Human security and state sovereignty : impact on individual sovereignty in Africa

The debate over the concepts of human security, state security and individual sovereignty and their interrelationships has attracted renewed attention. This heightened interest is due to the realisation that human security and state security concerns need to be addressed within the theoretical construct of individual sovereignty. On this basis, this paper argues that a comprehensive understanding of the human security and state sovereignty discourse as perceived and redefined in contemporary debates can only make sense within the framework of individual sovereignty. The paper makes a case for a balanced approach where the state will be committed to undertaking both traditional and redefined roles on sovereignty and human security issues with support from non-state actors, including regional and international organisations.