Humanitarian Imperative Or Legal Overreach: The Debate On The United States’ Intervention In The Genocide Crisis In Nigeria
- IJLLR Journal
- 19 minutes ago
- 1 min read
Chukwudumebi O. Joseph-Asoh, LL.B. (Hons) Benin, B.L. Lagos, LL.M (Benin), PhD (Rivers) Senior Lecturer, Benson Idahosa University, Benin City
Nkechinyere Worluh-Okolie, LL.B., (Hons) LL.M., (Benin), PhD (Rivers) Senior Lecturer, Benson Idahosa University, Benin City
ABSTRACT
The debate over the United States’ intervention in the alleged genocide crisis in Nigeria raises critical questions at the intersection of international law, state sovereignty, and humanitarian responsibility. This article examines whether U.S. involvement should be understood as a necessary humanitarian and legal imperative aimed at preventing mass atrocities or as an instance of legal overreach that undermines established norms of non-intervention. Adopting the doctrinal research methodology, the Article, drawing on principles of international and regional human rights instruments, the Responsibility to Protect (R2P) doctrine, and the United Nations Charter, the study explores the legal and moral justifications advanced by proponents of intervention, as well as the counterarguments emphasizing sovereignty, consent, and the risks of unilateral action. The Article situates the Nigerian crisis within broader global debates on humanitarian intervention, highlighting concerns over selective enforcement, geopolitical interests, and the erosion of multilateral decision-making. It further analyzes the role of regional organizations and multilateral institutions in legitimizing or constraining external intervention. By evaluating both humanitarian outcomes and legal implications, the Article advances a way forward in reconciling the urgent need to protect civilian populations with the preservation of international legal order. Ultimately, the study contends that effective responses to mass atrocity situations require a balanced approach— one that prioritizes human security while remaining firmly anchored in multilateralism, accountability, and respect for international law.
Keywords: Sovereignty, Humanitarian Imperative, Genocide, R2P, International Law, Nigeria Crisis.
