International Humanitarian Law and Plight of Civilians during Armed Conflicts in Africa

Armed conflicts have been a major problem in Africa for many decades. Since the beginning of the 1990s, the African continent has acquired a dubious honor of being number one in hosting the largest number of armed conflicts and complex emergencies. This article examines the role of international humanitarian law (IHL) in the amelioration of the plight of victims of armed conflict in Africa. The article shows that in spite of the ratification of IHL by most African states, its provisions are often violated during armed conflicts. In order to improve the current situation, the states must enact national legislation and take practical measures in order for the rules to be fully effective.