When assessing this question as a whole it is important to first understand what is meant by the phrase ‘Responsibility to Protect’, hereinafter referred to as R2P. The world summit outcome document of 2005 defines it as entailing that, “Each individual State has the responsibility to protect its populations from genocide, war crimes, ethnic cleansing and crimes against humanity.”(World Summit 2005) It is also very clear that the concept of R2P does not solely cover protection but also “prevention of such crimes through appropriate and necessary means.”(Ibid) R2P, as outlined by the UN, rests upon three key pillars, the first being that the state has the primary obligation to protect its citizens from mass atrocities. This is connected to the second pillar which places onus on the international community to assist states in protecting its citizens. The final pillar identifies and clarifies the action which can be taken by the international community in the event that a state is failing to protect its population or indeed is perpetrating acts of mass atrocity, this action includes collective use of force if it is approved by the UN Security Council.

Having understood what is meant by R2P, within this essay, I will explain why the doctrine came about highlighting key events which may have compelled the UN to take action. In addition whilst assessing the impact of the doctrine on 21st-century African conflict, both positive and negative, I will consider some of the criticisms of the doctrine investigating how they can be applied within the context of recent African conflict. Overall this essay will conclude that a united response from the international community in the wake of the events which led up to the implementation of the R2P doctrine was entirely necessary. It will also argue that, in principle, R2P represents a positive development regarding a coherent international response to humanitarian intervention, however, in practice it is difficult concept to implement due to the differing nature of conflict within states. Finally, I will conclude however that despite its conceptual limitations, in the context of 21st-century African conflict, R2P has had a positive effect on mitigating and alleviating developing m