It is a crime to engage in armed insurrection with intent to overthrow, supplant or change the form of government of a legally constituted government. It is equally a crime to participate in the leadership of such an insurrection or to organize, provide substantial support or advocate it.
Rebellions are a powerful and seemingly ubiquitous menace throughtout sub-Saharan Africa, killing thousands of people annually, turning millions into refugees, and leaving countries bereft of civil and political order. Insurgency by the Shining Path movement in Peru was reported in 1992 to have claimed 25,000 lives since 1980.