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Kenya & R2P. Great Decisions, February 13, 2010. KENYA'S ETHNIC GROUPS. Population 34.5m, comprising more than 40 ethnic groups. KENYA: Context. Population 34.5m, comprising more than 40 ethnic groups;
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Kenya & R2P Great Decisions, February 13, 2010
KENYA'S ETHNIC GROUPS Population 34.5m, comprising more than 40 ethnic groups
KENYA: Context • Population 34.5m, comprising more than 40 ethnic groups; • Kikuyu largest but not majority (22%), traditionally dominant, converted to Christianity, western education, partners with British colonial rule; • Mau Mau, strong role in governing, left Kikuyu as dominant group at independence
KENYA: Event OUTLINE OF EVENTS: • 1990: multiparty riots, donor demands for liberalization; • 1992, 1997: election violence; • 2002: Kibaki wins presidency, with Odinga’s support; some election violence; • December 2007: election, RailaOdinga was leading by 1.2 mil votes when MwaiKibaki’s reelection victory was announced; • (Opposition 99 seats in Parliament, President’s party 43 seats) • Tampering immediately denounced by international observers; • Immediately, rioting begins across the nation; Luo in west, Kalenjin in central highlands; Kikuyu response violent, with little control by police, army; • ~1,300 dead, 600,000 displaced. ~ethnic cleansing?
KENYA: Mediation Regional Authorities, Moral Authority & Respected Leaders: • Pressure from Desmond Tutu, other African leaders, including Tanzania leaders; • AU requested mediation by Kofi Annan • Team: Annan, Benjamin Mkapa (Tanz), Graca Machel (Mozambique & S.Africa) • Support for settlement from donors & allies
Power Sharing Agreement • Post of Prime Minister with real powers created; • Two deputy PMs, one from each party, protected from arbitrary dismissal; • Results? Violence ended; systematic changes have not been made, Odinga’s supporters few gains, • tensions remain
R2P? • Memories of Rwanda and Bosnia clear to Annan; • Destruction & disintegration in Region (Rwanda, Somalia, Sudan) created a sense of Urgency; • R2P an implicit, not explicit issue
What is R2P? • A recently developed concept in IR which attempts to enforce a State’s responsibilities toward its own population, and to codify the circumstances which justify humanitarian intervention • Includes violence, especially war crimes, genocide, ethnic cleansing, crimes against humanity
Issues? • State Sovereignty • UN Charter: “Domestic Jurisdiction” • Eroding distinction between International and Domestic issues • Failure of most attempts to “internationalize” domestic policy • Obstacles to “peace keeping” and humanitarian intervention
Obstacles to Humanitarian Intervention: • Institutional Obstacles • Neutrality of IGO • suspicion of interveners’ motives • “Will” of members • Cost, in money and political capital
Obstacles, cont’d • Pragmatic Obstacles • Uncertainty re: actual situation • Local assistance • Numbers of refugees, incidence of disease or famine • Resources: remote areas & supply lines language skilled workers