Faculty of Law - University of Nigeria, Nsukka PAGESFINAL.pdfAttoh Nonso Robert April 2013. ABSTRACT “…if humanitarian intervention is, indeed, an unacceptable assault on sovereignty,

Nwamarah Uche

HUMANITARIAN INTERVENTIONS AND THE UNITED NATIONS CHARTER: RE

EXAMINING THE LEGALITY OF THE USE OF FORCE IN

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Nwamarah Uche

Faculty of Law

DEPARTMENT OF INTERNATIONAL LAW AND JURISPRUDENCE

HUMANITARIAN INTERVENTIONS AND THE UNITED NATIONS CHARTER: RE

EXAMINING THE LEGALITY OF THE USE OF FORCE IN HUMAN RIGHTS

ENFORCEMENT

ATTOH NONSO ROBERT

REG NO: PG/LLM/O4/ 38392

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DEPARTMENT OF INTERNATIONAL LAW AND JURISPRUDENCE

HUMANITARIAN INTERVENTIONS AND THE UNITED NATIONS CHARTER: RE-

HUMAN RIGHTS

UNIVERSITY OF NIGERIA, ENUGU CAMPUS

SCHOOL OF POSTGRADUATE STUDIES

FACULTY OF LAW

DEPARTMENT OF INTERNATIONAL LAW AND JURISPRUDENCE

TOPIC:

HUMANITARIAN INTERVENTIONS AND THE UNITED NATIONS

CHARTER: RE-EXAMINING THE LEGALITY OF THE USE OF

FORCE IN HUMAN RIGHTS ENFORCEMENT

BEING

A DISSERTATION PRESENTED TO THE FACULTY OF LAW,

UNIVERSITY OF NIGERIA, ENUGU CAMPUS IN PARTIAL

FULFILLMENT OF THE REQUIREMENTS FOR THE AWARD OF

MASTER OF LAWS DEGREE

(LL.M)

BY

ATTOH NONSO ROBERT

REG NO: PG/LLM/O4/ 38392

APRIL 2013

UNIVERSITY OF NIGERIA, ENUGU CAMPUS

SCHOOL OF POSTGRADUATE STUDIES

FACULTY OF LAW

DEPARTMENT OF INTERNATIONAL LAW AND JURISPRUDENCE

TOPIC:

HUMANITARIAN INTERVENTIONS AND THE UNITED NATIONS

CHARTER: RE-EXAMINING THE LEGALITY OF THE USE OF

FORCE IN HUMAN RIGHTS ENFORCEMENT

BEING

A DISSERTATION PRESENTED TO THE FACULTY OF LAW,

UNIVERSITY OF NIGERIA, ENUGU CAMPUS IN PARTIAL

FULFILLMENT OF THE REQUIREMENTS FOR THE AWARD OF

MASTER OF LAWS DEGREE

(LL.M)

BY

ATTOH NONSO ROBERT

REG NO: PG/LLM/O4/ 38392

SUPERVISOR: PROFESSOR B. OBINNA OKERE

APRIL 2013

CERTIFICATION

This is to certify that this research work was carried out by Attoh, Nonso Robert, a

postgraduate student in the Department of International Law and Jurisprudence with

registration number PG/LL.M/04/38392, for the award of Master of Laws degree. This work

is the original work and has not been submitted in part or in full for the award of any degree

in this or any other institution.

................................................

Attoh, Nonso Robert

.................................................

Professor B. Obinna Okere

................................................

Professor Ifeoma Enemo

DVC/Supervising Dean

ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS

My gratitude first extends to my creator who made it possible to still complete this

dissertation despite very tremendous challenges.

I am most particularly grateful to my erudite and very polished supervisor, Professor B.O

Okere who had provided the motivation and passion for international law. His intellectual

sagacity and very clear grasp of issues in this area and in all aspects of international law

drove me to explore new vista in the vexed debate on humanitarian intervention.

His encouragement during the period of health crisis and challenges cannot be overlooked

and am most grateful that I passed through his tutelage and supervision.

The entire staff of the Faculty of law both academic and non-academic contributed in no

small way in ensuring that this work was completed. The camaraderie, support and willing

sharing of burdens, I cannot repay but I continually remember with joy.

And to my father, Mr Vincent Attoh, for his belief in his son and words of encouragement,

my mother, Mrs Lenah Attoh, who was always there in the toughest moment, praying and

sacrificing- I owe you a debt that only eternity can suffice to repay.

To my loving sisters, Chinwe Eboh, Edith Attoh, Victoria Yusuff, Vivian Omekam and

Elizabeth Ifeajuna, your love and support was like an elixir that kept me alive and going.

And Maurice Attoh, I am glad you willingly stood behind me.

Attoh Nonso Robert

April 2013.

ABSTRACT

“…if humanitarian intervention is, indeed, an unacceptable assault on sovereignty, how

should we respond to a Rwanda, to a Srebrenica – to gross and systematic violations of

human rights that affect every precept of our common humanity?” - Kofi Annan.

Since the signing of the UN Charter human rights have assumed a position of great

importance in international relations with the adoption of so many international conventions

legally recognizing the rights set out under the Conventions and treaties. Coterminous with

this growing status of human right was the emergence of dictatorial governments bent on

denying those rights to their subjects. This situation led to a revival of the debate on the

legality of humanitarian intervention in another sovereign state for the purpose of enforcing

compliance and respect for human rights. The Arab spring provided an opportunity to test the

effectiveness of the world’s resolve and mechanisms for ensuring compliance with human

rights obligations. From Tunisia, to Egypt to Libya and currently to Syria, dictatorial

governments came up against protests from their citizens and many reacted violently leading

to international reactions from the community of states and the United Nations. Despite the

seeming agreement on the “responsibility to protect” doctrine adopted in the World Summit

Outcome Document and the apparent moral and ethical imperatives to protect the vulnerable,

the issues surrounding intervention remain conflicting and unresolved. This has been most

illustrated by the cases of Darfur and Syria. The controversy concerning humanitarian

interventions revolves around its legality in view of the concept of state sovereignty and the

principle of non- interference in the domestic affairs of states as codified in the United

Nations Charter, as well as the Charter rules on the use of force. In this work we examine the

current state of these debates and seek to contribute to the question of the legality of

humanitarian intervention from the United Nations Charter and Security Council precedents,

as well as proffer solutions to the vexed question posed by Kofi Annan on how to respond to

gross violation of human rights that affect the precepts of our common humanity. Divided

into seven chapters, the first chapter is a general introduction, while chapter two examines the

meaning of humanitarian intervention adopted in the work as well as its history. Chapter

three examines the use of force in international law while chapter four examines

humanitarian intervention in the light of sovereignty and human rights protection. Chapter

five is a case study of humanitarian interventions in the post cold war era in an attempt to

discover whether customary international law rule has been established in this area. Chapter

six examines the new concept of “responsibility to protect” while chapter seven concludes the

work and sets out our recommendations.

Nonso Attoh

2013.

TABLE OF CONTENTS

Title Page.............................................................................................................. i

Certification.......................................................................................................... ii

Dedication............................................................................................................. iii

Acknowledgements............................................................................................... iv

Abstract................................................................................................................. iv

Table of Contents.................................................................................................. v

Table of Cases....................................................................................................... viii

Table of Statutes................................................................................................... ix

Table of Abbreviations.......................................................................................... xi

CHAPTER ONE: INTRODUCTION

1.1 Background of the Research.............................................................................. 1

1.2 Statement of the Problem.................................................................................. 3

1.3 Research Questions........................................................................................... 4

1.4 Objectives of the Study..................................................................................... 4

1.5 Scope of the Study.............................................................................................. 6

1.6 Literature Review................................................................................................ 6

CHAPTER TWO: HUMANITARIAN INTERVENTION IN INTERNATIONAL LAW

2.1 Definition and meaning of humanitarian intervention.......................................... 26

2.2 Historical Development of Principles of Humanitarian Intervention................... 41

2.3 Theoretical Foundation of the Debate on Legality of Intervention....................... 56

2.3.1 Natural Law............................................................................................................ 56

2.3.2 Positivism................................................................................................................. 61

2.4 Criteria for Determining a Justifiable Intervention................................................. 63

CHAPTER THREE: SOVEREIGNTY, HUMAN RIGHTS AND HUMANITARIAN

INTERVENTION

3.1 Introduction

3.2 Meaning of sovereignty................................................................................................. 74

3.3 Historical Evolution of the concept of sovereignty...................................................... 80

3.4 Jurisdiction................................................................................................................... 89

3.4.1 Concept of Domestic Jurisdiction............................................................................. 90

3.5 Non-intervention.......................................................................................................... 93

3.6 Human Rights and Sovereignty.................................................................................... 97

3.7 Sovereignty and Humanitarian Intervention.............................................................. 100

CHAPTER FOUR: HUMANITARIAN INTERVENTION AND THE USE OF FORCE

4.1 Introduction ............................................................................................................. 104

4.2 History of the Rules on the Use of Force in International Law............................... 105

4.2 United Nations Charter Rules on the Use of Force...................................................... 108

4.3 Analysis of article 2(4) UN Charter.............................................................................. 111

4.3.1 Threat or Use of Force................................................................................................ 112

4.3.2 “Territorial Integrity and Political Independence of State....................................... 113

4.3.3 Scope of the Prohibition in article 2(4)...................................................................... 114

4.4 Exceptions to the Use of Force Under the United Nations Charter................................ 118

4..4.1 Article 51- Self Defence ............................................................................................ 118

4.4.1.1 Anticipatory Self Defence ........................................................................................ 124

4.4.1.2 Pre-Emptive Self Defence ........................................................................................ 127

4.4.2 Collective Self Defence ........................................................................................... 128

4.4.3 Use of Force under Chapter VII of the United Nation Charter..................................... 131

4.5 Humanitarian Intervention and the Use of Force............................................................ 133

CHAPTER FIVE: HUMANITARIAN INTERVENTION CASE STUDIES

5.1 Introduction

5.2 Customary International law........................................................................................... 143

5.2.1 Material Element ....................................................................................................... 143

5.2.2 Psychological Element .............................................................................................. 147

5.3 Case Studies.................................................................................................................... 148

5.3.1 Liberia.......................................................................................................................... 149

5.3.2 Iraq................................................................................................................................ 152

5.3.3 Somalia..........................................................................................................................156

5.3.4 Kosovo.......................................................................................................................... 159

5.3.5 Libya............................................................................................................................. 164

5.4 Instances Where Humanitarian Intervention Did Not Happen....................................... 168

5.4.1 Darfur........................................................................................................................... 168

5.4.2 Syria.............................................................................................................................. 171

CHAPTER SIX: THE RESPONSIBILITY TO PROTECT

6.1 Introduction............................................................................................................ 177

6.2 Summary of the ICISS report........................................................................................ 181

6.3 Subsequent Legal Developments.................................................................................. 185

6.4 World Summit Version of R2P.................................................................................. 189

6.5 R2P Doctrine in the African Union............................................................................. 193

6.6 Current Legal Status of R2p........................................................................................ 196

6.7 Critique of the R2P Doctrine....................................................................................... 200

6.8 Crucial Role of the Responsibility to Protect in Establishing the Legality of Humanitarian

Intervention

CHAPTER SEVEN: CONCLUSION AND RECOMMENDATIONS

7.1 Conclusion.................................................................................................................... 204

7.2 Recommendations........................................................................................................ 215

Bibliography............................................................................................................................... 221

TABLE OF CASES

Anglo-Norwegian Fisheries case (1951) 18 ILR, p. 86...................................... 137

Armed Activities in the Territory of the Congo (Democratic Republic of the Congo V

Uganda) Lexis Nexis (2006) 45 I.L.M 271.......................................................... 109

Assylum case, ICJ Rep (1949)............................................................................. 86, 136

Continental Shelf Case (Libya v. Malta) ICJ Rep. 13 (1985)............................. 136

Corfu Channel Case I.C.J. Reports (1949) 44.................................................... 114,

Legality of the Threat or Use of Nuclear Weapons (Advisory Opinion) [1996] ICJ Rep. 226 (8

July 1996)............................................................................................................ 105

Military and Paramilitary Activities in and against Nicaragua (Nicaragua v. USA), ICJ Rep

(1986) 14.................................................................................................. 86, 92, 103, 113, 139

Nationality Decrees in Tunis and Morocco, Advisory Opinion, 1923 P.C.I.J.

(ser. B) No. 4............................................................................................. 89

North Sea Continental Shelf cases ICJ Reports, 1969, p. 3; 41 ILR, p. 29............ 137

Oil Platform (Islamic Republic of Iran v United States of America) (Judgement) [2003] ICJ

Rep 161.................................................................................................................. 116

S.S. Lotus P.C.I.J. Rep., Ser. A, No. 10 (1927)...................................................... 138

TABLE OF STATUTES

INTERNATIONAL CONVENTIONS AND RESOLUTIONS

Charter of the Organisation of American States................................................ 122

Constitutive Act of the African Union,

Article.4 (h)........................................................................................................ 148

Covenant of the League of Nations,

Article 15(8).......................................................................................................... 89

Draft Article on Responsibility of States for Internationally Wrongful Act 2001

Article. 8............................................................................................................. 108

Draft Declaration on Rights and Duties of States (1949),

Article 1.................................................................................................................84

Article 2................................................................................................................ 84

Montevideo Convention on the Rights and Duties of States 1933........................85

North Atlantic Treaty Organisation 1949,

Article 5............................................................................................................... 122

Protocol Additional to the Geneva Conventions of 12 August 1949

Article 51............................................................................................................. 111

United Nations Charter

Article 2(4).............................................................................................................1

Article 2(7)........................................................................................................1, 86

Article 51..............................................................................................................101

Article 52(1).......................................................................................................... 147

Article 25............................................................................................................... 123

Article 27(3)........................................................................................................ 102

Article 42............................................................................................................ 124

Article 103.......................................................................................................... 123

Chapter VI...........................................................................................................101

Preface................................................................................................................. 102

Vienna Convention on the Law of Treaties

Article 53................................................................................................................ 94

Warsaw Pact 1955

Article 4.................................................................................................................. 123

UNITED NATIONS RESOLUTIONS

UNSC Res 1368 (2001)........................................................................................... 113

SCOR Res 290.......................................................................................................... 113

UNSC Res 1373 (2001)............................................................................................ 113

SCOR Res 291......................................................................................................... 113

Security Council Resolution 788 of 19 November, 1992........................................ ..146

Security Council Resolution 794 of December 3 1992............................................. 154

Security Council Resolution 119 (1998).................................................................... 158

Declaration on Principles of International Law Friendly Relations and Co-operation among

States in Accordance with the Charter of the United Nations.......................... ...........91

Declaration on the Inadmissibility of Intervention in the Domestic Affairs of States and the

Protection of their Independence and Sovereignty..................................................... 9

TABLE OF ABBREVIATIONS

GA General Assembly

UN United Nations

UNSC United Nations Security Council

SCOR Security Council Resolution

R2P Responsibility to Protect

ICISS International Commission on Intervention and State Sovereignty

NATO North Atlantic Treaty Organisation

FRY Federal Republic of Yugoslavia