the Responsibility to Protect (RtoP): Coordinating Approaches Between the United Nations Security Council and the International Criminal Court Introduction Unpacking the Atrocity Crimes Underpinning the RtoP Unpacking the UNSC Mandate Unpacking the ICC Mandate Linkages Between the UNSC and ICC Problems Underpinning the UNSC-ICC Relationship African Contestation of the ICC Moving Forward Conclusion References Peace Enforcement in the Face of International Military Intervention Introduction Definition of Terms Theoretical Underpinnings The Conflict Triangle Liberal Democratic Peace and Peacekeeping Operations Has International Military Interventions Ever Worked? International Military Interventions: Making Case for Communal Resilience and Empowerment Agenda Communal Resilience Empowerment Agenda Final Reflections References The Media, Armed Conflict, and the Responsibility to Protect Background to the Study News Reportage of Conflicts in Nigeria Social Responsibility of the Media vs. Responsibility to Protect Methodology Journalists’ Views of the Responsibility to Protect and Importance of the Concept to the Vulnerable Journalists’ Strategies of Reporting to Achieve Responsibility to Protect in Conflicts Challenges Faced by Journalists in Reporting Conflicts Conclusion and Recommendations Personal Interviews References The Legal Discourse on the Responsibility to Protect (R2P) in Africa Introduction International Law and the Fundamental International Norms Impacting the R2P Sovereign Equality of States Sovereignty and Non-Intervention Prohibition of the Threat of or Use of Force The R2P and Africa: An Overview The African Union (AU), Regional Economic Communities (RECs), and the Legal Questions of R2P in Africa State Sovereignty and R2P in Africa Intervention, Treaty-based Multilateral Actions, and R2P in Africa The Principle of Subsidiarity and R2P in Africa The Scope, Nature of Intervention, and R2P in Africa Conclusion References The Responsibility to Protect (RtoP) and the Avoidance of Responsibility: Ending Atrocity Crimes in Northern Nigeria Introduction Overview of the Responsibility to Protect RtoP Overview of Atrocity Crimes: Types and What They Are Genocide War Crimes Crimes Against Humanity Ethnic Cleansing Mass Killing Overview of Human Right Violations and Atrocity Crimes in Nigeria Boko Haram’s Actions in Nigeria’s North-East Bandits/Fulani Militants’ Activities in the North central and Northwest Regions Atrocity Crimes, the International Community and Non-Authorisation of RtoP in Nigeria First Argument: RtoP and Controversies of Norm Status Second Argument: RtoP as Smokescreen for Advancing Western Interests Third Argument: RtoP, Divisive Intervention Outcomes The International Community and Non-Authorisation of RtoP in Nigeria References Environmental Challenges, Climate Change and the Responsibility to Protect (RtoP) in Africa Introduction Background to Environmental Challenges and Climate Change in Africa The Concept of Environmental Responsibility to Protect (RtoP) Role of African Regional Organisations in Integrating RtoP Principles into Environmental Policies and Strategies—A Case Study of African Union Agenda 2063 Global Environmental Governance Frameworks, Synergies with RtoP and Limitations Conclusion Recommendations References Institutionalzation, Consolidation and Prospects of The Responsibility to Protect in Africa From the Sustainable Development Goal 16 to the African Union Silencing the Guns Agenda: Why It Is So Difficult to Achieve Sustainable Peace and Stability in Africa? Introduction Armed Conflicts in African States and Peacebuilding Efforts The [Neo]Colonialism as the Main Root and Sustenance of Conflict in Africa Sustainable Development Goal 16 and Its Achievability in Africa The African Union Silencing the Gun Agenda and the Contentious Proliferation of Small Arms in the African States Emerging Challenges Conclusion and Way Forward References Can the Responsibility to Protect Doctrine Act as Deterrence Against Mass Atrocity and Human Rights Infringement in Africa? Introduction From the Universal Declaration of Human Rights to the Responsibility to Protect: Theoretical Consideration Has the Responsibility to Protect Being Able to Act as a Deterrent to Human Rights Violations in Africa? South Sudan Discussing the RtoP Challenges to Enforcing Human Rights in Africa Summary and Conclusion References The Responsibility to Protect (RtoP): Norm Institutionalisation, Issues and Challenges Background R2P: What It Wants to, Can Do, Should Do R2P: Concerns for Abuse and Misuse R2P: Divisive and Controversial Operational Outcomes Conclusion References Responsibility to Protect: From Contestation to Internationalization Introduction A Critical Analysis of the Theory and Practice of RtoP in Africa Conclusion and Recommendation References