Abstract
The crime of unconstitutional change of government does not exist as a discrete crime under international law. However, given Africa’s post-colonial history, as well as a number of African regional frameworks addressing the phenomena collectively known as unconstitutional changes of government, it came as little surprise that the drafters of the Malabo Protocol decided to include this crime in the Annex to the Protocol. The historical, institutional, and normative influences informing the criminalization of unconstitutional changes of government are addressed in this chapter. We also analyze some of the key features and contentious aspects of the crime. It is submitted that the criminalization of unconstitutional changes of government is a noteworthy African response to a pervasive African problem. The criminal provision is not without some flaws, which we also highlight.
The views expressed here do not represent the views of the African Court of Human and Peoples’ Rights.
All internet sources in this chapter were last visited on 30 June 2016.
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Notes
- 1.
See report available at http://www.abc.net.au/news/2015-09-19/african-union-condemns-burkina-faso-coup/6788636.
- 2.
See AU Peace and Security Council, Communiqué of 18 September 2015, PSC/PR/COMM/3. (DXLIV). http://www.peaceau.org/uploads/psc-544-comm-burkina-faso-18-9-2015.pdf.
- 3.
Ayalew 2012, p. 4.
- 4.
For a comparative and empirical survey, see Galetovic and Sanhuenza 2000, pp. 183–204.
- 5.
For an articulation of these ideals by one of the “founding fathers” of post-colonial Africa, see Nyerere 1963, pp. 1–6.
- 6.
For a discussion of the most common forms and manifestations of unconstitutional changes of government, see Omotola 2011, pp. 20–31.
- 7.
For more information, see The African Union and the challenge of unconstitutional changes, ISS Paper 197 August 2009. https://www.issafrica.org/uploads/P197.PDF; Sturman 2011.
- 8.
African Union Constitutive Act. www.au.int/en/sites/default/files/ConstitutiveAct_EN.pdf.
- 9.
Protocol to the Constitutive Act Relating to the Establishment of the Peace and Security Council. www.peaceau.org/uploads/psc-protocol-en.pdf.
- 10.
African Charter on Democracy, Elections and Governance. http://www.achpr.org/instruments/charter-democracy/.
- 11.
Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) Protocol on Democracy and Good Governance http://www.internationaldemocracywatch.org/attachments/350_ECOWAS%20Protocol%20on%20Democracy%20and%20Good%20Governance.pdf.
- 12.
Decision on the Protocol on Amendments to the Protocol on the Statute of the African Court of Justice and Human Rights Doc. Assembly/Au/13(XIX)A.
- 13.
Werle and Jeßberger 2014, marg. number 113.
- 14.
Article 15(1).
- 15.
Article 7(2).
- 16.
Werle and Jeßberger 2014, marg. number 113.
- 17.
Inter-American Court of Human Rights, Castillo Petruzzi et al. v Peru, 30 May 1999 (Merits) par 121. http://www.univie.ac.at/bimtor/dateien/iacthr_1999_castillo-petruzzi_vs_peru.pdf.
- 18.
Mercenarism is also a separate crime under Article 28H of the Malabo Protocol (Annex). See on this crime the chapter by Jeßberger in this book.
- 19.
Paust 1997, p. 671.
- 20.
Cassese 2003, p. 143.
- 21.
Paust 1997, p. 668.
- 22.
Du Plessis 2014, p. 202.
- 23.
Oxford Advanced Learner’s Dictionary (1995). An online dictionary defines it thus: “Your goal, purpose, or aim is your intention” (http://www.vocabulary.com/dictionary/intention).
- 24.
- 25.
- 26.
For more on culpability terms in (international) criminal law, see in general Chap. 1 of Badar 2013.
References
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Kemp, G., Kinyunyu, S. (2017). The Crime of Unconstitutional Change of Government (Article 28E). In: Werle, G., Vormbaum, M. (eds) The African Criminal Court. International Criminal Justice Series, vol 10. T.M.C. Asser Press, The Hague. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-94-6265-150-0_4
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