Of War, Moral Duties and Social Reconstruction in Africa

Abstract

Wars are a critical part of human history and development. The history of societies, kingdoms and modern states are replete with different accounts of how great empires were formed and weak ones vanquished. Extant scholarly narratives explore the notion of justice in and during war (jus in bello) but with little or no attention to the very pertinent idea of post-war justice, that is, the lot of the ravaged societies and states, especially as it concerns their reconstruction and rehabilitation. This paper therefore interrogates the question of war and moral duties of States in Africa. Utilizing W.D Ross’ notion of Prima Facie Duties, it establishes the moral agency of states and concludes that there is a pertinent need for International Organizations, Sub-Regional Organizations and States to begin to innovate and deploy indigenous and social approaches as a matter of duty in order to salvage war ravaged regions of Africa.