The Changing Nature of Conflicts is putting a new strain on Human Rights
Posted: 31 January, 2025 Filed under: Michael Aboneka | Tags: abduction, adequate nutrition, Boko Haram, conflict, Convention on the Rights of the Children, DRC, education, Ethiopia, forced displacement, gross human rights violations, Israel-Hezbollah, livelihood, property, right to food, sexual violence, Somalia, Starvation, starvation tactic, Sudan, violence against children 2 Comments
Author: Michael Aboneka
Advocate of the Courts of Judicature of Uganda
There is a new shift from the conventional war of state-to-state confrontations to new forms of conflict with no clear boundaries between military and civilian spheres.[1] According to the Alert 2024 Report, 2023 recorded 36 armed conflicts the highest ever since 2014 with new cases in Ethiopia, Somalia, DRC, Sudan and Israel-Hezbollah.[2] This article explores how these new forms of conflicts have increased starvation, forced displacement and violence against children, in the face of increasing rise of non-state actors involved in conflict.
Unconditional Amnesty for Boko Haram Violates African Human Rights Law
Posted: 12 July, 2024 Filed under: Oluwatosin Senami Adegun, Yeabsira Teferi | Tags: African Human Rights Law, Amnesty International Report of 2015, ‘de-radicalisation, Boko Haram, child soldiers, disproportionate attacks, forced marriage, International Humanitarian Law, Nigeria, Politically Motivated Crimes, rape, rehabilitation and reintegration’ programme, sexual slavery, sexual violence, terrorist group, unconditional amnesty, violations of human rights Leave a comment
Author: Oluwatosin Senami Adegun
Master’s student, LLM Human Rights and Democratisation in Africa, Centre for Human Rights, University of Pretoria.
Boko Haram has attacked the north-east of Nigeria for 15 years killing over 350 000 persons, abducted about 276 Chibok girls, perpetuated rape, sexual slavery and other forms of sexual violence, forced marriage, recruitment of child soldiers and disproportionate attacks on civilians which constitute violations of human rights and international humanitarian law as affirmed by the Amnesty International Report of 2015.
Despite these gross violations and the victims’ yearning for justice, the Federal Government of Nigeria (Nigeria) granted unconditional amnesty to some members of the terrorist group through its ‘de-radicalisation, rehabilitation and reintegration’ programme without due consideration given to victims whose views and concerns were never considered.
Lost in Faith: The Growing Menace of Religious Fanaticism in Africa and the Need for Intervention
Posted: 7 June, 2024 Filed under: Murithi Antony | Tags: Africa, African Charter on Human and Peoples' Rights, Boko Haram, child sacrifice, ethical principles, fasting to the point of death, fundamental human rights, Good News International Church, human sacrifices, international human rights instruments, Mungiki movement, political instability, religion, religious fanaticism, religious freedom, right to religious freedom, terrorism, Yesu wa Tongaren Leave a comment
Author: Murithi Antony
LL.B candidate, University of Embu
Religious freedom is a cherished right we uphold,
But when it’s misused, the consequences unfold.
Ideologies that propagate self-harm and hate,
Demand constant vigilance before it’s too late!
Introduction
Religion is a system of faith and worship centered around a belief in a supreme being and a set of moral or ethical principles. It encompasses a way of life that provides hope, guidance, and even companionship to many individuals. Religion serves as a source of strength, comfort, and meaning, especially for individuals who seek to understand their place in the world and the purpose of their existence. Religion influences people’s thoughts, actions, and their relationships with others. Such characteristics of religion has made several believers to engage in extreme and controversial actions, including among others; human sacrifices, fasting to the point of death, and terrorism, believing that they will receive eternal rewards from their deity. Such is what is depicted as religious fanaticism, which must be regulated for the sake of sanity and protection of fundamental human rights in society. Upon this background, this article aims to analyse the status of religious freedom in Africa, the impact of the emergence of religious fanaticism, and advocate for intervention.
Decoding the ignorance of the world towards rising terrorism in Africa: A new Jihadist battlefield?
Posted: 17 January, 2022 Filed under: Shelal Lodhi Rajput | Tags: 300 school girls, Africa, al Qaeda, Algeria, AQIM: Al Qaeda in the West, Boko Haram, Burkina Faso, campaigns of violence, Chad, civil war, French hostages, immoral activities, imposing taxes, ISIS, Islamic State groups, Islamist militants, Jihadist terror groups, mounting violence, new Syria, Syria, terrorism, terrorist attacks, United Nations, War on Terrorism Leave a comment
Author: Shelal Lodhi Rajput
BBA LL. B (Hons.)) candidate at Symbiosis Law School, Pune, India
Some of the greatest concerns for humanity right now, apart from the ongoing pandemic are the problems of climate change, ecocide and the rise of terrorism and jihadist outfits. Following the terrorist attacks on the United States on September 11, 2001, the threat of radical Islamic terrorism, which has its roots in the Middle East and South Asia, has taken center stage. While these violent religious extremists constitute a small percentage of the population, their danger is real. The International community has not been completely able to neutralise ISIS (Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant). In 2015, ISIS expanded into a network of affiliates in at least eight other countries. Its branches, supporters, and affiliates increasingly carried out attacks beyond the borders of its so-called caliphate. Now once again a ‘new Syria’ is being built in West Africa but the world is ignoring it, world media is not highlighting the plight of the people.
A shift towards culture and skills development: A solution for internally displaced persons in Nigeria
Posted: 29 August, 2016 Filed under: Tim Sahliu Braimah | Tags: agriculture, Boko Haram, conflict, corruption, food, humanitarian assistance, IDP camp, IDPs, Independent Corrupt Practices & Other Related Offences Act 2000, internally displaced persons, Kampala Convention, Nigeria, Northern Nigeria, sanitary conditions, security, settlements, terrorism 2 Comments 
Author: Tim Sahliu Braimah
Human Rights Researcher
The ongoing insurgency by Boko Haram and the terrorist activities it has perpetrated since 2009 has led to a huge displacement of people from Northern Nigeria. According to the Internal Displacement Monitoring Centre, there is an estimated 2,152,000 internally displaced persons (IDPs) in Nigeria. While there is no international binding instrument for IDPs, Nigeria is a signatory to the African Union Convention for the Protection and Assistance of Internally Displaced Persons in Africa (Kampala Convention). Nigeria ratified the Kampala Convention on 17 April 2012 which means that it has a primary duty and responsibility to provide protection and humanitarian assistance to IDPs within Nigeria.[1] Irrespective of this ratification, Nigeria’s treatment of IDPs remains poor. According to reports, some challenges IDPs face in camps include inconsistent and poor feeding, poor sanitary conditions, and a lack of proper medical conditions and security.[2]
The response of the Africa Union to critical human security threats in Africa
Posted: 7 August, 2015 Filed under: Michael Addaney | Tags: Africa, African Standby Force, African Union, al Shabaab, AU Constitutive Act, Boko Haram, conflicts, economic growth, genocide, human security, international terrorism, leadership, peace and security, Peace and Security Council, poverty, promotion of peace, PSC Protocol, stability, sustainable deve, United Nations Security Council, war Leave a comment
Author: Michael Addaney
Student (MPhil Human Rights and Democratisation in Africa), Centre for Human Rights, Faculty of Law, University of Pretoria
Africa, the second most populous continent with the fastest growing population on the globe faces complex and integrated human security threats. From a broader perspective, human security is far more than the absence of violent conflict. It encompasses respect for human rights, good governance, access to education and health care and ensuring that each individual has opportunities and choices to fulfill his or her potential. In Africa, addressing these issues requires alleviating poverty, promoting economic growth, freedom from fear and access to a healthy natural environment as well as and preventing conflict. Characteristically, Africa is associated with war, poverty, genocide, diseases and grievous abuses of human rights, prolonged armed conflicts and rising terrorist activities. Conventionally, the African Union has adopted several instruments to deal with these peace and security threats. This article focuses on increased armed conflicts and terrorist activities on the continent.
Nigeria’s National Conference: The right to have it right in the education sector
Posted: 21 October, 2013 Filed under: Olaniyi Olayinka | Tags: Academic Staff Union of Universities, Boko Haram, constitution, education, National Conference, Nigeria, Regionalism 2 Comments
Author: Olaniyi Olayinka
Principal Assistant Registrar (Legal Matters) at The Polytechnic, Ibadan (Nigeria)
Calls for an all-inclusive National Conference to fashion out Nigeria’s national focus dates back to before 1922 – the Clifford Constitution – which until recently was never held. President Goodluck Jonathan in his 2013 Independence Day broadcast appointed a committee to facilitate the realisation of the conference. Author Uzodinma Nwaogbe has identified disunity, lack of faith and trust amongst citizens of Nigeria as some of the issues the conference should tackle and has given his support for the conference. The conference, according to Nwaogbe, is a platform for Nigerians to talk about issues that will help develop the country irrespective of religious, political and ethnic difference.
The Nigerian constitution, per Section 18(1), clarifies educational objectives of the government and provides that:
“Government shall direct its policy towards ensuring that there are equal and adequate educational opportunities at all levels.”
This article will determine the adequacy of funding for education in Nigeria and how the conference can pave the way for an improvement.
Education is under the purview of both the federal and state governments, and being less generous about funding education is plausible because they both draw from the same purse.
AfricLaw 