Conflict-Proofing Civilian Protection Rules in the Sahel: The Challenge of the Responsibility to Protect

In the context of insecurity in the Sahel, the protection of civilians is today’s major challenge. The growing presence of armed movements in the Sahel is fuelling local conflicts. The jihadist stranglehold on large swathes of territory in the Sahel raises questions about the effectiveness of military counter-insurgency operations. In such a context, the application of humanitarian law is severely eroded. Prohibitions on belligerents to protect civilians from dangers resulting from military operations are virtually ignored. This immunity from attack is an obligation to respect contained in several international instruments and enshrined in international case law. However, the predominance of the military approach in the fight against terrorism in the Sahel has led to a failure by armed actors to observe the rules governing the conduct of hostilities. Protective immunities are constantly violated. In this conflict environment marked by competing and complex logics, civilians are targeted by widespread and indiscriminate attacks during combat operations.