The role of african regional and subregional organisations. This project focused on conflict management and resolution strategies and in particular on the role of external actors in the coming about of peace agreements. The international society has struggled to evolve effective mechanism to resolve conflicts. It is also called pacific settlement of international disputes. The objectives is to ascertain how effective these methods have been utilized in resolving conflicts in west africa with a view of making appropriate recommendations based on research findings on how best to employ these methods by the community. Sources of conflict and methods of conflict resolution ron fisher, ph. Conflict management group cmg is dedicated to improving the methods of negotiation, conflict resolution, and cooperative decisionmaking as applied to issues of public concern. What are the different types of conflict resolution. Conflict resolution skills managing and resolving conflict in a positive way conflict is a normal, and even healthy, part of relationships. Identifying africas regional and subregional actors and their mechanisms for handling conflict it is, indeed, the case that the actual number of regional and subregional organisations involved in the management of african conflict may never be known, as there are several ad agenda for peace, 1995, p. A report on the proceedings of the fourth international africa peace and conflict resolution conference held in johannesburg, south africa, on 25 and 26. These tiers represent the political units making up the community.
This situation may be the reason why many african conflicts may be silenced but remain largely unresolved. Indigenous conflict resolution mechanisms in africa. Introduction long before africa was colonised, and way beyond the advent of slave trade, african societies had institutional mechanisms as well as cultural sources to uphold the values of peace, tolerance, solidarity and. Indigenous approaches to conflict resolution in africa sryahwa. Approaches to conflict resolution, as applied to international environmental disputes, include negotiation, mediation and arbitration. This paper examines african conflicts and the roles of the african union au in conflict resolution, focusing on the recent zimbabwe and kenya conflicts. Maritime boundaries delimitation and dispute resolution in africa. In africa, there were levels or phases of conflict resolution, there were dispute resolutions at the interpersonal or family level, the extended family level and village or town level chief in council. Conflict resolution ranges from informal, nonlegally binding methods to more structured legal procedures. The labour relations act4 lra was the first instrument of its kind to address this key issue. This article examines the efficacy of indigenous conflict resolution mechanisms in grappling with myriad of conflicts that have ravaged the continent of africa, and draws out lessons for the nigerian state. Indigenous conflict resolution in africa by birgit brockutne university of oslo a draft presented to the weekend seminar on indigenous solutions to conflicts held at the university of oslo, institute for educational research 23 24 of february 2001. The paper notes that conflict resolution in traditional african societies provides opportunity to interact with the parties concerned, it promotes consensusbuilding, social bridge. Conflict prevention sanam naraghi anderlini and victoria stanski conflict exists in all countries and in every level of society.
Conflict resolution is conceptualized as the methods and processes involved in facilitating the peaceful ending of conflict and retribution. In the west conflict has exploded in cote divoire and now threatens to reignite west africas longrunning regional wars. Article 33 of the united nations charter explicitly states that any dispute endangering international peace and security would at first be tried. Mediation and conciliation the law reform commission is an independent statutory body established by the law reform commission act 1975. This study examined the patterns or mechanism for conflict resolution in traditional african societies with particular reference to yoruba and igbo societies in. Although the united nations was intended to deal with interstate. The case of ghana and botswana kwaku oseihwedie and morena j. Indigenous conflict resolution mechanisms in africa bangladesh. By directing attention to a potential conflict, there is apprehension that deliberate awareness could influence and increase escalation. Conflict resolution skills edmonds community college. Traditional leaders play a vital role in local and grassroots communities in relation to socioeconomic development and the administration of justice in the modern political system. Methods of conflict resolution in african traditional society. The study is set to investigate gbandx as a traditional method of conflict resolution in igbo land, its meaning, types, reasons, how it is administered, how it is used to achieve peace etc.
Lack of an effective conflict resolution mechanism before 1950 there was no ugandawide representative political. Once a conflict exists, there are many strategies used in resolving it which include competing, traditional conflict resolution strategies as spelt out by ajayi and buhari 2014 in their study of. The method of data analysis which involved giving qualitative description to. It concludes that traditional conflict resolution techniques such as mediation, adjudication, reconciliation, and negotiation as well as cross examination which were employed by africans in the. The case of the organisation of african unity oau author. Public conflicts and ineffective means for dealing with them lead to wasted resources, social instability, reduced investment, chronic underdevelopment, and loss of life. African, traditional, systems, conflict, resolution. Conflict can be defined as a clash or disagreement often violent between opposing groups or individuals. But in much of the rest of the continent we have weak. Africas indigenous methods of conflict resolution have recorded tremendous. For decades, mechanisms adopted in resolving african conflicts. A study of the barolong people of the north west province, south africa 15 journal of law and judicial system v1.
With regard to conflict, the aprm has stated as one of its objectives the prevention and reduction of inter and intrastate conflict. Indigenous, conflict resolution, mechanisms in africa. Indigenous approaches to conflict resolution in africa. Pdf methods of conflict resolution in african traditional. All of them apply to workplace conflict, and all of them can help organizations avoid lawsuits and other legal battles. Political leadership and conflict resolution africa portal. These are methods taken from the way traditional african. Conflict transformation can then, in principle, happen at all levels of conflict, global, social, and interintrapersonal macro, meso, micro. There are various methods of conflict resolution in international politics. Conflict management in africa for the security council, of approaching conflicts in africa from a regional perspective, with an emphasis on west africa and the great lakes region. Creative approaches to managing conflict in africa united states. From a positional standpoint, this study proposes two of these indigenous mechanisms and draws out lessons for nigeria. Peace transformation also presupposes a peaceful context as provided by peace educationjournalism, the continuation of the work after violence, and readiness to reopen peace agreements. Fred strasser after a trip to assess humanitarian crises in some of the worlds most troubled nations, u.
Conflict, conflict prevention, conflict management and beyond. Conflict resolution in the ways of our ancestors, being the text of the address delivered by his. Conflict transformation by peaceful means the transcend. One of the fundamental reasons for enacting the act was to establish an effective dispute resolution system. Those who want their conflicts resolved must have confidence in the tribunal that would resolve the dispute. Understand the 8 methods of resolving conflict mbm. Rankopo university of botswana introduction traditional conflict resolution processes are part of a wellstructured, timeproven social system geared towards reconciliation, maintenance and improvement of social. Conflict resolution and peace buildind in africa as a process. Since relationship conflicts are inevitable, learning. Somali women in conflict resolution and the im pact it is. The paper notes that conflict resolution in traditional african societies. Principles of conflict resolution in traditional african societies in the precolonial days, there were many principles guiding conflict resolution in the traditional african societies.
This often results in negative emotional states and behaviors intended to prevail. A report on the proceedings of the fourth international africa peace and conflict resolution conference held in johannesburg, south africa, on 25 and 26 july 2014, hosted by the african centre for. Conflict resolution and peace buildind in africa as a. After all, two people cant be expected to agree on everything at all times. Pdf methods of conflict resolution in african traditional society. Africa that was designed and executed from march 2003 till july 2004 by the conflict research unit of the clingendael institute on behalf of the netherlands ministry of foreign affairs. The former, he contends, involves conflict over governance and conflict over structures of democracy while the latter involves conflict over territorial sovereignty and frontiers p. Two new institutions now at work in africa hold some promise for the future. Conflict resolution introduction conflict is a situation between at least two interdependent parties that is characterized by perceived differences and that the parties evaluate as negative. Conflict prevention, resolution and reconstruction 3 an escalation to violence is complex and can lead to false alarms.
Methods of conflict resolution in african traditional. By ernest uwazie november 30, 2011 download this brief as a pdf. Research methods in peace and conflict studies request pdf. It concludes that traditional conflict resolution techniques such as mediation, adjudication, reconciliation, and negotiation as well as cross examination which were.
Lowlevel disputes in africa can spiral into violence and conflict due to the lack of effective judicial systems that can provide a credible and timely. The concept paper series is the joint centers paper series addressing topics and concepts of foremost importance for understanding the dynamics of. African conflict resolution united states institute of peace. Committed group members attempt to resolve group conflicts by actively communicating information about their conflicting motives or ideologies to the rest of group e. Long before africa was colonised, and way beyond the advent of slave trade, african societies had institutional mechanisms as well as cultural sources to uphold the values of peace, tolerance, solidarity and. In africa, strategies such as coercive methods as implied by the power politics, balance of power, and use of state agents to suppress conflicts, would be ineffective in modifying the conflict behaviors. Some of the most common forms of conflict resolution are negotiation, mediation, arbitration and mediationarbitration.
So if africa has to put the falling apart together, her original values must be re. This major handbook provides a cuttingedge and transdisciplinary overview of the main issues, debates, stateoftheart methods, and key concepts in peace and conflict studies today. Marvin nii ankrah author year 20 pages 82 catalog number v231798 file size 800 kb language english tags the organisation of african unity oau economic community of west african states ecowas conflict resolution model multisectoral approach sub. Regional approaches to conflict management in africa. Broadly speaking, there are two methods of conflict resolution are as follows.
Senator jeff merkley said he concluded that a matrix of conflict, corruption and climate chaos is driving one of the biggest periods of displacement in modern history. African conflict, mediation, reconciliation, adjudication, negotiation, etc. Regional approach to conflict management in west africa2 west africa is ripe for a regional approach to conflict management. The smallest unit called idile nuclear family is headed by a bale. Based on a qualitative analysis of conflict in africa, this paper has identified broad types of conflict in order to understand better the conflict dynamics, causes and drivers on the continent. First, the report includes a concise summary of the presentations that stimulated the substantive discussion among participants. Settling disputes in africa is a very important essay and should be recommended reading for all those working in the field of conflict resolution in africa, whether they be politicians, diplomats, academics, or international civil servants. Apr 06, 2020 conflict resolution ranges from informal, nonlegally binding methods to more structured legal procedures. What made the negotiations in south africa to succeed was, among other things, the continuous existence of a strong state. Conflict occurs between people in all kinds of human relationships and in all social settings. This study examined the patterns or mechanism for conflict resolution in traditional african societies with particular reference to yoruba and igbo societies in nigeria and pondo tribe in south africa. Conflicts in africa pose a major challenge to united nations efforts designed to ensure global peace, prosperity and human rights for all.
Methods in african traditional conflict resolution. Conflicts and causes of conflicts in africa project. Pdf on sep 21, 2015, adeyemi johnson ademowo and others published conflict. Quickly relieve stress the capacity to remain relaxed and focused in tense situations is a vital aspect of conflict resolution. Maritime boundaries delimitation and dispute resolution in. Conflicts in uganda can be attributed to a range of factors, namely, social inequality, ethnicity and unequal state formations. Existence of traditional conflict resolution mechanisms such as negotiation, reconciliation, mediation and others is evidence that these concepts are not new in africa.
The conflict resolution community seems to pursue conflict resolution efforts in africa from a variety of purposes and interests and with policies that are often replete with ambiguities and contradictions. Besides peace negotiations another mechanism of conflict resolution is the use of traditional methods. The use of traditional communications in conflict management. Highlighting the traditional precolonial institutions and methods of conflict resolution in the kom community of cameroon. Processes of conflict resolution in africa are characterised by three dimensions which include the nature of conflicts, conflict resolution mechanisms and the outcome of such mechanisms.
Diplomatic methods of conflict resolution in west africa. This major handbook provides a cuttingedge and transdisciplinary overview of the main issues, debates, state of theart methods, and key concepts in peace and conflict studies today. Bakwesegha perceives conflict as the pursuit of incompatible objectives by at least two parties. The causes of conflict and the promotion of peace and sustainable development in africa, states. The four contributors to the conflict resolution theme are all outstanding researchers in the field of environmental decisionmaking.
It is written in the tradition and context of western thinking about politics in general and conflict transformation in particular. Maritime boundaries delimitation and dispute resolution in africa theodore okonkwo department of public law, faculty of law, university of port harcourt, portharcourt, nigeria abstract africas borders are bestride with many challenges ranging from religious and terrorist movements to cattle rustling, military conflicts to human trafficking. It concludes that traditional conflict resolution techniques such as mediation, adjudication, reconciliation, and negotiation as well ascross examination which were employed by africans in the past, offer great prospects for peaceful coexistence and harmonious relationships in postconflict periods than the modern method of litigation settlements in law courts. In assessing the state of war and peace in africa one.
The paper notes that conflict resolution in traditional african societies provides opportunity to interact with the parties concerned, it. Traditional conflict resolution mechanisms and institutions. Pdf african union, conflict, and conflict resolution in. Cultural processes of conflict resolution in ghana traditional conflict resolution is a structured political, judicial and arbitration mechanism. The paper notes that conflict resolution in traditional african societies provides opportunity to interact with the parties concerned, it promotes consensusbuilding, social. South africa and conflict resolution in africa 27 that made the negotiated settlement possible do not exist elsewhere shillinger 2009, solomon 2010. Though peaceful and forceful means help in resolving and slackening the intensity of conflict, very often political stake of big powers malign the democratic norms. Unesco eolss sample chapters conflict resolution vol.
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