Ladies and Gentlemen!

The decision of the Development Policy Management Forum (DPMF) and the Organization of Social Science Research of Eastern and Southern Africa (OSSREA) to jointly organize this Conference on Conflicts in Africa is highly commendable. Apart from the AIDS virus that currently threatens our existence on the African continent, the plague of war is the other most devastating challenge that faces us as a people. From West to East Africa, Southern Africa to the Great Lakes, the African people are torn against one another in very gruesome conflicts, which are destroying their societies with very debilitating consequences. At the last count in 1999, there were no less than 16 conflict spots in Africa. Conflicts have placed a heavy burden on us as a people. It has depreciated our human, material and social capital. As a result of war, Africa has become the land of refugees, with about half of the world's refugees and displaced persons. The growth rate of most African economies is also very slow, static in some cases, and regressing in others, mostly as a consequence of conflicts and war. Many foreign investors are wary of Africa, as no rational businessman would like to invest in an environment riddled with wars and insecurity. Also, physical and social infrastructures have been massively destroyed in Africa, such that the Continent ranks the lowest among all regions of the world in the Human Development Index of UNDP.

The challenge before us is not to lament our plight or heap blames on warring parties. We must regard those conflicts as part of the odds and challenges of nation building and take practical steps to halt them. I am hopeful that this Conference will provide a forum for critical and exhaustive debate and come up with practical policy options that would assist in lifting our continent out of the abyss of war and human degradation. Let me remind us that time is not on our side. We must think and act fast. In an era of globalization and commerce economy, of information, education and technology, Africa cannot afford to continue to relish in senseless wars and conflicts. While the children in our schools barely have chalks to write with, children in South East Asia are thinking and writing with computers. While most of our population lives below $1 per day, which is the internationally recognized minimum standard for decent living, other societies are in the age of affluence. We must take responsibility for our fortune and fate and reverse the trend of despair and hopelessness that currently characterize Africa's future.

Let me share some thoughts with you on what I think may be the way forward on conflicts and wars in our societies. First, I do believe that we must reorganize politics in many African countries.We must promote the values of democracy and popular participation. Democracy should not be practised only during elections, but should incorporate the people in the process of governance. We must substitute arms for dialogue and mutual understanding. There is also the need for our political leaders to show tolerance and moderation in their views and activities. We must build a consociational political culture that respects the views, ideas, interests, and aspirations of other people and leaders. Politics must cease to be a zerosum game in Africa.

Finally our development partners must show commitment to Africa and its future. They should do this through: the control of small arms that now regularly find their ways from their countries to African states and continue to fuel conflicts on the continent; assisting Africa in its economic development efforts not through the imposition of exogenous economic polices, but through supporting local initiatives at development; consideration of the issue of debt cancellation. Our development partners must realize that the fate of Africa is inextricably bounded with that of the world.

Ladies and gentlemen, I am hopeful that your deliberations at this Conference will take us a step forward in putting behind us the plague of war and conflicts in Africa.

Thank you.

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