Confronting complex emergencies in Africa: Imperatives of a search for a new doctrine of humanitarian security interventions

Humanitarian military intervention has assumed increasing importance due to dramatic changes in the nature and impact of armed conflict

Because of dramatic changes in the nature and impact of armed conflict since the end of the Cold War, humanitarian military intervention has assumed increasing importance as a conflict management and resolution tool. Given the lethargic nature of UN interventions, moral imperatives have compelled African institutions to deploy intervention forces, sometimes with weak mandates, insufficient means and heavily dependent on external support. On the ground, the use of force by such ‘humanitarian’ operations has not materially impacted the security situation, or been able to meet heightened public expectations in the protection of civilians. This is because ‘robust’ multidimensional peace operations have sought merely to adapt the Cold War doctrine of peacekeeping to compelling new realities, primarily focusing on humanitarian assistance, as opposed to the restoration of security. These inadequacies underscore the need for rethinking current responses on a new doctrine of ‘humanitarian security intervention’ with a mandate allowing a higher remit in the use of force, primarily to restore and maintain security. Such a responsive doctrine promises to address compelling humanitarian imperatives, and meet increasing public expectations of effective civilian protection.

About the author

Festus B Aboagye joined the ISS in March 2004 as Head of the Training for Peace Programme at the ISS Pretoria office. He currently serves as senior research fellow in the same programme. Festus served with the Organisation of African Unity (OAU) from August 2000 to May 2002 as Senior Military Expert for the Ethiopia-Eritrea conflict and peace process. From March 2003 to March 2004 he served the African Union (AU) as Consultant / Panel Member for the development of the Policy Framework for the African Standby Force and later as Senior Military Advisor to the Head of the African Mission in Burundi (AMIB).

Prior to his service with the OAU/AU, Festus served in the Ghana Army and attained the rank of Colonel. He is a veteran of several UN peace operations, as well as with ECOMOG in Liberia.