Whither Human Rights in African International Relations?

This research paper examines the role of human rights in African international relations, arguing that while there is a robust framework of regional and international treaties, human rights often remain a "variable concern" subordinated to national interests and geopolitical strategies. The author analyzes the tension between international monitoring mechanisms and the pursuit of "African solutions to African problems," specifically highlighting the controversy surrounding the ICC arrest warrant for Omar Al-Bashir and the influence of China's non-interference policy on the continent.

• Africa has established a comprehensive regional human rights framework, including the 1981 African Charter on Human and Peoples’ Rights, which has been ratified by all 53 member states, and the African Commission on Human and Peoples’ Rights established in 1987.
• The effectiveness of the African Commission on Human and Peoples’ Rights is limited by a lack of formal follow-up mechanisms and the limited enforcement of its recommendations.
• The African Union (AU) has taken steps to condemn unconstitutional changes of government, leading to the suspension of countries such as Togo, Comoros, Mauritania, and Guinea.
• Western democracies and international financial institutions use human rights as a condition for aid and trade, such as the EU's 2000 Cotonou Agreement; however, the World Bank's 12-year delay in withdrawing from the Chad–Cameroon pipeline project despite human rights concerns illustrates the limitations of this link.
• China's policy of non-interference and its provision of loans and arms to countries like Sudan, Equatorial Guinea, Ethiopia, Eritrea, Burundi, and Zimbabwe offer African governments an alternative to Western conditionality, but may foster corruption and human rights violations.
• There is a significant tension between the International Criminal Court (ICC) and the African Union regarding the arrest warrant for Sudanese President Omar Al-Bashir, with many African states viewing the prosecution as a double standard and preferring "African solutions to African problems."
• South Africa's foreign policy reflects a tension between its international obligations and regional solidarity; while it initially opposed the Al-Bashir warrant at the UN Security Council, it later reaffirmed that the president would be arrested if he traveled to South Africa.

APA

Mindzie, M. A. (2009). Whither Human Rights in African International Relations? South African Institute of International Affairs. https://saiia.org.za/wp-content/uploads/2009/08/Occasional-Paper-39.pdf

Chicago

Mindzie, Mireille Affa’a. Whither Human Rights in African International Relations? South African Institute of International Affairs, 2009. https://saiia.org.za/wp-content/uploads/2009/08/Occasional-Paper-39.pdf.

Wikipedia

{{cite report |last1=Mindzie |first1=Mireille Affa’a |title=Whither Human Rights in African International Relations? |publisher=South African Institute of International Affairs |date=August 2009 |url=https://saiia.org.za/wp-content/uploads/2009/08/Occasional-Paper-39.pdf |access-date=17 August 2026 |via=Climate Insights Directory}}

BibTeX

@techreport{mindzie2009whither, author = {Mindzie, Mireille Affa’a}, title = {{Whither Human Rights in African International Relations?}}, institution = {South African Institute of International Affairs}, year = {2009}, month = aug, url = {https://saiia.org.za/wp-content/uploads/2009/08/Occasional-Paper-39.pdf}, urldate = {2026-08-17}, note = {Indexed by Climate Insights Directory} }