UNSC primacy in Africa in the post-Cold War era: an analysis of ideas, institutions and capabilities

Abstract

The modern international system, rooted in the Westphalian principle of state sovereignty, grants each nation-state the authority to govern without external interference. This sovereignty is most significantly challenged by unilateral military interventions, typically prohibited under Article 2(4) of the United Nations Charter, which mandates that member states refrain from using force against each other. Beyond cases of self-defense, the United Nations Security Council (UNSC) holds exclusive authority to legitimize interventions, a principle known as UNSC primacy1. In the post-Cold War era, the rise of regionalism prompted African states to establish the African Union (AU) and the African Peace and Security Architecture (APSA) in 2002. This development aimed to enhance African-led responses to regional security issues, reducing reliance on UNSC authorizations. Through institutions such as the AU’s Peace and Security Council and the African Standby Force, the AU sought mechanisms to intervene in crises independently while addressing sovereignty concerns in state and human security. This paper examines the role of UNSC primacy in military interventions in Africa, particularly within the APSA framework. In other words, “the challenge for the AU and the UN is how to apply the spirit of Chapter VIII [regarding regional action] without prejudice to the role of the UNSC, on one hand, and without undermining or otherwise curtailing the efforts of the AU to develop its own capacity to provide adequate responses to the peace and security challenges in Africa, on the other.” (African Union, 2015, p. 1). While prior studies have explored the legality, legitimacy, and effectiveness of interventions by international organizations2, a focused analysis of the legal frameworks governing UNSC authorization and regional interventions in Africa remains limited3. This study addresses this gap by analyzing how UNSC authorization intersects with ideas, institutions and capabilities that shape international organizations and states’ intervention practices.