Table of Content

1. INRODUCTION: ..................................................................................................................
................2
2. LIST OF AFRICAN COUNTRIES....................................................................................
..................2
3. AFRICA AND CONFLICTS...............................................................................................
..................3
3.1 BACKGROUND STATISTICS:..................................................................................................................3
4. DISPUTE VS CONFLICT.............................................................................................................
........5
5. WHAT IS CONFLICT?....................................................................................................
.....................5
6. TYPES OF CONFLICTS...............................................................................................................
........6
6.1 DYSFUNCTIONAL CONFLICT:................................................................................................................6
6.2 FUNCTIONAL/CREATIVE CONFLICT:......................................................................................................7
6.3 ARMED CONFLICT:.............................................................................................................................7
7. ALTERNATIVES TO CONFLICTS........................................................................................
............7
8. CAUSES OF CONFLICTS IN AFRICA................................................................................
.............7
8.1 POVERTY:.........................................................................................................................................8
8.2 THE LEGACY OF COLONIALISM:...........................................................................................................8
8.3 FORMALISATION OF EXPANSIONISM:.....................................................................................................9
8.4 RESOURCE CONTROL AND COMPETITION: ...........................................................................................10
8.5 ETHNICITY:.....................................................................................................................................10
8.6 EXTERNAL MILITARY AID:................................................................................................................10
8.7 BASE OF THE WAR:.........................................................................................................................10
8.8 ECONOMIC REFORM PROGRAMS:........................................................................................................11
8.9 DYSFUNCTIONAL STATE:...................................................................................................................11
8.10 COMPETITION FOR THE STATE POWER:................................................................................................11
8.11 DEVELOPMENT:.............................................................................................................................12
8.12 PROBLEM OF POLITICAL LIBERALISATION:.........................................................................................12
8.13 MILITARISATION:...........................................................................................................................12
9. IMPACTS OF CONFLICTS IN AFRICA:........................................................................
...............12
9.1 COMMUNITY AND SOCIAL STRUCTURE:...............................................................................................13
9.2 POLITICAL INSTITUTIONS:..................................................................................................................14
11. SOLUTION TO CONFLICTS IN AFRICA................................................................
...................15
12. REFERENCES........................................................................................................................
............17
1. INRODUCTION:
This assignment dealt extensively on the issue of Conflicts in Africa and how
to put and end to this malady called Conflict on our continent. Comprehensive
names of all African countries were listed alphabetically with a thorough
background history of conflicts in Africa which was traced to the era of
colonialism in Africa with statistics and comparison of Africa with rest of the
world. Questions relating to conflicts, its meaning, and the difference between
dispute and conflicts are thoroughly examined with appropriate examples.
Also, critical examinations of issues like alternatives to Conflicts and the
Causes of Conflicts in Africa with statistical data to support the reasons.

Impact of Conflicts on the African community and its social structure and the
political institutions was also examined. The role of the United Nations and the
African Union in monitoring and maintaining peace in Africa is discussed while
solutions to check and also put to a halt Conflicts in Africa are opined.
Extensive use of relative maps and graphical statistics were employed to
support facts regarding the existence of Conflict as a canker worn that has
eaten deep into the fabric of Africa.

Conclusively, with appropriate references, this paper paints a clearer picture

of the devastating effects of Conflicts on the life of Africans and how to
prevent Conflicts in Africa while the efforts of the International organisations to
check Conflicts in Africa and the effects of their efforts so far are also
mentioned.

2. LIST OF AFRICAN COUNTRIES

Algeria, Angola, Benin, Botswana, Burkina Faso, Burundi, Cameroon, Cape
Verde, Central African Republic, Chad, Democratic Republic of the Congo
(Kinshasa, formerly Zaire), Djibouti, Egypt, Equatorial Guinea, Eritrea,
Ethiopia, Gabon, Gambia, Ghana, Guinea Bissau, Guinea, Ivory Coast,
Kenya, Lesotho, Liberia, Libya, Madagascar, Malawi, Mali, Mauritania,
Mauritius, Morocco, Mozambique, Namibia, Niger, Nigeria, Republic of the
Congo (Brazzaville), Reunion, Rwanda, Senegal, Seychelles, Sierra Leone,

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Sao Tome & Principe, Somalia, South Africa, Sudan, Swaziland, Tanzania,
Togo, Tunisia, Uganda, Western Sahara*, Zambia, Zanzibar, Zimbabwe.

3. AFRICA AND CONFLICTS

3.1 Background Statistics:

The population of Africa to the rest of the world is about 11% with a global
representation on trade of about 2% globally. Presently, 54 sovereign
nations/states are the entity of Africa as a continent and this represents 25%
of states globally. The African Unity (AU) recognises over 2000 different
languages being spoken in the continent.

Africa has witnessed more conflicts than any other continent in the world. The
United Nations security has spent not less than 75% of time and money
resolving conflicts and performing humanitarian duties in Africa than any other
part of the world. There have been over 9 million refugees and internally
displaced people due conflicts in Africa.

Fig 1: New World Maps, Stealth Conflicts, December 30, 2008 Source: Virgil
Hawkins, Virgil Hawkins, author of Stealth Conflicts; How the World’s Worst
Violence Is Ignored (Ashgate, October 2008), provides a useful map

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representing conflict death tolls between 1990 and 2007 where the square
area of continents/regions corresponds to their proportion of conflict death
tolls:

Conflicts in Africa, as everywhere, are caused by human action, and can be

ended by human action. Most of these conflicts has been characterised by
extreme brutality. In Rwanda alone, in 100 days, about a million people were
massacred, a scale of killings that is unprecedented in world history. More
than 30 wars have been fought in Africa since 1970, and most of these have
been internal rather than inter-state wars (Anup Shah 2009). From the above
one can infer that most of the Conflicts in Africa are based on internal
wrangling, Example of this can be seen fron the Ogoni land in Nigeria.

In 1996 alone records shows 14 out of the 53 countries in Africa were involved
in armed conflicts and it resulted in more that 8 million refugees and displaced
people. Zimbabwe is another bomb waiting to explode as many Zimbabweans
has fled the country to neighbouring counties in millions as a result of the
political crisis in that country which has crippled the whole country as a result
of the dispute from their last general election.(wikipaedia). From this
disturbing historical statistics, it is not far fetch to conclude that Africa is a
Conflicts ridden Continent.

There are reasons for conflicts; there are no ‘good’ reasons why these
conflicts should be allowed to degenerate into violence and brutality. Other
alternatives to conflicts resolution should be embraced. Disputes and
disagreement between one another should not be allow to resort into Conflicts
as between individuals, groups or as nations.

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Fig 2: Map of Africa – African countries and year of independence

4. DISPUTE VS CONFLICT
Disputes mean those situations in which the issues are negotiable, there can
be compromise and the issue does not involve consideration of altered
institutions and sacrifice. By contrast, dispute is the behaviour which is the
main concern of the conflict. Series is the kind of behaviour on the part of the
person, group or nations that goes beyond the normal disagreement and
confrontations that characterised much of the usual social, economic and
competitive life of society. Gasiye A (2003)

5. WHAT IS CONFLICT?
Conflicts refer to disputes, disagreements, quarrels, struggles, fights, and
wars between individuals, groups and countries. All over the world, there is no
complete agreement as to how wealth, among other issues like power and

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status among individuals and groups should be shared and how to use it to
effect the necessary changes and reforms. Since we all have diverse interests
both as groups, nations and individuals, our aims are bound to differ with one
another. Conflict s occurs when the deprived group, nation or individuals
attempt to increase their share of power and wealth or to modify the dominant
values, norms, beliefs or ideology. Gesiye A (2003). Conflicts involve more
that one person, groups, multinationals or nations. Issues becomes a Conflict
when disputes or disagreements cannot be resolved and that should be
avoided

Conflict could be viewed as a triangle with structure, attitudes and behaviour

as it vertices. Conflict with reference to ‘structure’ means the conflicts
situation, the parties, and the conflict of interest among them. Conflict arises
where the parties come to have incompatible interests among them. Conflicts
arise where the parties come to have incompatible interests, values or goals.
‘Attitudes’ refer to the tendency for the parties to see conflict from their own
point of view, to identify with one side, and to diminish the concerns of others
and lastly, ‘behaviours’ includes gestures and communications, which can
convey either a hostile or a conciliatory intent. Galtung (1996). Irreconcilable
differences as an avenue for Conflicts is established but no matter what the
problem is, there is a need to pursue the side of peace

6. TYPES OF CONFLICTS
There are two (3) types of conflicts
1. Dysfunctional Conflict
2. Functional or Creative Conflict
3. Armed Conflict

6.1 Dysfunctional Conflict:

This is reflected in its characteristics. It involves destruction and loss of lives,

properties, investment opportunities, hunger and starvation, diseases,
insecurity, lack of legitimate law and order and when it leads to violence, wars,
mass strike, massacres and other forms of disruption follows

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6.2 Functional/Creative Conflict:

This is a constructive way of expressing conflict. It reflects the differences and

variety of human opinion and activity which exists in any free society. Where
creative or functional conflict, which is a major source of innovations, new
ideas, institutions and social change are suppressed altogether, a nation
becomes stagnant and static.

6.3 Armed Conflict:

When a conflict turn into open combat with at least 25 battles related deaths
per year, then it is described as armed conflict. This is common between
governments (inter state) of between governments and armed groups within
the states or between opposed armed groups (intra-state).

7. ALTERNATIVES TO CONFLICTS
Avoidance: In a Conflict situation, all possible means should be encouraged
to avoid it degenerating into Conflict.
Collaboration: In a Conflict situation, one can work together with the
aggrieved party to avoid the situation resulting into Conflict.
Compromise: Sometimes to avoid Conflicts, compromised is advised for
peace to reign. That gives enough time for reconciliation. Example of this is
the present Zimbabwe government of two parties.
Forging new ground: In a Conflict situation, the stake holders can come
together to work together

8. CAUSES OF CONFLICTS IN AFRICA

The roots of social conflicts are associated with the struggle for maintaining or
challenging a dominant power status Dahrendorf (1975), frustration generated
by relative deprivation (Gurr, 1970), repression of basic needs Burton(1982),
and differences in cultural norms and values Avruch, et al (1991); LeBaron
(1997). The need for one to be able to meet his daily basic needs is very
essential. Living a life of fulfilment and contentment is non negotiable to man
hence where the daily bread is threatened, there is bound to be Conflict.

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The causes of conflicts in Africa are numerous, interconnected and
interrelated, ranging from individual to group violation, to structural inequality
and injustice. Some causes of conflicts in Africa are local while others are the
result transformations in the international structure since the end of the cold
war. Continuing economic decline and material insecurity are accompanied in
many countries in Africa by increase in political instability and conflicts.

8.1 Poverty:

Both poverty and conflict are related. Poverty can cause conflict while conflict
can lead to poverty based on the state of insecurity and bad governance
Draman R (2003). Many communities in Africa most especially the conflict
torn areas are suffering from hunger and starvation. Africa as a continent is
seen as a poor continent

8.2 The Legacy of Colonialism:

European nations were bickering over themselves about the spoils of Africa
which has began to be a lucrative business in order to prevent conflicts
between them, the historical Berlin Conference took place between 1884-
1885 in Berlin to lay down the rules on how they will partition Africa between
themselves.
Between 1870 and the beginning of the famous World War 1, Europeans
scramble for Africa. Colonial administration started to take hold. In some
areas, the Europeans settled and thus creating a dominant minority societies.
France even planned to incorporate Algeria into the French State; such was
the dominance and confidence of the colonial rulers at the time. In most areas
where they don’t have manpower or resources to fully administer the territory
they were forced to rely on the local power structure to help them. Throughout
Africa, Europe stake claims Shah A (2009).

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Fig 3: Africa Maps Showing Modern and Pre-Colonial Areas
Courtesy of Black Studies Library (BSL)

Colonialism ended as European countries started fighting themselves during

the World War 1and in effects weakened them in the process. The extent of
the damage done to Africa was irreparable.

Slavery and colonialism in some part of Africa had almost erased culture and
community with an education and civilizing program that gave African only a
minimal skill set that served the European colonial interests.

8.3 Formalisation of Expansionism:

The British pushed their boundaries in Southern Sudan and Kenya until they
met with resistance from Ethiopia, France and Italy, all whom were busy
widening their rule concurrently. This trend continued after independence with
Somali irredentism, Ethiopia annexation of Eritrea, claims on French protected
Djibouti. This further led to what we have today as countries.

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8.4 Resource Control and Competition:

The central role of states in determining resource distribution makes it a major

target and, when power is over-centralised, it becomes a reason for conflicts.
Resource scarcity and control in Africa arise from the natural resources base,
population pressures and environmental degradation.

8.5 Ethnicity:

This is a tool leaders use to gain and consolidate power. These divide and
rule system created enduring ethnically linked economic and political
inequalities which help fuel continuing cycles of rebellion and repression.
Leaders emphasised differences rather than similarities among ethnic
communities. Demand for liberation and ethnic self determination are often
rather a form of “elite advocacy” representing particular organised movements
on behalf of an entire “nations” and “people”.

8.6 External Military Aid:

Conflicts in Africa have been fuelled greatly by external military aids to

government and rebel groups. At the apex of 1980s arms transfers, USSR
was providing Ethiopia with $1 billion per year in arms, while USA underwrote
a significant portion of the defence budgets of Sudan, Somalia and Kenya.
France, East Germany, Cuba, Israel, Iran and Libya have all been significant
arms providers to combatants in Africa during the past decade. The private
arms dealers have also been active in Africa also

8.7 Base of the War:

This has to do with the rich natural resources Africa have. Timber, oil,
diamond and copper to mention but a few, compounded in many cases by the
foreign extractive industries presence, their opaque, unreported payment to
the government and the government unreported use of the money. War
serves as a distraction

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8.8 Economic Reform Programs:

June 2002 G8 summit pointed out as cause of conflicts in Africa to include the
legacy of colonialism, the support of the G8 for repressive regimes in the Cold
War, the creation of debt traps, the massive failures of structural adjustment
programs (SAP) impose by the IMF and World bank and the deeply unfair rule
of the international trade. Introduction of fees for free services can promote
social tensions, as has the removal of certain producer and consumer
subsidies. Austerities measures have caused food riots and other forms of
instability in a country like Nigeria in 1989 Shah A (2009).

8.9 Dysfunctional State:

Political exclusion through single party, state dominated authoritarian rule has
been an important cause of Africa’s deepening crisis. One state party exhibits
various gradations of exclusionary rule, from fascist fundamentalist to
narrowly base authority Election processes are manipulated, flawed or tightly
controlled. Opposition’s political parties are often not inclusive in the
government as they have the monopolistic control of the machinery of the
state. Examples of few are Arab control of Sudan, Issa Somali control of
Djibouti, and former Amhara control of Ethiopia and presently Mugabe control
of Zimbabwe.

8.10 Competition for the state power:

There has been a profound demographic shift from post Cold war era in
Africa, stemming from contests over state power and also from the transfer of
states assets and resources that result in changes in government.
Fundamentalist backed by the Sudanese government have gained control of
the productive infrastructures and marketing channels in Northern Sudan and
are penetrating the North and southern part of the country, pursuing policies
of ethnic cleaning with great economic potentials such as Nuba Mountains
and Northern Bahr al-Ghazar.

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8.11 Development:

This also has contributed to conflicts in Africa through states decision about
investment in export sectors, especially in Agriculture and livestock. It is
common in African states to steer investment in areas controlled by the ruling
elites: resulting investment patterns led to extraordinary disparities in
economic opportunities from region to region. The most conflict areas in Africa
are generally places that were excluded from the fruits of the state
investment. Example of this can be seen from the Ogoni land in Nigeria where
they have nothing to show for the dredging of oil in their community.

8.12 Problem of Political Liberalisation:

In Africa, attempt to liberalise political processes with multi party elections

have been incomplete and fraught with difficulties. To Africa, liberalisation is
risky as change of any sort can cause instability. During the process for
political liberalisation, new elites and old ruling groups, fighting over public
support, often resort to nationalist appeals as winner takes all approach to
democracy often cause conflict. These increase conflict between different
political, economic and identity interest groups as it is prevalent in Africa.

8.13 Militarisation:

Military rule was prominent in Africa. Well organised primitive weaponry can
be devastating as seen in Rwanda. Access to arms is becoming easier day by
day considering the level of conflicts that has degenerated to war in Africa.
Militarisation has continue to improvish Africa, $1 Million is spent per day by
Sudan to finance war in the South while Mengistu Halle Mariam is spending
over $700 Million per year on arms.

9. IMPACTS OF CONFLICTS IN AFRICA:

The toll of violence on individual, family and the country in a conflict situation
makes life a constant process of adapting to basic insecurity and permanent
crisis. Civilians mostly women and children are the major victims of conflicts.
The people are prevented from meeting their daily basic needs, and
agricultural farms are destroyed creating shortage in full supply leading to

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hunger and starvation. . In Africa, genocide and diseases are estimated to
have claimed at least 19.6 million lives since 1945 not to mention Angola and
Mozambique war.
The number of refuges has increased from 2.5 million in 19 Conflicts, and in
most cases leads to war and war displaced people and make millions
homeless.

Fig 4: Statistics of refugees in Africa Source: UNHCR, January 2009

Conflict situation have a very serious effects on the economy as conflict

situations reorients resources from socio-economic development to military. It
also reduces investment and retard development. Total destruction of the
social structure and infrastructures, human capital, local economic institutions
and also create insufficient labour for production. Trade and economic
activities are disrupted, economy collapse. Outbreak of disease and violent
crime (rape) and investment by the government will be drastically reduced.

9.1 Community and Social Structure:

Conflicts destroy the society social structure and coping mechanism as the
women and children are the targets. Also increases insecurity, hostilities, and
promotes diseases. For example, after the Rwanda killings in 1994, death

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continues, number of refugee’s increases and the internally displaced suffer
for lack of water and food

9.2 Political Institutions:

In a state of conflict, the national political system is destroyed and the killing of
the old (present) and young (future) is the order of the day. Bitterness, division
and lack of trust are the order of the day between clans leading to the
destruction of the traditional political systems and traditions.

10. ROLE OF THE UNITED NATIONS AND AFRICAN UNITY IN

MAINTAING PEACE IN AFRICA
As of 1998, 14 counties in the region have experienced arm conflict or civil
strife, 11 were under political crisis and turbulence and only the remaining 15
enjoyed more or less stable political conditions.

SOME OF THE CONFLICTS STATES IN

AFRICA
Nigeria
Angola
Botswana
Burundi
Democratic Republic of the Congo
Republic of the Congo
Cote d'Ivoire
Eritrea
Ethiopia
Kenya
Liberia
Sao Tome Principe
Sierra Leone
Somalia
Sudan
Tanzania
Zimbabwe
• Madagascar

Fig 5: Map of Africa courtesy of: Perry-Casta Òeda. The

University of Texas at Austin

African Union (AU), United Nation (UN) and their regional organisations have
made serious efforts to deal with the scourge of conflicts by promoting peace
negotiation and brokering peace agreement in Burundi, Cote d’ Ivoire,
Democratic republic of Congo, Eritrea, Ethiopia, Angola, and the Sudan while
there is a democratically elected government in Liberia. Peacekeeping

Ajibogun O Dele. Student Number 424780 14

mission to conflict torn zones to protect the civilians, children and women and
restoring law and order in countries where there we coup de tat in Africa e g
Guinea Bissau, Sao Tome, And Sierra Leone. Also, appointing special
mediators to resolve conflicts in Sudan and Somalia and Convening of a
conference of peace and development in the Great Lakes region by the UN.
The Implementation of the ruling of the international court of Justice of 10
October 2002, on the land and maritime boundary between Nigeria and
Cameroon and use of Arbitration to resolve conflicts between Ethiopia and
Eritrea.

11. SOLUTION TO CONFLICTS IN AFRICA

Although Africa is seen as a conflicts ridden continent, the significance of the
selection of Africa for the first official overseas visit of Ban Ki-moon as
Secretary-General of the UN reflect the importance of Africa as the cradle of
civilization for the world. On the part of the United Nation, there is need to do
more for the continent through aid, peace keeping and immediate response
in a dispute situation before it degenerates into arm conflicts. Effective use of
sanctions, dialogues and application of conflict prevention approaches should
be embrace.

African leaders should hold responsible for lack of progressive stewardships,

accountability and bad governance. Democracy should be encouraged all
over the continent so that everybody can participate in the government and
the country resources properly distributed among all the stakeholders to avoid
conflicts.

In conclusion, although there are lots of Conflicts in Africa for quite

sometimes now but the Continent is gradually getting out of the madness
called “Conflicts”, Africans themselves through the African Union (AU) is doing
much to check all these Conflicts situations and mediate where possible.
Extensive discussion on the cause and solutions to conflicts as discussed in
this paper with emphasis on the alternative approaches to prevent Conflict are

Ajibogun O Dele. Student Number 424780 15

thoroughly discussed. The International community are to do more for Africa
and also check the activities of the multinationals.

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12. REFERENCES
1. Africa: Africa World Press Guide: Compiled and Edited by World Views:
Conflicts in Africa: Causes and Prospects for Resolutions Retrieved on
3rd June 2009 from
http://www.worldviews.igc.org/awpguide/conflicts

2. Africa Recovery (2003). Africa seeks own solutions to conflict: Africa

Recovery (Online) vol.17 #1, May 2004. Retrieved on the 16th of May
2009 from http://www.africarecovery.com

3. Africa Renewal (2004). Progress in tackling Africa’s conflicts. (online)

Africa Renewal, Vol.18 #3, October 2004, page 15

4. Angaye G (2003). Causes and Cures of Conflicts in Nigeria (online)

Retrieved on 30th May 2009 from
http://www.nigerdeltacongress.com/gartcles/causes

5. Boulden J (2003). Dealing with Conflicts in Africa: The United Nations

and regional Organisation. Palgrave Macmillan Press

6. Burton J (1990). Conflict: resolution and Prevention. The Macmillan

Press Ltd, London.

7. Draman R (2003). Poverty and Conflicts in Africa: Expanding a

Complex Relationship. Final Draft of paper for Expert Group Meeting
on Africa-Canada Parliamentary Strengthening Program, Addis Ababa,
May 19-23, 2003. Retrieved on 6th of June, 2009 from
http//www.parlcent.ca/povertyreduction/seminar

8. Gutto S (2002). Respect Can Provide Possible Solutions to Conflicts.

Retrieved form http://www.wfn.org/2002/10

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9. Hawkins V (2008). Stealth Conflicts: How the World’s Worst Violence Is
Ignored. Ashgate Press.

10. Jeong H (1999). Research on Conflict Resolution. Ashgate Publishing

Company, England.

11. Nye J (2000). Understanding International Conflict: An Introduction to

Theory and History. (3rd Edition) Longman Publisher.

12. Shah A, (2009). Conflicts in Africa. (online) Retrieved on 5th June 2009
from http://www.globalissues.org/article/84

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