Abstract
The popular uprisings that started on the northern coast of Africa in 2011 ended with the overthrow of leaders in Tunisia and Egypt, and resulted in the bloodier conflict in Libya. These popular uprisings were unexpected by the international community, and also by the African Union, whose aim is to accelerate the process of integration on the continent, protect peace and security, and support democracy and human rights. Under its normative framework, the Union tried not to remain silent and to play an active role in response to these unexpected developments.
This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution.
Buying options
Tax calculation will be finalised at checkout
Purchases are for personal use only
Learn about institutional subscriptionsNotes
- 1.
The ad hoc committee included the Islamic Republic of Mauritania (President Mohamed Ould Abdel Aziz), the Republic of Congo (President Denis Sassou Nguesso), the Republic of Mali (President Amadou Toumani Toure), the South African Republic (President Jacob Zuma), and the Republic of Uganda (President Yoweri Museveni).
- 2.
See Iafrica, “Rebels reject the AU Plan,” http://news.iafrica.com/worldnews/721163.html
- 3.
The others were Algeria, Egypt, Libya, Nigeria, and the South African Republic.
References
African Union Peace and Security Council Press Release 257, 15 January 2011.
African Union Peace Security Council Communique 260, 16 February 2011.
African Union Peace Security Council Communique 261, 23 February 2011.
African Union Peace Security Council Communique 265, 10 March 2011.
African Union Peace Security Council Communique 297, 20 October 2011.
African Union Peace Security Council Communique 384, 5 July 2013.
African Union Protocol Relating to the Establishment of Peace and Security Council of the African Union, 2002.
African Union, The Protocol on Amendments to the Protocol on the Statue of the African Court of Justice and Human Rights, 2014.
Apuuli, K. P. (2012). The African Union’s Notion of ‘African Solutions to African Problems’ and the Crises in Côte d’Ivoire (2010–2011) and Libya (2011). African Journal on Conflict Resolution, 12(2), 135–160.
Bamidele, O., & Ayodele, B. (2016). In the Service of Democratic Governance: The African Union Normative Framework on Unconstitutional Change of Government and ECOWAS Protocol on Good Governance and Democracy in the Post-Arab Spring. Journal of Asian and African Studies, 53, 1–15. https://doi.org/10.1177/0021909616666104
Camara, K. (2016). Here’s How African Leaders Stage ‘Constitutional Coups’: They Tweak the Constitution to Stay in Power. Washington Post. Retrieved from https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/monkey-cage/wp/2016/09/16/heres-how-african-leaders-stage-constitutional-coups-they-tweak-the-constitution-to-stay-in-power/?utm_term=.d5f3dd8caa5f
Constitutive Act of the African Union, 2001.
De Waal, A. (2013). African Roles in the Libyan Conflict of 2011. International Affairs, 89(2), 369–379.
Governance Monitoring and Advocacy Project (AFRIMAP), 19.
Grovogui, S. (2011). Looking Beyond Spring for the Season: An African Perspective on the World Order After the Arab Revolt. Globalizations, 8(5), 567–572. https://doi.org/10.1080/14747731.2011.622868
Iafrica, Rebels Reject AU Plan. (2011, 12 April). Retrieved from http://news.iafrica.com/worldnews/721163.html
Ikome, F. N. (2007). Good Coups and Bad Coups: The Limits of the African Union’s Injunction on Unconstitutional Changes of Power in Africa. Institute for Global Dialogue Occasional Paper No. 55.
Kasaija, A. P. (2013). The African Union (AU), the Libya Crisis and the Notion of ‘African Solutions to African Problems’. Journal of Contemporary African Studies, 31(1), 117–138. https://doi.org/10.1080/02589001.2012.761463
McGowan, P. J. (2003). African Military Coups d’états, 1956–2001: Frequency, Trends, and Distribution. The Journal of Modern African Studies, 41(3), 339–370.
Møller, B. (2009). The African Union as Security Actor: African Solutions to African Problems? Crisis States Working Series, No. 2. Retrieved from http://eprints.lse.ac.uk/28485/1/WP57.2Moller.AU.pdf
Obse, K. (2014). The Arab Spring and the Question of Legality of Democratic Revolution in Theory and Practice: A Perspective Based on the African Union Normative Framework. Leiden Journal of International Law, 27, 817–838.
Omorogbe, E. Y. (2012). The African Union, Responsibility to Protect and the Libyan Crisis. Netherlands International Law Review, LIX, 141–163. Retrieved from http://www.igd.org.za/downloads/IGD%20Occasional%20Paper%2055.pdf
Ross, W. (2011, April 11). Libya: Benghazi Rebels Reject African Union Truce Plan. BBC News. Retrieved from http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-africa-13035501
Sturman, K. (2011). Unconstitutional Changes of Government: The Democrat’s Dilemma in Africa. SAIIA Policy Briefing, 30, 1–4.
Sturman, K. (2012). The African Union and the “Arab Spring”: An Exception to New Principles or Return to Old Rules? ISPI Analysis, 108, 1–6.
Tungwara, O. (2011). The Arab Spring and the AU Response. Open Society Institute, Africa.
UN Security Council. (2012, January 12). UNSC 6702nd Meeting Report. Retrieved from http://www.securitycouncilreport.org/atf/cf/%7B65BFCF9B-6D27-4E9C-8CD3-CF6E4FF96FF9%7D/RO%20S%20PV%206702.pdf
Vandeginste, S. (2013). The African Union, Constitutionalsm, and Power-Sharing. Journal of African Law, 57(1), 1–28.
Wallerstein, I. (1966). The Early Years of the OAU: The Search for Organizational Preeminence. International Organizations, 20(4), 774–787.
Williams, P. D. (2007). From Non-intervention to Non-indifference: The Origins and Development of the African Union’s Security Culture. African Affairs, 106(423), 253–279.
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Editor information
Editors and Affiliations
Rights and permissions
Copyright information
© 2019 The Author(s)
About this chapter
Cite this chapter
Dalar, M. (2019). The Arab Spring and Unconstitutional Changes of Government in Africa. In: Çakmak, C., Özçelik, A.O. (eds) The World Community and the Arab Spring. Palgrave Macmillan, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-60985-0_4
Download citation
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-60985-0_4
Published:
Publisher Name: Palgrave Macmillan, Cham
Print ISBN: 978-3-319-60984-3
Online ISBN: 978-3-319-60985-0
eBook Packages: Political Science and International StudiesPolitical Science and International Studies (R0)