The Evolving Application Of International Humanitarian Law In Non-International Armed Conflicts: Rethinking Compliance Through Sudan Conflict
- IJLLR Journal
- Apr 22
- 1 min read
Adut Malek Arok, BALLB (Hons), Vels Institute of Science, Technology & Advanced Studies, VISTAS, Pallavaram, Chennai
K. Keerthana, Assistant Professor, School of Law, Vels Institute of Science, Technology & Advanced Studies, VISTAS, Pallavaram, Chennai
ABSTRACT
The increasing prevalence of non-international armed conflicts (NIACs) in contemporary warfare has fundamentally reshaped the landscape of international humanitarian law (IHL). While the legal regime and framework governing such conflicts has expanded significantly through treaty law, customary norms, and international jurisprudence, questions remain regarding its effectiveness in practice. This article argues that the challenge is no longer the absence of legal rules, but rather the persistent gap between normative development and real-world compliance. Using the on-going Sudan conflict as a case study, the article examines how core IHL principles, particularly distinction, proportionality, and humanitarian access are applied in contemporary conflict settings. It contends that while IHL has successfully adapted to the realities of internal conflicts at a doctrinal level, enforcement and compliance mechanisms remain structurally weak. The Sudan conflict thus reflects not a failure of law, but a failure of implementation.
