THE OPEN UNIVERSITY OF TANZANIA

FACULTY OF LAW

OLW 309

PUBLIC INTERNATIONAL LAW COURSE OUTLINE

BY: KIHWELO P.F.(2004)

INTRODUCTION
This course intends to impart law students with the general knowledge of
international law and its practice. The course is designed specifically to provide law
students with an understanding of various aspects of international law.

At the end of this course students must be able to understand the meaning of
international law, different schools of thought on origins of international law, sources
of international law, subjects of international law, Diplomatic law, state responsibility
and the like.

It must however be pointed out that the reading list is not exhaustive enough as such
students are expected to use their own endeavour to solicit for more materials.

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NATURE, ORIGIN AND DEVELOPMENT OF INTERNATIONAL LAW
• Schools of Thought on the origins of International Law
• Definitions of International Law
• Is International Law really Law?
• Landmarks in the evolution of International Law.
• International Law and Africa.

BOOKS
ANAND, R.P., International Law and Developing Countries: Confrontation or
Cooperation?, Martinus Nijhoff Publishers, 1987
BERNHARDT, R. (ed), Encyclopaedia of Public International Law, Vol. Ii, North-
Holland, 1995, pp 716-816 especially p.849 et seq.
BROWNLIE, I., Principles of Public International Law (5th ed), Oxford University
Press, 1998
DUGARD, J., International Law: A South African Perspective, Juta, 1994
HARRIS, D.J., Cases and Material on International Law (5th ed) Sweet & Maxwell,
1998
JACKSON, J., Introduction to African Civilizations, 1970. Introduction, Ch. 2, 4.
KAPOOR, S.K., A Textbook of International Law (5th ed), Central Law Agency, 1982.
LLYOD OF HAMPSTEAD and FREEMAN, M.D., Lloyd’s Introduction to
Jurisprudence (5th ed), ELBS, 1986, pp. 52-64, 115-123.
MALANCZUK, P., Akehurst’s Modern Introduction to International Law (7th revised
ed), Routledge, 1997.
MOKHTAR, G. (ed), General History of Africa (Abridged ed) Vol. II. Ancient
Civilisations, of Africa, UNESCO, 1990, Ch. 1, especially at p. 21.
PICTET, J., Development and principles of International Humanitarian Law, Martinus
Nijhoff Publishers, 1985.
SHAW, M.N., International Law (4th ed), Grotius Publications Ltd., 1997, Ch. 1, Ch. 2.
SMITH, R.S., Warfare & Diplomacy in Pre-Colonial West Africa (2nd ed), 1989, Ch. 2,
8.
STARKE, J.G., Introduction to International Law (10th ed), Butterworths, 1989.
TUNKIN, I. (ed), International Law: A Textbook, Progress Publishers, 1986.

SOURCES OF INTERNATIONAL LAW

• Concept of “sources”
• Statute of the ICJ (Article 38 (1) )
• Treaties
• Custom
• General Principles
• Judicial Decisions and Writings of Experts
• Jus cogens

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BOOKS
• BROWNLIE, I. Principles of Public International Law (5th ed) Ch. 1
• GREIG, D.W., International Law, Butterworths, 1976, pp. 1-51.
• HARRIS, D.J., Cases and Material on International Law (5th ed), Ch. 3
• SHAW, M.N., International Law (4th ed), Grotius Publications Ltd, Ch. 3.
• STARKE, J.G., Introduction to International Law (10th ed), Ch. 2.

LEGAL TEXTS
• Statute of the International Court of Justice (Articles 38, 59, 60)

CASES
• Asylum case (Columbia v Peru), ICJ Reports, 1950 (International custom).
• Attorney General of Israel v. Adolf Eichmann, District Court of Jurusalem,
1961 (Writings by experts)
• Brazilian Loans Case (France v. Brazil), 1929, PCIJ Series A. No. 21
(Municipal Law as source).
• Fisheries Jurisdiction Case (UK v. Iceland), ICJ Reports, 1973 (International
Custom)
• Free Zones Case (on ex aequo et bono).
• Legality of the Threat or Use of Nuclear Weapons Case, Advisory Opinion of
the ICJ, 1996 (Treaties, custom in IHL).
• North Sea Continental Shelf Cases (FRG v Denmark, FRG v Netherlands),
ICJ Reports, 1969 (opinio juris).
• Reservation Case, Advisory Opinion of the ICJ, 1951 (Law-Making treaties).
• South West Africa Case, ICJ Reports, 1950 (General principles).
• Anglo-Norwegian fisheries case, 1951. (UK v Norway).

SUBJECTS OF INTERNATIONAL LAW

• International Legal Personality/Capacity
• Primary and Secondary Subjects
• Statehood in International Law.
• States
• Holy See
• Insurgents and Belligerents
• International Organisations (International Governmental Organisations).
• The Individual in International Law

BOOKS
• BROWNLIE, I., Principles of Public International Law (5th ed), ch.III.
• HARRIS, D.J., Cases and Materials on International Law (5th ed), Ch. 4
• MALANCZUK, P., Akehurst’s Modern Introduction to International Law (7th
rev. ed), Ch., 5 & 6

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 • SHAW, M.N., International Law (4th ed), Ch. 5
• STARKE, J.G., Introduction to International Law (10th ed), Ch. 3, pp. 95-128.

LEGAL TEXTS
• Charter of the UN, 1945, especially Arts. 1, 2, 3 and 25.
• Montevideo Convention, 1933 (Art 2) Reproduced in 28 JIL Suppl. 75 (1934)
• Statute of the International Court Justice, Arts. 34.
• Treaty for the Establishment of the East African Community, 1999, Art. 4.

CASES
• Deutsche Continental Gas-Gessell schaft (1929) (territory as an attribute).
• Island of Palmas case (1928) (acquisition of territory).
• North Sea Continental Shelf Cases, ICJ Reports, 1969 (criteria of statehood).
• Nottebohm Case, ICJ Reports, 1955 (Nationality/ citizenship).
• Reparations for Injuries Suffered in the Service of the UN. Advisory Opinion,
1949 (International Organisations).
• Western Sahara Case, Advisory Opinion of the ICJ, 1975, para. 93 (territory).
• A-G of Israel v. Adolf Eichmann, 36 ILR 5 (1961) (individual).
• Nuremberg Trials of 1947-49 (Individual in International Law) Reproduced in
41 AJIL 1947, 172-333.
• Prosecutor v. Jean Paul Akayesu, Case No. ICTR-96-4-T.

JURISDICTION
• Types of Jurisdiction
• Territorial
• Nationality
• Protective
• Universality
• Extradition

BOOKS
• BROWNLIE, I., Principles of Public International Law (5th ed) Ch. XV.
• HARRIS, D.J., Cases and Materials on International Law (5th ed), Ch. 6.
• MALANCZUK, P., Akehurst’s Modern Introduction to International Law (7th
ed). Ch. 7, 8.
• SHAW ,M.N., International Law (4th ed), ch. Ch. 11,12.
• SHEARER, I.A., Extradition in International Law, 1971.
• STARKE, J.G., Introduction to International Law (10th ed), Ch. 8.

ARTICLES
• Akehurst, M., “Jurisdiction in International Law”, Vol. 46 British Year book of
International Law, 1972-73, pp. 152-169.
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 • Bowett, D.W., “Jurisdiction: Changing Patterns of Authority over Activities and
Resources”, Vol. 53 British Yearbook of International Law, 1982, p.1
• Harvard Research Draft Convention on Jurisdiction with Respect to Crime,
Vol. 29 American Journal of International Law, Supplement 443 (1935), p.
435.
• Martland, Brock, “At the Crossroads of IL The Pinochet Case”, No. 77 Africa
Law Review, February-April, 1999, p. 6.
• Colin, Warbick et als. “The Pinochet cases in the UK, “ vol. 2 YBIHL (1999) 91.
• “The Pinochet case: IL catches up with Human Rights violators,” African Law
Review, (No. 77 of Feb-Apri 1999)35.
• www.dereclios.org/nizkor/chile/judicio/eng.html.

LEGAL TEXTS
• Charter of the United Nations 1945 (especially, Articles 1, 2(2), 2(3), and 2(4).
• Charter of the OAU, 1963 (Articles 2(1)(c), 2(1)(e), 3(1), 3(2) and 3(3).
• Statute of the International Criminal Tribunal for Rwanda (ICTR).
• Statute of the International Criminal Court.

CASES
• A-G of the Government of Israel v Adolf Eichmann, 36 ILR 5 (1961).
• Arbitration Ruling of the UN Secretary General, 26 ILM 1349 (1987).
• Frisbie v Collins (1952) US Supreme Court, 342 US 519.
• Ker v Illinois (1886) 119 US 436.
• Pinochet.
• State [of South Africa] v Ebrahim, 31 ILM 890 (1992)
• The Lotus Case (France v Turkey), PCIJ Reports Series A, No. 10.
• The Nicaragua Case (Merits) (Nicaragua v USA), ICJ Reports, 1986.
• The Nottebohm Case (Liechtenstein v Guatemala), ICJ Reports, 1955.
• The Rainbow Warrior Incident (New Zealand v France) aka L’affaire
Greenpeace.
• US v. Alvarez-Machain, 31 ILM 900 (1992).

INTERFACE BETWEEN INTERNATIONAL LAW AND MUNICIPAL LAW

• Monism
• Dualism
• Incorporation
• Transformation Self-Executing Treaties
• The Law and Practice in Tanzania

BOOKS
• BROWNLIE, I., Principles of Public International Law (5th ed) Ch. II.
• HARRIS, D.J., Cases and Materials on International Law (5th ed), pp.
• KABUDI, P., Human Rights Jurisprudence in East Africa, 1995, pp. 26-28.

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 • MALANCZUK, P., Akehurst’s Modern Introduction to International Law (7th
ed), pp. 63-74.
• SEATON, E.E., and MALITI, S.T., Tanzania Treaty Practice, 1973, pp, 99 and
110 et seq.
• SHAW, M.N., International Law (4th ed), Ch 4.
• SHIVJI, I.G., The legal Foundations of the Union in Tanzania’s Union and
Zanzibar Constitution, pp. 2, 13-14

LEGAL TEXTS
• Azimio Na. 9 la 1996. Resolution of the Parliament of the URT on the Lusaka
Agreement on Co-operative Enforcement Operations Directed at Illegal Trade
in Wild Fauna and Flora).
• Basic Law for the Federal Republic of Germany, 1949, Article 25.
• Constitution of the Federal Russian Republic.
• Constitution of the Republic of Malawi, Article 211.
• Constitution of the Republic of Namibia, Article 144.
• Constitution of the Republic of South Africa, 1996, Articles 231-234.
• Constitution of the United Republic of Tanzania, Articles 63(3)(d) & (e).
• Vienna Convention on the Law of Treaties of 1969, Articles 27, 46, 47.

ARTICLES
• Bradley, C.A., “Federal Courts and the Incorporation of International Law”, III
Harvard Law Review (1998), pp. 2260-2275.
• Erasmus, G. “The Namibian Constitution and the Application of International
Law”, in D. van Wyk, M. Wierchers and R. Hill (eds), Namibian Constitutional
and International Law Issues, Pretoria: University of South Africa, 1991, pp.
81-110.
• Kamanga, K. International Human Rights Law as Reflected in Tanzania’s
Treaty and Court Practice, [Paper Presented at the Judge’s Course on
Constitutionalism and Human Rights Held at Faculty of Law, UDSM, 1998.
• Mason, Sir Anthony, “The Relationship Between International Law and
National Law, and its Application in National Courts”, Commonwealth Law
Bulletin, April 1992, pp. 750-754.
• Partsch, K.J., “International Law and Municipal Law”, in Rudolf Bernhardt (ed)
Encyclopedia of Public International Law, Vol. II, North Holland, 1995, pp.
1183-1202.
• Peter, C.M., “Incorporation of International Conventions in the Municipal Law:
The Case of Environment Protection Conventions in Tanzania”, International
Law Review, No. 2, May-August 1997, pp. 149-188.
• Rambaud, P., “International Law and Municipal Law: Conflicts and their
Review by Third States”, I. Rudolf Bernhardt (ed), ibid, pp. 1202-1206.
• Vijoen, F., “Application of the African Charter on Human and Peoples’ Rights
by Domestic Courts in Africa”, Vol 43 Journal of African Law, 1999, pp. 1-17.

CASES
• [For Tanzania Case Law on the subject, consult the article by Kamanga cited
above].
• Bercelona Traction Case, ICJ Reports, 1970, pp. 3, 37 pp. 71-72, pp. 233-234.
• Ex-parte Salamat Bibi [1976]1 WLR 979, 984.
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 • Free Zones Case, 1932.
• German Interests in Polish Upper Silesia Cases, PCIJ Series A, No. 7, 1926 at
p. 19 Okunda v. R., [1970] E.A. 453.
• R. v. EAC [1970] E.A. 457.
• Solomon v Commissioner of Customs & Excise [1967]2 QB 116 at 143.
• South West Africa/ Namibia (Advisory Opinions and Judgements), ICJ Reports
1950, p. 148.
• Trendtex Trading Corporation v Central Bank of Nigeria [1977] QB 529, 557.

LAW OF TREATIES
• Terminologies (Treaty, Convention, Charter, Covenant, Protocol, Pact)
• Vienna Convention on the Law of Treaties, 1969
• The term “treaty”
• Treaty-Making Process
• Form
• Full Powers
• Consent to be Bound by a Treaty
• Reservations
• Entry into Force
• Valid Treaty

BOOKS
• BROWNLIE, I., Principles of Public International Law (5th ed) Ch. XXVI.
• HARRIS, D.J., Cases and Materials on International Law (5th ed), pp.
• KAPOOR, S.K., A Textbook of International Law (5th ed), Central Law
Agency,1982, pp. 389-410.
• MALANCZUK, P., Modern Introduction to International Law (7th ed), pp. 130-
146.
• SEATON, E.E., and MALITI, S.T., Tanzania Treaty Practice, 1973.
• SHAW ,M.N., International Law (4th ed), ch. Ch. 16.
• TUNKIN, G.I. (ed), International Law: Progress Publishers, 1986, pp. 148-173.

LEGAL TEXTS
• Charter of the United Nations, 1945, especially Article 102.
• Constitution of the United Republic of Tanzania, 1977, especially Articles 63
(3) (d) and (e).
• II Yearbook of the International Law Commission (1966) 177-274.
• Treaty for the Establishment of the East African Community, 1999.
• Vienna Convention on the Law of Treaties, 1969, Text in 8 ILM (1969) 679, 63
AJIL (1969) 875.

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ARTICLES
• Bowett, D.W., “Reservatii
• Pisillo-Mazzeschi, “Treaty and Custom: Reflections on the Codification of
International Law”, 23 No. 1, 2 Commonwealth Law Bulletin (1997) 549.
• Rosenne, S., “Vienna Convention on the Law of Treaties”, in EPIL, Vol. 7
(1984). Pp. 525.
• Sinclair, I.M., “The Principles of Treaty Incorporation and their Application by
the English Courts”, 63 pp. 508-551.

CASES
• Fisheries Jurisdiction case, ICJ Report, 1973 (Invalidity, Termination).
• Free Zones of Upper Savoy and the District of Gex, PCIJ Reports, Series A/b
No. 46, 1932 (Third States).
• Genocide Case, Advisory Opinion of the ICJ, 1951 (Reservations).
• Legal Consequences for States of the Continued Presence of South Africa in
Namibia, Advisory Opinion, ICJ Reports, 1971 (Breach of Treaty).
• Legal Status of Eastern Greenland, PCIJ Reports, Series A/B, No. 53, 1933
(Format).
• Nicaragua case, ICJ Report, 1984 (Denunciation).

STATE RESPONSIBILITY
• ILC Draft Articles on State Responsibility
• Attributability/Imputability
• Objective Responsibility
• Subjective Responsibility or the Fault/Culpa doctrine
• The Status of Aliens

BOOKS
• BROWNLIE, I. Principles of Public International Law (5th ed) Ch. XXI.
• HARRIS, D.J., Cases and Materials on International Law (5th ed),
• MALANCZUK, P., Akehurst’s Modern Introduction to International Law (7th
ed), pp. 63-74.
• SHAW, M.N., International Law (4th ed), Ch14
• STARKE, J.G., International Law (10th ed), pp. 293-320
• VONN GLAHN, G., Law Among Nations: An Introduction to Public
International Law (7th ed), Boston: Allyn and Bacon, 1996. Ch. 8.

ARTICLES
• Bedjaoui, M., “Responsibility of States, Fault and Strict Liability”, 10 EPIL
(1987), 358-362.
• Boyle, A.E, “State Responsibility and International Liability for Injurious
Consequences of acts Not Prohibited by International Law: A necessary
Distinction?”, 39 ICLQ (1990) 1-26.
• Jagota, S.P., “State Responsibility: Circumstances Precluding Wrongfulness”,
16 Netherlands Yearbook of International Law (1985), 249-277.

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 • Gross 74 AJIL (1980) 395.

CASES
• Barcelona Traction, Light and Power Co. Ltd., ICJ Report, 1970, 3.
• Home Missionary Society Claim (1920), VI RIIA, 42.
• Youman’s Claim (1926), IV RIIA, 110.
• Caire Claim (1929), V Riia, 516.
• Panevezys- Saldutskis Ralway (1937), PCIJ Series A/B No. 76, 16.
• Nottebohm, ICJ Report 1955, 4-65.
• Saghi v Islamic Republic of Iran, Iran-U.S. Claims Tribunal, Jan. 22, 1993, 87
AJIL (1993) 447-452.
• Flexi-Van Leasing Inc. v Islamic Republic of Iran, Iran-U.S. Claims Tribunal,
Order of December 15, 1982.
• Ambatielos (Greece v UK) (1956), XII RIIA 83 or 23 ILR (1956) 306.
• Chorzow case (1928) PCIJ.
• Mavromatis (1924)
• Yeager v. Iran

LEGAL AND OTHER TEXTS

• Draft Articles on State Responsibility, 1978, Text in Brownlie, I., BDIL (4th ed),
426.

DIPLOMATIC LAW
• Vienna Convention on Diplomatic Relations, 1961
• Types of Diplomatic Missions and Ranks
• Members of Staff of the Mission
• Establishment of the Diplomatic Mission
• Agreement, Persona non grata and Not acceptable
• Rights and Duties of the Receiving and the Sending States.
• Diplomatic Immunities and Privileges
• Diplomatic Pouch
• Diplomatic and Consular Immunities and Privileges Act (Tanzania)

BOOKS
• Brownlie, I., Principles of Public International Law (5th ed), Ch. XVII
• Feltham, R.G., Diplomatic Handbook (6th ed), Longman, 1993
• Harris, D.J., CMIL (5th ed), pp.
• Malanczuk, Akehurst’s Modern Introduction to International Law, pp. 123-129
• Satow’s Guide to Diplomatic Practice (5th ed), 1979
• Sen, A., A Diplomat’s Handbook of International Law and Practices, (3rd ed)
Dordrecht: Maritinus Nijhoff Publishers 1988.
• Starke, J.G., Introduction to International Law (10th ed), pp. 421-435
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 • Von Glahn, G., Law Among Nations: An Introduction to public IL, (7th ed)
Boston: Allyn and Bacon, 1996, pp.412-457.
• Smith, R.S., Warfare and Diplomacy in Pre-colonial West Africa (2nd ed)
James Currey. Ch. 2 pp. 7-23

ARTICLES
• Gross, L., “The Case Concerning United States Diplomatic and Consular Staff
in Tehran: Phase of Provisional Measures”, 74 AJIL (1980) 395
• Kerley, E.L., “Some aspects of the Vienna Conference on Diplomatic
Intercourse and Immunities”, 56 AJIL (1962) 88
• O’Keefe, P.J., “priviledges and Immunities of the Diplomatic Family”, 25 ICLQ
(1976) 329
• Wilson, “Diplomatic Privileges and Immunities: The Retinue and Families of
the Diplomatic Staff”, 14 ICLQ (1965) 1265

LEGAL TEXTS
• Vienna Convention on Diplomatic Relations, 1961. Text in 500 UNITS 95, 55
AJIL (1963) 1064 or Brownlie, BDIL (4th ed), pp. 217-234
• Vienna Convention on Consular Relations, 1963. Text in 57 AJIL (1963) 995
• (Tanzania) Diplomatic and Consular Immunities and Privileges Act, 1986 (Act
No. 5 of 1986)
• Yearbook of the International Law Commission, II 1958
• Draft Articles on State Responsibility, 1978

CASES
• Tehran Hostages Case (USA v Iran), ICJ Report, 1980 especially, paras, 58,
59, 61, 67
• Chorzow Factory Case (Germany v Poland), PCIJ Reports Series A, No. 17,
p. 29
• R v Guidall Magistrate’s Court, ex-parte Jarret-Thorpe, as quoted in Harris,
CMIL (4th ed) 328
• Libyan Peoples’ Bureau Incident, Quoted in Harris, CMIL 330

THREAT OR USE OF FORCE BY STATES

• Declaration of Principles of International Law, 1970
• United Nations Charter
• Article 2(4)
• Article 51
• Chapter VII
• Experience of the Security Council

BOOKS
• CASSESE, A., The Current Legal Regulation of the Use of Force, 1986
• HARRIS, D.J., CMIL (5th ed),
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 • MALCANZUK, P., Akehurst’s Modern Introduction to International Law (7th
ed), pp. 306-317
• STARKE, J.G., International Law (10th ed), pp. 519-525
• VAN GLAHN, G., Law of Nations, 1996. Ch. 20

LEGAL TEXTS
• Charter of the UN, 1945 (especially, Articles 2(4), 24, 39-51)
• Pisillo-Mazzeschi, “Theory and Custom: Reflections on the Codification of
International Law”, 23, No. 1, 2 Commonwealth Law Bulletin (1997) 549.
• Rosenne, S., “Vienna Convention on the Law of Treaties”, in EPIL, Vol. 7
(1948), pp. 525.
• Sinclair, I.M., “The Principles of Treaty Incorporation and their Application by
the English Courts”, 63 ICLQ (1963), pp. 508-551.

CASES
• Fisheries Jurisdiction case, ICJ Report, 1973 (Invalidity, Termination).
• Free Zones of Upper Savoy and the District of Gex, PCIJ Reports, Series A/B
No. 46, 1932 (Third States).
• Genocide Case, Advisory Opinion of the ICJ, 1951 (Reservations).
• Legal Consequences for States of the Continued Presence of South Africa in
Namibia, Advisory Opinion, ICJ Reports, 1971 (Breach of Treaty)
• Legal Status of Eastern Greenland, PCIJ Reports, Series A/B, No. 53, 1933
(Format).
• Nicaragua case, ICJ Report, 1984 (Denunciation).

PEACEFUL/ PACIFIC SETTLEMENT OF INTERNATIONAL

DISPUTES
• Declaration of the Principles of International Law, 1970
• United Nations Charter
• Article 2(3)
• Article 33
• Article 52
• Dispute Settlement Mechanisms (Diplomatic, Judicial, Regional
Arrangements)
• The International Court of Justice
• Arbitration

LAW OF THE SEA

• United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea, 1982 (UNCLOS)
• Concept and Codification

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• Territorial Sea
• Contiguous Zone
• Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ)
• High Seas
• Conservation and Management of Natural Resources
• The Practice and Law in Tanzania

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