The African Union and the Protection of Civilians

Abstract

Conflicts in Africa, and the international community’s response to those conflicts, have played a large role in shaping the legal and operational framework for civilian protection activity. The AU recognizes and supports a right to intervention to stop mass violations of international humanitarian and human rights law. The chapter provides an overview of the AU framework for the protection of civilians, based on an examination of relevant AU organs and actual regional responses. It also addresses the NATO intervention in Libya in 2011, finding that international or regional intervention for the protection of civilians would be more likely to be embraced by African States if the duties and responsibilities of intervening States were more clearly articulated. The authors conclude that the most effective measure for ensuring civilian protection on the continent would be for the AU to operationalize its unique normative framework for intervention.