Conflict Resolution in Africa - The Case of the Organisation of African Unity (OAU)

Master's Thesis from the year 2004 in the subject Politics - International Politics - Region: Africa, grade: 1.9, University of Freiburg (University of Freiburg (Germany) and Kwazulu Natal( South Africa)), course: Sociology - Global Studies Programme, language: English, abstract: The objective of this paper was to investigate the causes of conflict in Africa and the role played by the Organisation of African Unity (OAU) in ensuring political order during its period of existence. The study employed content analysis of historical documents, academic works, Internet sources and also current conflict situations in Africa as a baseline for its argument. The results showed that, despite the role of ethnicity as a source of conflicts in Africa, political and economic factors are the major sources of tension on the continent. The OAU, this paper argues, could not have a tangible impact in its attempt to ensure peace and stability on the continent, hence the functional shift in the role of Sub-regional Organisations in the continent in the area of peace and security. Notwithstanding its logistical and financial weaknesses, the Organisation failed to understand the sources of tension of most of these conflicts so as to map out a more pragmatic, multi- sectoral, and multi- dimensional approach to manage and resolve them. Factors such as the need for a more pragmatic and realistic continental policies involving good governance and genuine decentralisation were identified as crucial elements of consideration if Africa is to enjoy a sound, stable, peaceful, political and economic environment in the new millennium.