Since its existence — Africa has been the epicenter of significant armed conflicts (The Role Of Conflict To Africa’s Underdevelopment) — and thus, a major impediment to the development of the continent.
Historical antecedents have attested to the fact that Africa — prior to Colonial incursion has been one of the major sites of conflicts. Most conflicts recorded during the Pre-colonial period are mostly centered on the might of power, territorial expansion, the annexation of lands, and resources, religious Jihad — and in all likened to be the major causes of conflicts in Africa.
Since the Colonial subjugation of Africa, significant conflicts have been reduced to their bare minimum but not devoiding the absence of conflicts in the continent. While many conflicts in Africa that occurred during the colonial period took the form of resistance to the colonial incursion — the struggle for independence is said to be the predominant armed conflict in the continent.
Africa’s colonial struggle, particularly after World War II and up until the middle of the twentieth century, elevated it to global prominence, prompting the formation of Pan-Africanist movements around the world with an agenda centered on Africa’s decolonization and agitating for the rights of all black men.
This act led to the attainment of independence of most of Africa’s countries from the early 1950s downline.
With the wide range of decolonization in Africa, the continent, despite its teeming populations as the world’s second most populated continent, has yet to find for herself — the proper solutions to armed conflicts in the continent that have resulted in the annihilation of tens of millions of people, an amount that, if used with a true sense of productivity, would greatly contribute to the continent’s socio-economic well-being.
A Concise History Of Conflict In Africa: Causes And Cost
Since independence, Africa has been the scene of numerous conflicts, the majority of which have been centered on failed political leadership, colonization effects, marginalization of groups, ethnoreligious, and external influences arising from — the effect of market expansionism, all of which have fatally and brutally subjected the continent’s countries to the tiers of underdeveloped nations.
With the continent’s repeated trends in violent conflicts, outlines are drawn as to how these factors are antecedents to Africa’s political and economic underdevelopment. Failed political governance is seen as one of the key drivers of armed conflict on the continent, as it is at the heart of all major conflicts.
The inability of member groups to work together for the development of their country, as well as the lack of vision of most political holders in the era of independent Africa to instill and integrate together with the sense of unity among member groups — which were amalgamated together to form most African states, gave rise to the allegiance of regional and ethnic politics, which centered political responsibilities on ethnic, religion and region.
The emergence of lack of political allegiances resulted in the marginalization of other groups lacking considerable political power; this act of marginalization fanned the flames of dissension among member groups, culminating in an armed battle that killed many citizens.
The Sudanese conflict between Southern and Northern Sudan is seen as a classic example of marginalization conflicts. While the Biafra Civil war is yet another.
Another area to explore is the existence of a weak political institution in African society. Conflicts arise as a result of the presence of a weak political system for the foreseeable.
The actors in conflicts saw the central government’s weakness as yet another prelude to the emergence of conflict in the Africa post-colonial states. A weak leader gives birth to a weak political institution in a country, and the weakness of the political institution is seen — as yet another driving force behind the military interventions or coups.
For example, the Nigerian and Cote Ivoire civil wars occurred as a result of the political institution’s weakness, and by extension, ethnic conflicts in the country. The genocide in Rwanda also falls within this area of African conflict classification. Colonialism, which Africans have long regarded as — a source of violence on the continent, is now being re-examined.
Colonialism, which Africans have long regarded as a source of violence on the continent, is now being re-examined. According to popular opinion, during the period of decolonization, colonialists transferred political power to puppets who would be bound to protect the interests of the white lords.
The age of Neocolonialism in Africa began with the Western world’s willingness to continue dominating African society through controlling the economy. This act of indirect control over — Africa’s resources and life has played a significant role in the growth of military conflicts in Africa by key factions. Neocolonialism’s bait is thought to be South Africa, Zimbabwe, and the Congo.
Another prominent conflict in 21st-century Africa is the rise of religious fundamentalists with extreme ideologies toward society. The rise of terrorism and militarisation without a clear definition of worldview and priorities has been a major concern for the continent of Africa and for human security in general.
This radical gang’s actions took the shape of overt and covert operations that had become a concern not only for a single country but for the entire international community. The growth of ISIS, Al-Shabab, Boko Haram, and their extremist agenda has resulted — in the deaths and displacement of millions of people, as well as the loss of property for many Africans, while this act has also resulted in people fleeing conflict zones in search of better living conditions.
A Bold Step To Africa’s Development
Conflicts in Africa, and the repeated natures of such conflicts, have been a huge blight on African societies.
Over the last century, there have been hundreds of armed conflicts, which have disrupted the economy, destabilized political institutions, and resulted in the deaths of millions of people, the destruction of private and public property, the destruction of social infrastructure, and large migrations of people from the warring area to safe haven.
The recent Tigray War, the 2017 Cabo Delgado Insurgency in Mozambique, the Benishangul and Gumuz conflict in Ethiopia, the Insurgency in Northern Chad, Nigeria, and Cameroon, among other conflict-ridden African countries, are all examples of increasing militarism in Africa.
Africa still has the opportunity to develop. Over the last decade, the continent’s living standards have dropped dramatically. Increasing wars have created a safe haven for politicians to divert public funds to foreign countries. Thus, ending the conflict is the only way to solve Africa’s developmental problems.
Due to the massive destruction and disruption produced by periodic conflicts, the continent’s socio-economic development is hampered. Africa’s progress as a continent — is dependent on its ability to contain and prevent future wars, as well as find appropriate solutions to the continent’s current problems.