DPMF Books

Table of Contents 

Acknowledgement

Foreword 

Introduction

Part I: General 

The OAU/AU: Records, Challenges and Prospects:-  Sam Ibok

The Challenge of Managing Africa's Diversities and the Role of the African Union and Civil Society:- Paul Nantulya  

Defending African Unity: Can the Peace and Security Council of the African Union Succeed? . Hussein Solomon and Gerrie Swart

The Role of Civil Society Organizations in African Conflicts:- Abdalla Bujra

Part ll: Regional Perspective  

Coexistence in North Africa: Determinants and Dilemmas :- Ahmed Alsawi

Conflict and Peacebuilding in West Africa: The Role of the African Union and Civil Society.:- Said Adejumobi  

Conflict and Peacebuilding in Africa: What Role for the African Union and Civil Society? :- Christopher Bakwesegha

Towards Regional Security Integration in Southern Africa: Prospects and Challenges:- Hussein Solomon

 

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Regrettably, the African continent in general, and certain African countries in particular, have been characterized by conflicts and crises for decades now. The August 2003 Workshop organized by the Community of Sahel-Saharan States (CEN-SAD), the African Center for Applied Research and Training in Social Development (ACARTSOD) and the Development Policy Management Forum (DPMF) and many other workshops held during the last ten years have identified two types of conflicts in Africa: (a) the major armed civil wars which start in one country and spread to other neighboring countries in the sub-region ? as in the case of East Africa (including the Horn), Central, West and Southern Africa and (b) the small ?communal? conflicts within some African countries. 

In spite of the enormous efforts being made by the United Nations (UN) and the African Union (AU) to put an end to these conflicts, they continue to persist and have even become more widespread. Essentially, these conflicts and crises have diverse root causes. 

In its resolve to ensure a sustainable economic and social development in Africa, CEN-SAD deems it absolutely necessary that peace and security should be established and firmly consolidated. To achieve this fundamental objective, all inter-governmental and regional organizations, opinion leaders, Civil Society Organizations (CSOs), Non-Governmental Organizations (NGOs) and other stakeholders should be involved in promoting peace values, political, ethnic and religious tolerance, and the basic principles of democracy. This essential responsibility of States and regional organizations has been adequately highlighted in the IBRAHIMI Panel Report. 

Taking advantage of the provision of the United Nations Charter (Chapter VIII), which implicitly authorizes and even encourages regional settlement of conflicts, and also considering that peace and security are basic requirements for sustainable development in Africa, CEN-SAD considers the promotion of peace and security in Africa as its topmost priority. 

Consequently, the Leaders and Heads of State of CEN-SAD, in implementing the provisions of the Preamble and Article II of the Treaty establishing CEN-SAD, adopted a Security Charter and designated Brother Leader of the Great Al Fateh Revolution, Colonel Muammar Al-Qaddafi, as a Mediator of Peace and Security of CEN-SAD. 

At the 6th Ordinary Session of CEN-SAD held in Bamako, Mali, from 15 - 16 May 2003, the Leaders and Heads of State of the Community set up a �Mechanism for Prevention, Management and Resolution of Conflicts�. This mechanism is intended to operate, as and when required, in cooperation with the UN and the Peace and Security Council of the AU. 

As an organization established to promote peace and security, CEN�SAD has intervened in a number of flash points, sometimes even beyond the CEN-SAD region, under the guidance of its Mediator. It is currently working in collaboration with the United Nations Office for Central Africa, for the settlement of the crisis in the Central African Republic. 

Specialized groups within CEN-SAD are also following up the Somali crisis which has been difficult to manage due to the blatant violations of the relevant UN Security Council resolutions on Arms Embargo. To ensure real peace and reduce the activities of hostile groups that act with impunity, CEN-SAD suggests that a broad-based conference should be held to evolve better strategies and pave the way for the success of a Peace Plan for Somalia. Participants to the proposed conference should be composed of all the Somali factions, the neighboring countries, the UN, the AU and IGAD. 

Lastly, it is worth mentioning that through the Mediator of Peace and Security, CEN-SAD is supporting the initiatives on conflict settlement developed by other Heads of State and International Organizations with respect to the crisis in the Great Lakes Region, the conflict in the Sudan, the political and social instability in Liberia, C�te d�Ivoire, Guinea Bissau, Sierra Leone, etc. CEN-SAD has also undertaken mediation initiatives in the eastern corridor of Africa following the outbreak of hostilities between Ethiopia and Eritrea, and within the Mano River region, as well as defused and found a lasting solution to the rebellion in Chad. 

This book is the outcome of a workshop organized by CEN-SAD, ACARTSOD and DPMF in August 2003. It aims to deepen our understanding of the factors that lead to conflict and what needs to be done to create a conducive situation for sustainable peace and security. In this respect, it reflects one aspect of CEN-SAD�s efforts to promote lasting peace and enhance development in Africa, i.e., through creation of a platform for dialogue and the dissemination of well-considered views on peace and security. 

Mohammed Al-Madani Al-Azhari

Secretary General of CEN-SAD

This book the result of a workshop held in Tripoli (2003) and organized by ACARTSOD, CEN-SAD and the DPMF on? Conflicts and Peacebuilding in Africa: The Role of the African Union and Civil Society?. The Workshop was graced by the presence of members of the African diplomatic corps resident in Tripoli, high ranking officials of The Great Socialist Peoples? Libyan Arab Jamahiriya, Libyan Civil Society, as well as academics and other policy makers.  

The book explores and details the complexities of African conflicts from a general, as well as a regional perspective. It discusses conflicts in all their forms and manifestations, and at various stages of their development. The book also provides policy-oriented recommendations for a Pan African Program that would analyze and tackle African conflicts in a more effective and thorough manner.  

Papers presented and discussed at the workshop pertained to a wide range of issues related to conflicts in Africa. Throughout the general debate, emphasis was placed on the roles the newly established African Union and African Civil Society could play at this critical time and at various stages of peacebuilding in largely war torn societies of Africa. Some recommendations were made on securing peace as a pre-condition to improve Africa?s economic performance.