The African Union and Self-determination of Southern Sudan: Implications for Continental Integration

Abstract

By way of the application of the principle of self-determination, South Sudan emerged into the world of states as the newest state on 11 July 2011. This process materialized through the agency of an accord called the Comprehensive Peace Agreement (CPA). Although the document was primarily intended to respond to the demands of the people of southern Sudan and at the same time maintaining the territorial integration of Sudan, the document eventually led the way for the breakup of the country even though the African Union (AU) called for the application of the agreement in a way that would preserve the territorial integrity of  Sudan. Thus, this self-determination referendum at the time posed a dilemma for the African Union. On the  one hand, the AU had to respect the decision of the people of southern Sudan to vote for independence. On the other hand, the referendum went against the very principle that AU should strive to protect: utipossidetis principle, which is predicated on the respect for existing territorial borders inherited from colonialism.Moreover, the exercise of self-determination went against the ultimate goal of pan-Africanism, which is creating United States of Africa, a total political integration of the continent. Thus, this article tries to analyze the theoretical and practical dimensions of the principle of self-determination with a particular focus on Southern Sudan, and then look into the response of the AU on the conduct of the referendum, and finally investigate the implications of the secession of Southern Sudan on political developments in Africa in general and in the Horn of Africa in particular. Analysis of secondary sources such as peer-reviewed journals, books, magazines, reports, and publications issued by international organizations on the subject under investigation demonstrate that the secession of Southern Sudan sets a precedent for further secessionism thereby encouraging other groups fighting for independent statehood in the Horn of Africa.