Conflict in Africa

Although media coverage seems to suggest that war, political coups and terrorist bombings happen all over Africa, many parts of the continent aren’t involved in conflict at all Although media coverage seems to suggest that war, political coups and terrorist bombings happen all over Africa, many parts of the continent aren’t involved in conflict at all However, the extent of conflict in Africa is greater than any other region in the world However, the extent of conflict in Africa is greater than any other region in the world It affects over half of the countries in Africa and 20% of the total population It affects over half of the countries in Africa and 20% of the total population

Conflict in Africa Examples of African Conflict Sierra Lione – over the control of diamond Sierra Lione – over the control of diamond resources resources Ethiopia & Eritrea – over border dispute Ethiopia & Eritrea – over border dispute Rwanda & Burundi – ethnic civil war Rwanda & Burundi – ethnic civil war

Nature of Conflict in Africa Collapsing State Structures Due to a combination of various political, economic, and territorial forces Due to a combination of various political, economic, and territorial forces Challenges to centralized Governmental controls, combined with economic decline and crippling foreign debt have left many African countries unable to maintain an infrastructure and provide basic services Challenges to centralized Governmental controls, combined with economic decline and crippling foreign debt have left many African countries unable to maintain an infrastructure and provide basic services This has given rise to independence movements, territorial disputes, and political and military coups This has given rise to independence movements, territorial disputes, and political and military coups These situations have also created greater political, social and economic inequality, not just between individuals but also between groups These situations have also created greater political, social and economic inequality, not just between individuals but also between groups Ex - Madagascar Ex - MadagascarMadagascar

Nature of Conflict in Africa Regionalism States find themselves crossing borders and aligning with other states or ethnic groups States find themselves crossing borders and aligning with other states or ethnic groups Alignment is due to groups protecting resources, defending territories, or maintain (or overthrowing) political control Alignment is due to groups protecting resources, defending territories, or maintain (or overthrowing) political control Countries continue to join various conflicts due to arising issues that did not exist in previous years Countries continue to join various conflicts due to arising issues that did not exist in previous years New issues arise due to a country’s depleting resources when dealing with other conflicts – this then affects countries that weren’t in the original conflict but are now force to enter it New issues arise due to a country’s depleting resources when dealing with other conflicts – this then affects countries that weren’t in the original conflict but are now force to enter it Ex - DRC Ex - DRCDRC

Nature of Conflict in Africa Ethnicity Genocide (the systematic attempt to exterminate defined groups of people with different religious or ethnic background) has had devastating effects on many countries in Africa Genocide (the systematic attempt to exterminate defined groups of people with different religious or ethnic background) has had devastating effects on many countries in Africa Rwandan Genocide – almost 1 million Tutsi and Hutu (sympathetic to the Tutsis) people were killed by the Hutu Militia Rwandan Genocide – almost 1 million Tutsi and Hutu (sympathetic to the Tutsis) people were killed by the Hutu Militia Burundi has also had Hutu and Tutsi conflict Burundi has also had Hutu and Tutsi conflict Ex – South Africa/Apartheid Ex – South Africa/ApartheidSouth Africa/ApartheidSouth Africa/Apartheid

Nature of Conflict in Africa Resources Conflict arises over necessity resources such as water and land but also arises over lucrative resources such as oil and diamonds Conflict arises over necessity resources such as water and land but also arises over lucrative resources such as oil and diamonds Countries that are economically dependent on the sale of these lucrative resources can experience internal and external struggles to gain control of the resources Countries that are economically dependent on the sale of these lucrative resources can experience internal and external struggles to gain control of the resources Military and rebel groups now look to these resources to finance and sustain wars Military and rebel groups now look to these resources to finance and sustain wars For example, the Revolutionary United Front (RUF) – a rebel group in Sierra Leone – earns tens of millions of dollars from the country’s diamond industry For example, the Revolutionary United Front (RUF) – a rebel group in Sierra Leone – earns tens of millions of dollars from the country’s diamond industrySierra Leone Sierra Leone

Preventing Conflict in Africa Conflict resolution through the spread of Democracy has provided many African countries with a more accountable and equitable method of governance Conflict resolution through the spread of Democracy has provided many African countries with a more accountable and equitable method of governance The riddance of “Apartheid Rule” has helped The riddance of “Apartheid Rule” has helped Apartheid Rule – a system wherein racial discrimination and separation had been institutionalized by a series of “apartheid laws” that were put into place in Examples of such laws were those prohibiting interracial marriages, outlining “white- only” jobs, and prescribing where blacks could and could not live Apartheid Rule – a system wherein racial discrimination and separation had been institutionalized by a series of “apartheid laws” that were put into place in Examples of such laws were those prohibiting interracial marriages, outlining “white- only” jobs, and prescribing where blacks could and could not live