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Ethnic Conflict In Africa - The Need To Search For
Remedies
A GNA Feature by Samuel Adadi Akapule
Bolgatanga, July 16 Ghanadot/GNA - Ethnicity induced
conflicts in Africa keep on recurring in various parts of
the Continent and the earlier solutions were found to solve
the problem the better it would be for all.
One fact that must be accepted is that with the emergence of
nation States at the demise of Colonialism people of
different ethnic background were lumped together and this
historical antecedent must never be lost on African
politicians.
Ethnic group with large numbers were put together with those
with not so large a number hence in almost every African
country has majority and minority ethnic groups living
together.
According to UN Report on Ethnicity and Development in 2004,
accommodating people's growing demands for their inclusion
in society, for respect of their ethnicity, religion, and
language, takes more than democracy and equitable growth.
Also needed are multicultural policies that recognize
differences, champion diversity and promote cultural
freedoms, so that all people can choose to speak their
language, practice their religion, and participate in
shaping their culture - so that all people can choose to be
who they are.
In recent years the Human Development Report has argued
strongly that this is as much a question of politics as
economics - from protecting human rights to deepening
democracy. Human development is first and foremost about
allowing people to lead the kind of life they choose - and
providing them with the tools and opportunities to make
those choices.
The 2004 Report builds on that analysis, by carefully
examining-and rejecting-claims that cultural differences
necessarily lead to social, economic and political conflict
or that inherent cultural rights should supersede political
and economic ones.
Instead, it provides a powerful argument for finding ways to
"delight in our differences", as Archbishop Desmond Tutu has
put it. It also offers some concrete ideas on what it means
in practice to build and manage the politics of identity and
culture in a manner consistent with the bedrock principles
of human development.
The Report makes a case for respecting diversity and
building more inclusive societies by adopting policies that
explicitly recognize cultural differences - multicultural
policies:
* Cultural liberty is a vital part of human development
because being able to choose one's identity is important in
leading a full life;
* Cultural liberty allows people to live the lives they
value without being excluded from other choices important to
them such as education, health or job opportunities;
* Several emerging models of multicultural democracy provide
effective mechanisms for power sharing between culturally
diverse groups;
* Power sharing arrangements have broadly proven to be
critical in resolving tensions; and
* Multicultural policies that recognize differences between
groups are needed to address injustices historically rooted
and socially entrenched.
There is no doubt that there are many protracted conflicts
throughout the world, of which many are ethnic conflicts.
In Ghana for instance, the Kusasis and Mamprusis ethnic
conflict in Bawku in the Upper East Region and that of the
Konkombas and Dagombas in the Northern Region that occurred
in the past could be cited as some of the examples of the
ethnic conflicts experienced in Ghana.
One cannot rule out the fact that these wars have created
several refuge problems.
In today's world, there are more than 25 million internally
displaced people. Over 15 million of whom are Africans. In
West Africa, the Liberian Civil War alone displaced hundreds
of thousands of people.
The Ghanaian media has reported that as a result of the
recent upsurge in ethnic conflict in Bawku in the Upper East
Region in Ghana, many people sought refuge in the
neighbouring countries, including Burkina Faso and Togo
thereby putting pressure on their limited resources.
There is no doubt that in the world today, there is an
upsurge of inter-ethnic animosities and most of them have
resulted in violence and genocide.
Recent history has shown that man has become intolerable of
his neighbour on account of linguistics, religion, racial
and ethnic differences to the extent that the benefit of
global accomplishment of Science and Technology which he
should have harnessed to improve his lot and put into
building power around himself, is rather the opposite. Man
rather prefers to use the benefit of the application of
science and technology in harming his fellow being.
Historically it has been proved that colonialism in Africa
carried within itself the seed of ethnic conflict. The
arbitrary demarcation of boundaries fragmented Africa into
smaller weaker status without giving much attention to the
prevailing socio-cultural peculiarities of the people.
Also the infamous policy of separate development in certain
parts of Africa and the policy of indirect rule through
which the Colonial Authorities were able to govern by using
minority groups accounted for some of the inter-ethnic
conflicts on the continent. A case in point is that of
Burundi and Rwanda. These two groups find their origin in
the colonial policy of indirect rule where the Tutsi
minorities were imposed on the majority Hutus.
Another cause of ethnic conflict in Africa is the challenge
associated with political tension, especially in the nations
that are emerging from one party and dictatorial regimes
into democracy.
Several nations are faced with the opposition fighting to
dislodge incumbent regimes that have unyielding commitment
to remain in power. In such cases elections are staged and
managed to offer a front to legitimize the stay of the
already entrenched rulers.
In such cases, as in Kenyan and Zimbabwe just to mention a
few have already succeeded in creating situations in which
out of despair, aggrieved opponents organized rebellions
based on ethnic backgrounds against the incumbent.
The Media, especially the foreign ones have also contributed
in fuelling the ethnic problems in Africa.
Media sensationalism has undermined the security of State in
several aspects.
Either for reasons of political bias or poor professional
judgment, a reporter is capable of drawing on a single
inconspicuous event from incredibly diverse perspectives to
create an impression which for example could suggest that a
whole nation is under siege.
People often read disparaging comments on Africa whereas
nothing is heard about the savage ethnic blood bath in
Europe.
Until Africa Journalists are prepared to assume their
rightful role in the coverage of events on the Continent and
until adequate facilities are made available for
dissemination of news on the Continent to be analyzed from
the prejudicial perspective of the foreign media, Africa
would continue to be portrayed in a negative manner.
Conflict resolution, like all human endeavours, is dependant
on a number of factors all of which are human centred. There
are indications that Africans would have to resolve their
own problems in the future. The developed countries are more
interested in wars of the rich as against wars of the poor.
The cases that occurred in Liberia and Somalia underscore
the fact that there is the need for Africans to develop
their own remedies for conflict management and resolution.
The United States for instance makes no secret of the fact
that their involvement in peacekeeping and conflict is tied
up with their financial interest and the strategic location
of the country in turmoil.
The question is therefore on how Africa can solve its own
conflicts in its own domain independently. It should be
first and foremost recognized that solutions to ethnic
conflicts lies ultimately with the factions at war.
It should be pointed out that military options have only
succeeded in halting the evil design of the fighter for so
long as there is pressure on him.
The enormity of the task for the African peacemaker lies in
the fact that the root causes of the problems that he has to
confront with are so congenital in origin that the ultimate
solution may lie more in appealing to the conscience of the
fighters than influencing them to make peace.
The traditional mechanism for resolving peace during
inter-clan conflict is very appropriate and should be
applied when ethnic conflicts explode.
Meetings of Clan Elders adjudicate the conflict and
determine appropriate compensation for the aggrieved person.
It is well noted that one of the obstacles for confronting
the search for remedies for Africa's conflicts is the
absence of good faith on the parts of the warring factions.
Leaders break peace as often as they are signed.
There is the need for clear and transparent commitment on
the parts of those at war to seek peace.
In search of ethnic conflict remedies, the full
collaboration and support of all actors in the peace process
are essential. There is also the need for Mediators to be
seen as neutral. There is no time to waste, sustainable
solutions should be found to ethnic conflicts in Africa and
the time is now or never
GNA
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