Early Warning and Conflict in Africa

The 1990s has so far witnessed events that will remain as serious indictments in the history of African political development.

The 1990s has so far witnessed events that will remain as serious indictments in the history of African political development. Never before has there been such `bloody experiences`, leaving well over three million dead, more than ten million refugees and a historical legacy for our children and future generations of democides and ethnocides. "Conflicts have turned Africa, the most diverse of all the continents in the world, into a Continent unable to turn its trend of diversity into opportunities for development ... Conflicts have torn the social fabric of the African Society. Conflicts have separated and split families. Brother has risen against Brother; Father against Son and Son against Father."

The issue of credibility lies heavily on the Organisation of African Unity (OAU). With the end of the Cold War, to which some observers attribute the exponential rise in intra-state conflicts, and the demise of apartheid rule in South Africa, which heralded the completion of the continental project to `liberate Africa`, there have been calls to review the OAU`s role. These calls have been made against a backdrop of increasing insecurity, instability and economic decline in many African countries. To this end, the Assembly of Heads of State and Government passed a Declaration on the Fundamental Changes in the World and their Implications for Africa, in July 1990 in Addis Ababa. The realisation has been spreading throughout Africa that it needs to respond appropriately to the new challenges, especially with regard to conflict resolution, economic development and democratisation.  

Author

William Godwin Nhara, Co-ordinator, Conflict Prevention and Research, Organisation of African Unity, Addis Ababa and Research Associate, Institute for Defence Policy