The role played by International Law in ending the Kenyan post election violence of 2007/2008

Abstract

In 2007/2008, post-election violence escalated in Kenya in a magnitude that has never been experienced before in the country. At least 500, 000 people were displaced and 1,500 died as a result of the conflict. The conflict led to an international response which culminated into a mediation response initiated by the African Union in early 2008.The mediation was successful as it played an instrumental role in ending the post-election violence. In this regard, this research paper will endeavor to address the effective role played by the international law in ending the Kenyan post-election violence of 2007/2008. The research will examine whether the International legal principles were adhered to in resolving the conflict witnessed during the Kenyan post-election violence and analyze whether it was justified for the international community to intervene in the affairs of Kenya during the conflict. The study will focus on identifying the International legal principles applied by the international actors during the Kenyan post-election violence. The research paper will conclude by examining the international community’s involvement in violence mitigation, lessons learned during the Kenyan post-election violence and the significance of the international community intervention more generally, in order to identify and replicate best practices in similar conflicts and specifically towards evolving political settlements within the continent.