Sarah Mabeza, the ICRC’s Regional Legal Adviser, spoke about the research and its broader implications for the continent.

The initiative, which began in 2018, is described as a “living tool”, one that will be updated over time. Its aim is to connect African traditions with the modern legal framework governing armed conflict.

“International humanitarian law is universal. Every country in the world has ratified the Geneva Conventions,” Mabeza explained. “But when they were negotiated in the 1940s, only Ethiopia and Egypt were at the table. So, while African states uphold these laws, there’s a gap in terms of ownership. This research is one way of closing that gap.”

The study draws links between 17 traditional African practices and the core principles of IHL. For example, among the Maasai of Kenya, warriors once wore ivory armbands to distinguish themselves from civilians, echoing a key rule in IHL requiring combatants to separate themselves from non-combatants during war.

Other examples include the protection of the elderly, women and children, respect for the dead, and safeguarding the natural environment during conflict. These customs, gathered from countries across sub-Saharan Africa, from Senegal and Nigeria to Ethiopia, Mozambique, and South Africa, paint a picture of long-standing African values centred on dignity and restraint in times of war.

“This isn’t a stand-alone project,” Mabeza added. “The ICRC has also done similar work elsewhere, like with Islamic, Buddhist, and Pacific Island traditions that align with humanitarian principles.”

Looking ahead, the ICRC hopes the research will spark deeper reflection across Africa on the relevance of IHL. “We want people to see that these are not just foreign rules imposed from outside. They reflect who we are, and always have,” said Mabeza. “If we can encourage communities and leaders to see these laws as part of their own heritage, we’ll be one step closer to a more humane approach to conflict.”

At its core, the project reinforces one of IHL’s most vital tenets; humanity. A principle, Mabeza believes has long lived in Africa’s traditions, and still holds the power to shape its future.

--ChannelAfrica--