THE PRINCIPLE OF RESPONSIBILITY TO PROTECT (R2P); A CASE STUDY OF SOUTH SUDAN

Abstract

This research project explored the role of the state, regional and sub-regional organizations as well as the international community in ensuring that the principle of responsibility to protect is adhered to during times of conflict. In a bid to do so, the study was guided by the objectives; to examine the role of the state, regional, sub-regional organizations and the international community in the protection of civilians in the current conflict in South Sudan; establish the provisions of International Law in relation to the principle of responsibility to protect; determine who has the major role to protect according to International Law and examine the challenges of implementing the principle of the responsibility to protect. The study is therefore intended to show how the state, regional and sub-regional organizations as well as the international community have failed in their mandates to implement the principle of responsibility to protect in South Sudan. The study also intends to help policy makers re-think the principle and come up with a way forward to ensure that the loss of civilian lives is minimal. From the study findings it is recommended that there is need for the AU and UN to ensure a greater harmonization and coherence between their institutions and the sub-regional bodies. Recommended ways to do this are: improvement of institutional capacity; strengthening of AU’s RECs/RMs; having joint peacekeeping (UN-AU) missions; support the principles of ICC, and a realization of small arms and light weapons trade and their effect on AU’s implementation of R2P. For further research, this project proposes further studies in the area of the relationship between small arms and light weapons and the responsibility to protect. This is in the light of the challenging effect of the circulation of arms and how they hinder AU’s effectiveness in implementing R2P.