The origins of this text lie in a desire to explore the role of African states as assertive actors, particularly in their role in other African states. The book examines: the changing legal framework in which interventions occur; the states classed as intervenors; and examples of intervened states.

Examining the phenomenon of conflict in Africa, this text addresses situations where African states and African military intervene in conflicts either in neighbouring states or beyond. While this trend has been widely observed, this text fills a gap in the literature for in-depth research that deals with such issues. It aims to break new ground in identifying key issues, actors and actions, and includes analysis of military capacities of African states and the way in which armies are used, including the increasing role of private security companies and mercenaries. The changing attitudes among members of the OAU are examined, in particular the increasing acceptance of interventionism and the blurring of boundaries. The most significant cases of intervention are examined, together with less well-documented examples as Lesotho and Guinea-Bissau.

Part 1 Legal and military issues: African interventionist states and international law, Jeremy Levitt
African military capabilities in insurrection, intervention and peace support operations, Tony Clayton. Part 2 The intervenors: Tanzanian intervention in Amin's Uganda, Oliver Furley and Roy May
Angola, Norrie McQueen
Ethiopia and Eritrea - insecurity and intervention in the Horn, Christopher Clapham
Sudan, Peter Woodward
SADC's intervention into Lesotho - an illegal defence of democracy?, Roger Southall
from intervened to intervenor - Rwanda and military intervention in Zaire/DRC, Mel McNulty. Part 3 Victims of intervention: DRC - Africa's scramble for Africa, Gerry Cleaver and Simon Massey
Sierra Leone - a victim of intervention, Gerry Cleaver
intervention in Guinea-Bissau, Simon Massey
interventionist companies - privatising the military option, Gerry Cleaver.