The disturbing news of wars around the world compels many to ask why we continue to see these kinds of dirty wars and why those who wage them are not prosecuted for violating the laws governing wars. In this course, we clarify what is meant by war and what distinguishes it from other war-like situations, such as military incidents or armed clashes, pre-emptive strikes and retributions, as well as terrorism and proxy wars. We also review the different types of war—just and unjust, inter-state and intra-state, local and international, etc.; their causes, including political, economic, and social factors; and what the laws of war prohibit. These theoretical explications are complemented by identifying international crimes that were committed in the recent wars of the Horn of Africa and the political efforts that were made to ensure accountability for violating the laws of wars, all in vain.
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