The Right Intervention: Enforcement Challenges for the African Union

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Periodical article

Title:	The Right Intervention: Enforcement Challenges for the African Union
Authors:	Cilliers, Jakkie Sturman, Kathryn
Year:	2002
Periodical:	African Security Review
Volume:	11
Issue:	3
Pages:	29-39
Language:	English
Geographic term:	Africa
Subjects:	African Union military intervention African organizations right of intervention Politics and Government Inter-African Relations Military, Defense and Arms
External link:	https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/abs/10.1080/10246029.2002.9627966
Abstract:	Sovereignty has often been used to protect leaders at the expense of citizens. The Constitutive Act of the African Union (AU) allows for intervention without the consent of the target state in a way that the OAU system of complete consensus never did. Ensuring that intervention is effective is as important as the decision of when and why to intervene. Sanctions, criminal prosecutions and military interventions are the broad options available to the AU. To be effective, though, the AU will need to agree on how intervention will be authorized and on mechanisms for its implementation. While the AU may have limited resources, not all action is costly. If African leaders speak out against human rights violations whenever they occur and combine this with a small, well-trained regional force, the benefits will far outweigh the costs. Notes, ref., sum. [Journal abstract]