An examination of unlawful foreign military operations in Africa

Abstract

For almost two decades, unlawful foreign military bases and troops have been scattered across fragile countries and regions in Africa, from the Horn to the Great Lakes; and from the Sahel to the Gulf of Guinea, with the potential to disrupt peaceful co-existence in these countries. This article argues that unlawful foreign military intervention in these African countries intensifies the security issues rather than build peace. It provides a comprehensive overview of the international legal framework regulating the use of force in international relations, and contends that, although the rules of international law on the use of force are clear, they are not sufficiently respected in practice. This article further demonstrates that, despite the unlawfulness of military intervention without the United Nations Security Council’s explicit permission, this type of intervention is increasing in several African countries. It does not intend to enumerate all the unlawful military interventions of the African continent, but to explore how these operations exacerbate remonstrations rather than build peace. The article concludes that it is challenging to prove the unlawfulness of several military operations in Africa due to the diversity of actors, and the lack of transparency about this kind of operation. Inevitably, the most visible part of unlawful foreign military operations is its impact on the target countries of the continent.