Amendment to the African Union's Right to Intervene: A Shift from Human Security to Regime Security?

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Periodical article

Title:	Amendment to the African Union's Right to Intervene: A Shift from Human Security to Regime Security?
Authors:	Baimu, Evarist Sturman, Kathryn
Year:	2003
Periodical:	African Security Review
Volume:	12
Issue:	2
Pages:	37-45
Language:	English
Geographic term:	Africa
Subjects:	African Union African organizations right of intervention Politics and Government Inter-African Relations Military, Defense and Arms
External link:	https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/abs/10.1080/10246029.2003.9627218
Abstract:	Heads of State and Government of the African Union meeting in their first extraordinary session on 3 February 2003 passed the first amendments related to the right of the AU to intervene in situations where legitimate order is under threat. This article provides a legal analysis of the broadening of Article 4(h) of the Act, the right of intervention, to prevent a 'serious threat to legitimate order'. It argues that this clause is inconsistent with the other grounds for intervention, which aim to protect African peoples from grave violations of human rights when their governments are unable or unwilling to do so. The amendment, by contrast, aims to uphold State security, rather than human security. The context in which this and other amendments were adapted from proposals by Libya in Durban 2002 is considered in terms of political implications for the African Union. Notes, ref., sum. [Journal abstract]