An Analysis of Kenya’s Targetted Application of a Blend of International Law and Economic Diplomacy Towards Achievement of National Interests

Abstract

This study focuses on the quest for national interest via defense alliances; a case for NATO in Libya. It examines the motivations behind the actions of western states within defense alliances to invade Libya and what were the effects on Libya together with its immediate states. The study is concluded with recommendations on more positively impactful operational strategies to ensure that the defense alliances do not exceed their authorized mandate when conducting humanitarian interventions. Furthermore, the study recommends the involvement of the African Union to play a more prominent part in the management of clashes within its member states considering in the case of Libya it held more legal basis than any other regional organization to intervene. The study sets out two hypotheses. The first one was that defence alliances like NATO influence humanitarian interventions to advance national interests. The second hypothesis was that military action of NATO resulted in an end to a dictatorship. The study which depended largely on primary and secondary data with the intermediate use of maps and tables including thematic approach to present the information was situated within the realism theory. This study adds emphasis on the realism theory that national interests are always at the forefront of all foreign affairs. Seeing that the foreign system is revolutionary, more powerful states are capable of using defense alliances to pursue their own national interests. NATO’s main objective after the passing of the UNSC Resolutions was to protect people’s lives within Libya but only a few days after these resolutions were passed their main purposes shifted to a regime change with the defense alliance having even funded rebel groups to ensure Gaddafi is overthrown from government. This in result has raised concerns over the Responsibility to protect doctrine whereby states fear the action from the international community that might violate their states sovereignty without any consequence from the international law or UN Security Council. This study demonstrates analytically the ramifications of NATO’s invasion for African continent, reviewing where the aftermath of the intervention placed the African Union as the custodian of African security and peace. The credibility of AU has been questioned due to its apparent lack of active involvement in the Libyan conflict, however, it is necessary to note that the AU did look to achieve dispute settlement, but was met by the UNSCs and NATO’s brisk action to pass and implement the resolutions 1970 and 1973. The AU adopted a roadmap based on an all-inclusive political settlement- an instant ceasefire; unthwarted delivery of humanitarian aid; foreign national protection; and dialog for a political settlement between Tripoli and Benghazi. However, cooperation prospects were made slim by NATO’s understsnding of Resolution 1973, which included the enforcement of a NFZ and the use of "all possible means paving the way for Libya's aerial bombing and the overthrow of the Gaddafi regime.