Humanitarian Intervention in African Conflicts in the Post Cold War Fra: a Critical Study of the Democratic Republic of Congo Conflict (1998 - 2005)

Abstract

This study examines the increasingly controversial doctrine of humanitarian intervention. It opens by exploring the historical origins of the doctrine, its justification and examines the current position of international law and international relations on the matter. The study then considers the use of humanitarian intervention as a tool for conflict management. Anchoring on the DR Congo conflict, the study examines several humanitarian intervention efforts in this conflict and seeks to understand why despite the beehive of intervention activities, the conflict has continued to ravage DR Congo. In this regard the study examines the tense ethnic relationship particularly between the Hutu and Tutsi in the Great Lakes region and how this relationship impacts on the conflict. The study further examines the role played by illegal exploitation of Congolese minerals and regional rivalry in the continuance and escalation of the conflict. Focusing on humanitarian intervention, the study puts forward an argument that humanitarian intervention is in dire need of redefinition to move it away from its traditional association with use of force and elevate it to include a continuum of activities aimed at bringing to an end gross humanitarian crises. In the context of 9 Africa, reform of humanitarian intervention approach is critical as the continent plays host to several conflicts which have yielded serious humanitarian crises.