Thesis Abstract

Conflicts in Africa have been a significant issue that has plagued the continent for decades. This research project aims to delve into the various causes of conflicts in Africa, as well as the impact these conflicts have had on the region. By examining historical and contemporary sources, the study seeks to identify common themes and patterns that contribute to conflict escalation in Africa. One of the primary causes of conflicts in Africa is linked to colonial legacies. The arbitrary drawing of borders by colonial powers often divided ethnic groups and created artificial nations, leading to tensions and power struggles post-independence. Additionally, the exploitation of resources by colonial powers has left a legacy of economic inequality and competition, contributing to conflict over control of valuable assets. Another significant factor in African conflicts is governance issues. Weak or corrupt governments often fail to provide basic services and security to their populations, leading to discontent and unrest. Authoritarian regimes that suppress dissent also sow the seeds of conflict, as marginalized groups seek to challenge oppressive rule. Ethnic and religious tensions are also prevalent causes of conflict in Africa. Competition for resources, political power, or historical grievances often manifest along ethnic or religious lines, leading to violence and instability. In some cases, external actors exploit these divisions for their own interests, further fueling conflict. Furthermore, economic factors play a crucial role in conflict escalation. Poverty, unemployment, and lack of economic opportunities create fertile ground for recruitment by insurgent groups and criminal organizations. Economic disparities between regions or social groups can also lead to resentment and conflict over access to resources. The impact of conflicts in Africa is multifaceted and far-reaching. Humanitarian crises, displacement of populations, and loss of life are immediate consequences of conflict. Long-term effects include the destruction of infrastructure, disruption of social services, and hindrance of economic development. Additionally, conflicts in one region can have spill-over effects, destabilizing neighboring countries and exacerbating regional insecurity. In conclusion, conflicts in Africa are complex phenomena with multiple interconnected causes. Addressing these root issues requires a comprehensive approach that tackles governance failures, economic inequalities, and social divisions. By understanding the underlying causes of conflicts in Africa, policymakers and stakeholders can work towards sustainable peace and development in the region.

Thesis Overview

INTRODUCTION

Conflict can be defined as a clash or disagreement often violent between opposing groups or individuals. It can also be said to be an incompatibility, as of two things that cannot be simultaneously fulfilled.

The word conflict is as old as mankind. This is because the word has been in existence in all area of man life since the inception of the world. The word conflict is derived from the Latin word configure, meaning to strike together. Conflict also means contradiction arising from differences in interest, ideas, ideologies, orientations, beliefs perceptions and tendencies.

Conflicts usually occurs primarily as a result of a clash of interests in the relationship between parties groups and states, either because they are pursuing opposing or incompatible goals.

CAUSES OF CONFLICT IN AFRICA

          Conflict arising from the militarization of the society: abundance of weaponry and trained soldiers and untrained volunteers available to any would be warlord with resources and determination.

1. Poor economic performance: a more basic and long term cause of conflict has been the catastrophic economic performance of many African countries. Coupled with the debt problem. Poor flows of private capital into some African countries and foreign and programs often inefficient as Neil. Economic discomfort can bail out into conflict. The deepest causes of the conflict; economic despair, social injustice, and political oppression. In the midst of poverty, African ruling classes or the elite group who happen to hold power at a particular time, have enriched themselves and become the targets of envy or of rivalry by other elite groups.

 

2. Political/Domestic: Power struggles hostile groups over population economic or religious disparities oppression and demand for democracy communal or ethnic violence related to economic social religious cultural or ethnic issues.

3. Political/International:These takes the form of ideological or political campaigns territorial claims and religious expansionism against other states regional rivalries terrorism, coercion or discrimination respecting the trade or economy of other states

4. Ethnicity;a major cause of Africa conflicts been ethnicity and it has continued to be so, the creation of independence was accompanied urgent calls for nation building by the new African leaders who werewell aware of the difficulty in transcending Africa ethnic and regional loyalties .There have been a number of separatistmovement causing attempts of secession such as Katangain Zaire, Biafra in Nigeria and others in SudanEthiopia and Somalia

5. Military: Interstate aggression annexation intervention or hostility for example support for the rebels of other states or for separatist movement

6. Inter-state borders: Commonto many conflicts is the unsatisfactory nature of interstate borders. Nearly all the borders were inherited from colonial times and were the product of negotiations and treaties between the colonial power decided in Europe with the aid of poor maps and with scant attention to Africa peoples, the African government shield away from making adjustments and in any case these was difficult as they did not all reach independence at the same time.

7. Persecution: It connotes violation of human rights mass movements of refuges poverty or instability caused by the mismanagement or ineptitude of the government including evident andperceived levels of corruption by the government beyond and acceptable limit of traditional toleration.

8. Conflict over psychological needs: Conflicts over psychological needs of group and individuals are conflict which cannot be seen but affect the psyche of the individual and groups self-actualization need for individual and group respect attempt to protect on group to be better than the others.

9. Conflicting involving values: Contradicting value system such as religious belief and ideological position and general worldview is another factor responsible for social conflict among the interacting parties.

10. Conflict over resources: These kind of conflict are usually easy to identify because they can be seen and amore potentially easy to resolve. This conflict occurs when two or more people are competing for inadequate (or perceived to be inadequate) resources over a period of time .The competition may assume negative or destructive dimension when the available resources are not evenly and judiciously distributed.

 

TEN CONFLICT RESOLUTION MECHANISM BY THE UNITED NATIONS

          The United Nations primary mission is symbolized by the opening words of the charter. They dedicate the united nation to saving “succeeding generations from the scourge of war which has brought untold sorrows to mankind and the maintenance of international peace and security. Theunited nation through diplomatic intervention has direct role in assisting and encouraging countries to settle their disputes peace and security contributeto world peace and security in this regard the United Nations performs the following function.

1. Inquiry: fact finding by neutral investigation, they find fact by neutral investigation they investigate about things they also inquire about things that happen in the nation.

2. GoodOffices: encouraging parties to negotiate. TheUnited Nations encourages parties to negotiate they preferother parties to relate with each other to do things in common

3. Mediation: making suggestions about possible solutions acting asan intermediary between two parties to suggest about possible solution. They also serve as middle men between two different parties to help them suggest about possible solution.

4. Arbitration: Using a special panelto find a solution that all parties agree in advance to accept they find solution to all parties.

5. Adjudication submitting disputes to an international courts such as the United Nations international court of justice (I.C.J)

6. Enforcement ofsanction: peace maintenance involve three distinct but interrelated activities.

7. Peacekeeping: It involves coordinated efforts to ensure stability and relative           chaoticsituation. Peace keeping has no express constitutional legislation in the UN carter it’s a pragmatic response to the program.

8. United Nation extend goal is to create conditions conducive to establish lasting political settlement they help to create a conducive environment for last longing political settlement.

9. UnitedNations resolves conflict in Africa by using mediation conducted by the use of good will eminent personalities mandated by the assembly of head of states and government .They help to develop tools which were quite effective in the mediation of interstateconflict.

10. Another mechanism was the mounted operations by the United Nations the Africa union and other organization such as the commonwealth ECOWAS ranging from political missions andelection monitoring missions to military and civil policy observer groups, or to peace keeping and peace enforcement missions.