Conflict Conflict in in

AfricaAfrica

Conflict in AfricaConflict in Africa Although media coverage seems to Although media coverage seems to

suggest that war, political coups and suggest that war, political coups and terrorist bombings happen all over terrorist bombings happen all over Africa, many parts of the continent aren’t Africa, many parts of the continent aren’t involved in conflict at allinvolved in conflict at all

However, the extent of conflict in Africa However, the extent of conflict in Africa is greater than any other region in the is greater than any other region in the worldworld

It affects over half of the countries in It affects over half of the countries in Africa and 20% of the total populationAfrica and 20% of the total population

Conflict in AfricaConflict in AfricaExamples of African ConflictExamples of African Conflict

Sierra Lione – over the control of Sierra Lione – over the control of diamond diamond

resourcesresources Ethiopia & Eritrea – over border Ethiopia & Eritrea – over border

disputedispute Rwanda & Burundi – ethnic civil Rwanda & Burundi – ethnic civil

warwar

Nature of Conflict in Nature of Conflict in AfricaAfrica

Collapsing State StructuresCollapsing State Structures Due to a combination of various political, Due to a combination of various political,

economic, and territorial forceseconomic, and territorial forces Challenges to centralized Governmental Challenges to centralized Governmental

controls, combined with economic decline and controls, combined with economic decline and crippling foreign debt have left many African crippling foreign debt have left many African countries unable to maintain an infrastructure countries unable to maintain an infrastructure and provide basic servicesand provide basic services

This has given rise to independence movements, This has given rise to independence movements, territorial disputes, and political and military territorial disputes, and political and military coupscoups

These situations have also created greater These situations have also created greater political, social and economic inequality, not just political, social and economic inequality, not just between individuals but also between groupsbetween individuals but also between groups

Ex - Ex - MadagascarMadagascar

Nature of Conflict in Nature of Conflict in AfricaAfrica

RegionalismRegionalism States find themselves crossing borders and States find themselves crossing borders and

aligning with other states or ethnic groupsaligning with other states or ethnic groups Alignment is due to groups protecting Alignment is due to groups protecting

resources, defending territories, or maintain resources, defending territories, or maintain (or overthrowing) political control(or overthrowing) political control

Countries continue to join various conflicts Countries continue to join various conflicts due to arising issues that did not exist in due to arising issues that did not exist in previous yearsprevious years

New issues arise due to a country’s depleting New issues arise due to a country’s depleting resources when dealing with other conflicts – resources when dealing with other conflicts – this then affects countries that weren’t in the this then affects countries that weren’t in the original conflict but are now force to enter itoriginal conflict but are now force to enter it

Ex - Ex - DRCDRC

Nature of Conflict in Nature of Conflict in AfricaAfrica

EthnicityEthnicity Genocide (the systematic attempt to exterminate Genocide (the systematic attempt to exterminate

defined groups of people with different religious defined groups of people with different religious or ethnic background) has had devastating or ethnic background) has had devastating effects on many countries in Africaeffects on many countries in Africa

Rwandan Genocide – almost 1 million Tutsi and Rwandan Genocide – almost 1 million Tutsi and Hutu (sympathetic to the Tutsis) people were Hutu (sympathetic to the Tutsis) people were killed by the Hutu Militiakilled by the Hutu Militia

Burundi has also had Hutu and Tutsi conflictBurundi has also had Hutu and Tutsi conflict

Ex – Ex – South Africa/ApartheidSouth Africa/Apartheid

Nature of Conflict in Nature of Conflict in AfricaAfrica

ResourcesResources Conflict arises over necessity resources such as water Conflict arises over necessity resources such as water

and land but also arises over lucrative resources such and land but also arises over lucrative resources such as oil and diamondsas oil and diamonds

Countries that are economically dependent on the sale Countries that are economically dependent on the sale of these lucrative resources can experience internal of these lucrative resources can experience internal and external struggles to gain control of the resourcesand external struggles to gain control of the resources

Military and rebel groups now look to these resources Military and rebel groups now look to these resources to finance and sustain warsto finance and sustain wars

For example, the Revolutionary United Front (RUF) – For example, the Revolutionary United Front (RUF) – a rebel group in a rebel group in Sierra Leone Sierra Leone – earns tens of millions – earns tens of millions of dollars from the country’s diamond industryof dollars from the country’s diamond industry

Preventing Conflict in Preventing Conflict in AfricaAfrica

Conflict resolution through the spread of Conflict resolution through the spread of Democracy has provided many African countries Democracy has provided many African countries with a more accountable and equitable method of with a more accountable and equitable method of governancegovernance

The riddance of “Apartheid Rule” has helpedThe riddance of “Apartheid Rule” has helped Apartheid Rule – a system wherein racial Apartheid Rule – a system wherein racial

discrimination and separation had been discrimination and separation had been institutionalized by a series of “apartheid laws” institutionalized by a series of “apartheid laws” that were put into place in 1948. Examples of such that were put into place in 1948. Examples of such laws were those prohibiting interracial marriages, laws were those prohibiting interracial marriages, outlining “white-only” jobs, and prescribing where outlining “white-only” jobs, and prescribing where blacks could and could not liveblacks could and could not live