African conflict: a discussion of their causes and their political and social environment

Abstract

The paper will start with a simple definition of conflict for purpose of classifying the many conflicts, but will not engage in definition polemic. Secondly it will discuss the different causes of conflicts advanced by different writers and organisations such as the UN and the Organisation of African Unity (OAU).Its aim here will be to indicate the complexity of conflicts in Africa and to indicate that different types of conflicts may have different causes. During the last 150 years of Africa's contemporary history, different types of conflicts have emerged during different periods because of varying political, economic and social conditions or environments. Finally it will briefly discuss the policy implications for resolving conflicts at the national and regional levels.