Confronting complex emergencies in Africa: Imperatives of a search for a new doctrine of humanitarian security interventions

This research paper argues that current humanitarian military interventions in Africa are inadequate because they rely on outdated Cold War peacekeeping doctrines. The author calls for a new 'humanitarian security intervention' doctrine that allows for a higher remit in the use of force to prioritize the restoration of security over simple humanitarian assistance.

• Humanitarian military interventions have become more important as tools for conflict management and resolution due to changes in the nature of armed conflict following the Cold War. However, African institutions have often deployed forces with insufficient means, weak mandates, and a heavy reliance on external support, partly due to the slow nature of UN interventions.
• Current 'robust' multidimensional peace operations have failed to materially improve security situations or meet public expectations for civilian protection because they focus on humanitarian assistance rather than the restoration of security, essentially attempting to adapt Cold War peacekeeping doctrines to new realities.
• There is a critical need for a new doctrine of 'humanitarian security intervention' that provides a mandate for a higher remit in the use of force to restore and maintain security, which would better address humanitarian imperatives and civilian protection.

APA

Aboagye, F. B. (n.d.). Confronting complex emergencies in Africa: Imperatives of a search for a new doctrine of humanitarian security interventions. Institute for Security Studies. https://issafrica.org/research/papers/confronting-complex-emergencies-in-africa-imperatives-of-a-search-for-a-new-doctrine-of-humanitarian-security-interventions

Chicago

Aboagye, Festus B. Confronting complex emergencies in Africa: Imperatives of a search for a new doctrine of humanitarian security interventions. Institute for Security Studies, n.d. https://issafrica.org/research/papers/confronting-complex-emergencies-in-africa-imperatives-of-a-search-for-a-new-doctrine-of-humanitarian-security-interventions.

Wikipedia

{{cite report |last1=Aboagye |first1=Festus B |title=Confronting complex emergencies in Africa: Imperatives of a search for a new doctrine of humanitarian security interventions |publisher=Institute for Security Studies |url=https://issafrica.org/research/papers/confronting-complex-emergencies-in-africa-imperatives-of-a-search-for-a-new-doctrine-of-humanitarian-security-interventions |access-date=17 August 2026 |via=Climate Insights Directory}}

BibTeX

@techreport{aboagyendconfronting, author = {Aboagye, Festus B}, title = {{Confronting complex emergencies in Africa: Imperatives of a search for a new doctrine of humanitarian security interventions}}, institution = {Institute for Security Studies}, url = {https://issafrica.org/research/papers/confronting-complex-emergencies-in-africa-imperatives-of-a-search-for-a-new-doctrine-of-humanitarian-security-interventions}, urldate = {2026-08-17}, note = {Indexed by Climate Insights Directory} }