APA RESEARCH PAPER

APA Research Paper

Causes of Wars and Conflicts in Africa and their Solution

Abstract

Africa is facing decade long conflicts which are not claiming lives of innocent Africans, but also proving to be a great hurdle towards economic, social and political stability in the region. This paper has pointed out some of the most significant factors which are causing and perpetuating the conflicts in the region. The local governments of Africa as well as global players like USA, EU and China need to work together to bring a long-lasting piece in the region.

Discussion

World Peace Day which UN established in its resolution in 1982 is celebrated globally and highlights the worldwide efforts towards conflict resolution and peace building. This day pose a great significance to the continent of Africa where most of conflicts due to political and sociality instability takes place. Some conflicts in Africa are decades old and still going on, with limited or no solution at all. According to some experts on the subject, most of the conflicts are inherent in the way of doing things in Africa.

This is an undeniable fact that continent has gone through a difficult time in the last 50 years, especially after the independence of African countries from colonialism. Even though, countries outside Africa, like India, have also gained independence from colonialism almost at the same time as most of the African countries, those countries are more prosperous and not that politically unstable as African countries. But analyses of most of the conflicts in Africa have made many experts on the subject to conclude that African political leadership, directly or indirectly, is causing these conflicts either through their actions of negligence (Burman, 2002).

Why most of the analysts see African leadership as a part of problem rather than a solution? Answer lies in the context of Africa which was developed during the freedom fight to colonialism and its aftermath. The dictators who are ruling Africa are also freedom heroes who fought with colonialists and saved people from their clutches apparently. This status of freedom heroes has somehow legitimized their position as rulers and has given them a chance to do corruption at an unprecedented level without any fear of the public. African leaders are busy in plundering the natural resources through politics of deprivation and exclusion to tilt the power balance in their favor in order to increase/maintain their dominance on public sphere.

Almost every African country is still haunted by oppressive structures and historical injustices. This has resulted in increasingly weak institutions and flawed legislative systems in all the African countries, especially sub-Saharan, which has proved to be quite detrimental to the well-being of many African nations. Had the African leadership been sincere in its conduct, these nations could have otherwise moved on the path of development and prosperity and became part of modern societies (Collier, 2000).

International community due to their resource interests and geo-security is also benefiting from the Africa's status quo. America and European Union are not pro-establishment in Africa, but their involvement and ...