JHASS

Article http://dx.doi.org/10.26855/jhass.2025.04.021

Principle of the Prohibition of the Use of Force in Public International Law Tested by the Veto Power of the Permanent Members of the Security Council

TOTAL VIEWS: 218

Jeanine Ndihokubwayo1,*, Ningaba Etienne2, Victor Barantota3, Niyukuri Aimable2, Tuyisenge Marie Yvette4, Iteriteka Alida Gratienne5

1Department of Administrative and Economic Sciences, Hope Africa University, Bujumbura 238, Burundi.

2Master in Public International Law, Hope Africa University, Bujumbura 238, Burundi.

3Department of Educational Sciences, Hope Africa University, Bujumbura 238, Burundi.

4Department of Communication, Hope Africa University, Bujumbura 238, Burundi.

5Master of Community Development, Hope Africa University, Bujumbura 238, Burundi.

*Corresponding author: Jeanine Ndihokubwayo

Published: May 8,2025

Abstract

This article deals with the application of the principle prohibiting the use of force in public international law, with particular attention to the right of veto of the permanent members of the Security Council. The objectives of the survey are to measure international public perception related to the application of the principle of prohibition of the use of force to permanent members of the Security Council, as well as to examine the factors that influence this perception. A survey carried out among 64 members of the ministries of Foreign Affairs or embassies of targeted countries highlights the application of the principle of prohibiting the use of force in international public law, particularly with regard to the right of veto of the permanent members of the Security Council. This study helps to clarify the contours of this fundamental principle of international public law and to examine the practical implications it presents for international relations. Survey results showed that the majority of respondents support the application of this principle to the permanent members of the Security Council, despite the challenges posed by the veto power. 72% of respondents support the application of the principle of prohibiting the use of force to permanent members of the Security Council. 23% are undecided or opposed to this idea. Respondents who support the application of the principle of prohibiting the use of force mainly come from Western countries (80%), while respondents from developing countries are more divided (45% for and 35% against). Women are more in favor of applying the principle of prohibiting the use of force (78%) than men (65%). The results show that the majority of the international population is in favor of applying the principle of prohibiting the use of force to permanent members of the Security Council. However, it is important to take into account differences between countries and genders to understand the motivations behind these opinions.

References

African Union. (2000). Constitutive Act of the African Union. Lomé, Togo. 

https://au.int/sites/default/files/pages/34873-file-constitutive_act_french-1.pdf

Bensalah, T. (1976). International inquiry in conflict resolution. Paris: LGDJ.

Bouvier, J. (2020). The UN Security Council: A critical analysis of the right of veto and its implications in international law. Global Governance Journal.

Briand-Kellogg Pact. (1928, August 27). Paris. https://mjp.univ-perp.fr/traites/1928briand-kellogg.htm

Caligiuri, A. (2004). The right of intervention of the African Union and the prohibition of the use of force in international law.

Cassese, A. (2005). International law. Oxford: Oxford University Press.

Charter of the United Nations. (1945). https://www.un.org/en/charter-united-nations

Corten, O. (2018). Alexandra Hofer & Tom Ruys, The Use of Force in International Law: A Case-Based Approach. Oxford: Oxford University Press.

Cot, J. P. (1968). International conciliation. Paris: Pedone.

Cull, N. J. (2008). Public diplomacy: Lessons from the past. The Annals of the American Academy of Political and Social Science, 616(1).

Daillier, P., & Pellet, A. (1999). Public international law (6th ed.). Paris: LGDJ.

De la Sablière, J. M. (2018). The United Nations Security Council: Ambitions and Limits. Brussels: Larcier.

Debard, T., & Guinchard, S. (2012). Glossary of legal terms (19th ed.). Paris: Dalloz.

Delnoy, P. (2006). Elements of legal methodology (2nd ed.). Brussels: De Boeck & Larcier.

Dupuy, P. M., & Kerbrat, Y. (2018). Public international law (14th ed.). Paris: Dalloz.

Ellet, A. (1995). The United Nations: Fundamental texts. Paris: PUF.

Franck, T. (1970). Who killed Article 2(4)? Or: Changing norms governing the use of force by states. American Journal of International Law, 64(4).

Gail Gardam, J. (1993). Proportionality and force in international law. American Journal of International Law.

Garcia, T. (2021). Use of force and international law: International and European perspectives. hal-01842222.

Gerbet, P., Ghebali, V. Y., & Mouton, M. R. (1996). The dream of a world order: From the League of Nations to the UN. Paris: National Printing Office.

Glennon, M. (2005). How international rules die? Georgetown Law Journal, 93(3).

Goury, B. (2015). Security Council and the right of veto. Association Après-demain, 35.

https://www.vie-publique.fr/fiches/274824-quest-ce-que-le-droit-de-veto-au-conseil-de-securite-de-lonu#:~:text=The article % 2027%20of%20the,that a%20d%C3%A9decision%20 is%20rejection%C3%A9e. accessed 01/10/2023.

International Court of Justice. (1969, February 20). North Sea Continental Shelf (Federal Republic of Germany v. Denmark; Federal Republic of Germany v. Netherlands).

International Court of Justice. (1986, June 27). Military and Paramilitary Activities in and against Nicaragua (Nicaragua v. United States of America).

International Court of Justice. (1996, July 7). Legality of the Threat or Use of Nuclear Weapons (Advisory Opinion).

International Court of Justice. (2011, April 1). Application of the International Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Racial Discrimination (Georgia v. Russia) (Preliminary Objections).

International Tribunal for the Law of the Sea. (2017, September 23). Dispute concerning delimitation of the maritime boundary between Ghana and Côte d'Ivoire in the Atlantic Ocean (Ghana v. Côte d'Ivoire).

Jiménez de Aréchaga, E. (1950). Voting and the handling of disputes in the Security Council. New York: Praeger.

Knecht, M. (2009). The veto in the UN Security Council: A necessary evil? International Relations, 23(3).

Kumar, R., & Choudhury, S. (2023). The role of permanent members of the UN Security Council in the use of force: A double-edged sword? Journal of International Affairs.

Le Floch, G. (2009). Does the principle of the prohibition of the use of force still have positive value? Law and Cultures, 57.

League of Nations. (1919). Covenant of the League of Nations. Versailles. 

https://libraryresources.unog.ch/ld.php?content_id=32971179

Lopez, R. (2022). Veto power, human rights, and the use of force in international relations. International Relations Journal.

Mazeron, F. (1997). The control of legality of the decisions of the Security Council: An assessment after the Lockerbie orders and the Tadić decision. Revue Québécoise de Droit International, 10.

Muhunga, K. X. (2015). The right of veto in the United Nations Security Council between legal guarantee of an international peace of exclusion and political blockage of the resolution of conflicts [Doctoral thesis]. Catholic University of Congo.

Nkunzwenabake. (2021). Qualitative and quantitative analysis. Bujumbura, Burundi.

Packer, R., & Rukare, P. (2002). The new African Union and its Constitutive Act. American Journal of International Law, 96(2).

Permanent Court of International Justice. (1924, August 30). Mavrommatis Palestine Concessions Case.

Plantey, V. A. (1980). International negotiation: Principles and methods. Paris: CNRS.

Pourcel, E. (2017). Prohibition of the use of force: Where are we? National Defense Review, 803.

Schmidt, J. (2022). Assessing the legitimacy of veto use in the context of international peace and security. Human Rights Review.

United Nations Security Council. (1946). Basic facts about the UN Security Council.
https://www.un.org/securitycouncil/

United Nations Security Council. (2012, April 14). Resolution 2042.
http://unscr.com/en/resolutions/2042

United Nations Security Council. (2012, April 21). Resolution 2043.
http://unscr.com/en/resolutions/2043

United Nations Security Council. (2022, March 1). Resolution 2623 (Ukraine).

https://documents-ddsny.un.org/doc/UNDOC/GEN/N22/271/33/PDF/N2227133.pdf

United Nations. (1989). Resolution on the protection of human rights and the principle of non-intervention in the internal affairs of states. Santiago de Compostela.
https://www.idi-iil.org/app/uploads/2017/06/1989_comp_03_fr.pdf

United Nations. (2003). Bruges Declaration on the Use of Force.

https://www.idi-iil.org/app/uploads/2017/06/2007_san_03_en.pdf

Vincent, P. (2005). For better global governance: Reform of the United Nations Security Council. Pyramides.

Wagner, M. (2021). The impact of the UN Security Council veto power on the principle of non-use of force. International Journal of Law and Military Operations.

How to cite this paper

Principle of the Prohibition of the Use of Force in Public International Law Tested by the Veto Power of the Permanent Members of the Security Council

How to cite this paper: Jeanine Ndihokubwayo, Ningaba Etienne, Victor Barantota, Niyukuri Aimable, Tuyisenge Marie Yvette, Iteriteka Alida Gratienne. (2025) Principle of the Prohibition of the Use of Force in Public International Law Tested by the Veto Power of the Permanent Members of the Security Council. Journal of Humanities, Arts and Social Science9(4), 787-799.

DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.26855/jhass.2025.04.021