مجلة البحوث القانونية و الاقتصادية
Volume 9, Numéro 2, Pages 158-178
2026-05-16
Legal Responsibility And Effective Obligations Of Non-state Armed Groups
Authors : Merzoug Ouafa .
Abstract
This study examines the legal status, obligations, and accountability of non-state armed groups under international law. Despite lacking formal legal personality and international recognition, these groups are bound by international humanitarian law (IHL) and human rights law when exercising organized violence and controlling territory or populations. Their obligations stem from the objective and customary nature of humanitarian rules, their effective authority over populations, and the urgent need to protect civilians and prevent impunity. The research highlights the minimal guarantees afforded to members of such groups, the absence of combatant status, and the scope of individual criminal responsibility, particularly command responsibility. International jurisprudence, including cases from the ICTY, Sierra Leone, and the DRC, illustrates the enforcement of these obligations. The study concludes that legal accountability applies regardless of political legitimacy, ensuring protection for civilians and reinforcing the humanitarian purpose of international law.
Keywords
Non-State Armed Groups ; International Humanitarian Law ; Effective Control ; Individual Criminal Responsibility ; Civilian Protection
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