Rebellion

Insurrection
Insurgency
Rebel action

Nature

It is a crime to engage in armed insurrection with intent to overthrow, supplant or change the form of government of a legally constituted government. It is equally a crime to participate in the leadership of such an insurrection or to organize, provide substantial support or advocate it.

Background

Rebellion has periodically surfaced throughout history as a catalyst for social and political transformation, with early documentation in ancient civilizations such as Mesopotamia and Rome. Its global significance became increasingly recognized during the Enlightenment and subsequent revolutionary waves, prompting scholarly and governmental attention to its causes and consequences. In the 20th century, decolonization and civil rights movements further highlighted rebellion’s complex role, leading to deeper analysis of its patterns, motivations, and impacts across diverse societies.

Incidence

Rebellions are a powerful and seemingly ubiquitous menace throughtout sub-Saharan Africa, killing thousands of people annually, turning millions into refugees, and leaving countries bereft of civil and political order. Insurgency by the Shining Path movement in Peru was reported in 1992 to have claimed 25,000 lives since 1980.

Claim

If political and economic exclusion, social alienation, and ethnic hegemony continue to grow, then it is possible that they will continue to provoke rebellions across Africa.

Counter-claim

Many of the nationalist movements in Africa that brought independence from colonial rule in the 1960s had their roots in violent revolts. But in the 1990s, only the rebel movements in Uganda, Ethiopia and Eritrea brought long-term stability to their countries. Such insurgencies may set an example for rebel groups in other countries.