Abstract
Africa’s history is of a struggle for self-determination; this quest for self determination has gone through different phases and has also taken different forms. In the aftermath of the end of the Cold War and the onset of a multi-polar world order in the 21st century, this struggle is best expressed in Africa’s quest for Pax-Africana, a peace ‘that is protected and maintained by Africa herself’. African Solutions to African Problems (AfSol) is a notion that bestows Africa the leading role in defining its problems and providing solutions as well. This research upholds the notion of AfSol as an extension of the ideas of Pan Africanism and African Nationalism; and hence with strong historical roots. The research investigated the viability of African Solutions to African Problems in the security realm with AU as an institutional mechanism by taking the 2011 Libyan crisis and the peacekeeping mission deployed in Somalia (AMISOM) since 2007 as case studies. The study explores the practical difficulties the Union has had in providing an African centered solution to the Libyan crisis at the initial levels of the conflict and with the Somalia case study the study examines the kind of difficulties the Union has faced with AMISOM by investigating how much of the mission’s agenda are home grown as it is funded by foreign donors.
TABLE OF CONTENT
Title page
Approval page
Dedication
Acknowledgment
Abstract
Table of content
CHAPETR ONE
1.0 INTRODUCTION
1.1 Background of the study
1.2 Statement of problem
1.3 Objective of the study
1.4 Research Hypotheses
1.5 Significance of the study
1.6 Scope and limitation of the study
1.7 Definition of terms
1.8 Organization of the study
CHAPETR TWO
2.0 LITERATURE REVIEW
CHAPETR THREE
3.0 Research methodology
3.1 sources of data collection
3.3 Population of the study
3.4 Sampling and sampling distribution
3.5 Validation of research instrument
3.6 Method of data analysis
CHAPTER FOUR
DATA PRESENTATION AND ANALYSIS AND INTERPRETATION
4.1 Introductions
4.2 Data analysis
CHAPTER FIVE
5.1 Introduction
5.2 Summary
5.3 Conclusion
5.4 Recommendation
Appendix
CHAPTER ONE
INTRODUCTION
- Background of the study
Africa is a conflict torn continent and the African Union (AU), primarily a peace and security actor, has been tasked with bringing peace and security to the continent. The organization initially came into being with a new mandate to manage conflict in the continent, for its predecessor the Organization of African Unity (OAU) failed to take matters on its own mainly because of its non-intervention principle. Non-indifference is the new approach that the AU has adopted. The Rwandan genocide of 1994 has been one of the factors that triggered in the transformation of the OAU to the AU with a quest to finding African Solutions to African Problems. Professor Amadou Sessay states that the establishment of the Peace and Security Architecture (APSA) by the AU shows the emphasis the organization is laying on local conflict prevention and management, and the ownership of processes as reflected in the Constitutive Act.1
Africa has been a victim of foreign intervention since the time of colonialism and even after more than 50 years of independence this intervention continues. Ferim Valery argues that for decades, African leaders and scholars alike have expressed concerns over foreign intervention in the internal affairs of African countries. They have decried humanitarian intervention as a neo-colonialist agenda propelled by self-interest. With the reality that compelled foreign intervention in the continent being one of self-interest and not a real aspiration to help; Africans have felt the need for taking ownership of their own affairs. ‘African Solutions’ or ‘Try Africa First’ reflects the response of African leaders through their multilateral institutions – the OAU, and now the AU and RECs – to minimize as much as practicable, direct external powers involvement in African conflicts. The interest in Africa’s solutions in conflict resolution is based on the growing misgivings about external interventions in Africa as well as the dominant belief and activism among African thinkers and politicians that only African-oriented solutions can secure lasting solutions to Africa’s challenges. The recent robust security stance and interventions of Africa’s continental organizations – however limited and wanting – are signs of the renewed commitment by African actors to uphold and fulfil the ideals of African solutions wherever possible (Dersso 2012; Apuuli 2012; Williams 2011). It is worth noting that there is a growing critique that peace and security initiatives in Africa and other developing countries are undertaken under the paragons of dominant powers to the detriment of other outlooks that could contribute to sustainable solutions (Avruch 2002; Lacroix and Neufeldt 2010). For Salem (2007), the mainstream conception of conflict resolution portrays fundamental ideas, assumptions, beliefs, values and thought processes of dominant/western powers. Such considerations have led to the quest for context-specific solutions and the clamour for an inclusive conflict resolution perspective in the global scene. Despite the growing activism for ‘African solutions’ in Africa 2 however, there remains a paucity of attention paid to the nature and relevance of Africa’s prioritized approaches in terms of conflict resolution. Using the theoretical framework of constructivism1 , this doctoral thesis thus advances the existing literature on African solutions in peace and security by examining the key elements of African conflict resolution framework based on two benchmarks: · Firstly, based on the perspectives of peace and security experts in the continent and · Secondly, based on the consideration of the literary discourses on African traditional conflict resolution model. With the feedback received from African peace and security experts and the literary discourses on African traditional conflict resolution model, the thesis further explores the implication of the highlighted African values (solutions) in conflict resolution approaches for the African Union’s interventions. The thesis utilizes the case study of Somalia – where the AU has been playing a leading role in the resolution of the conflict for a longer duration using multi-dimensional approaches – to assess the African Union’s achievements, challenges and prospects in the provision of African solutions to the internal challenges in Africa.
- STATEMENT OF THE PROBLEM
The dream of Africa’s 53 sovereign states to form a United States of Africa was first conceived by Dr. Kwame Nkrumah of Ghana more than fifty years ago. Since then, Africa has struggled to overcome a history of conflicts, which have ravaged individual countries and reflect the continued exploitation of Africa by the international arena. In response, many African leaders have proclaimed the need for “African solutions to African problems,” calling on African states to take personal responsibility for preserving peace and stability. In principle, the long-held dream of a united Africa involves a transformation of the continent from a series of post-colonial fragments divided by arbitrary borders into a unified state that could play a powerful role in global affairs. It is in view of this that the researcher intend to investigate the viability of Africans solution to African problem in peace and security.
- OBJECTIVE OF THE STUDY
The main objective of the study is to ascertain the viability of African solution to African problem in peace and security; but to aid the completion of the study, the researcher intends to achieve the following specific objectives;
- To examine the viability of African solution to unrest in African state
- To examine the role of African leaders in attaining collective security of life and properties
- To examine the impact of African Union (AU) in ensuring peace in the African state
- To ascertain effectiveness of ECOWAS in ensuring the security of lives in the African region
- RESEARCH HYPOTHESES
The following research hypotheses were formulated by the researcher to aid the completion of the study;
H0: there is no impact of African Union (AU) in ensuring peace in the African state
H1: there is impact of African Union (AU) in ensuring peace in the African state
H0: viability of African solution does not curb unrest in African state
H2: viability of African solution does not curb unrest in African state
- SIGNIFICANCE OF THE STUDY
It is believed that at the completion of the study, the findings and literature reviewed will be of great importance to the management of government security apparatus as the study seeks to explore the importance to role of African union and other associations in attaining peace and security among African state. The study will also be of importance to African Union and ECOWAS as the study seek to explore the merit of employing African solution to African peace and security. The study will also be of importance to researchers who intends to embark on a study in a similar topic as the study will serve as a reference point to further research, finally the study will be useful to students, teachers and the general public as the study will add to the pool of existing literature in the subject matters.
- SCOPE AND LIMITATION OF THE STUDY
The scope of the study covers the viability of African solution to African problem in peace and security. But in the cause of the study, there were some factors that limited the scope of the study;
- a) AVAILABILITY OF RESEARCH MATERIAL: The research material available to the researcher is insufficient, thereby limiting the study.
- b) TIME: The time frame allocated to the study does not enhance wider coverage as the researcher has to combine other academic activities and examinations with the study.
- c) FINANCE: The finance available for the research work does not allow for wider coverage as resources are very limited as the researcher has other academic bills to cover.
1.7 OPERATIONAL DEFINITION OF TERMS
Viability
Viability is the ability of a thing (a living organism, an artificial system, an idea, etc.) to maintain itself or recover its potentialities
Security
Security is freedom from, or resilience against, potential harm from external forces. Beneficiaries of security may be persons and social groups, objects and institutions, ecosystems, and any other entity or phenomenon vulnerable to unwanted change by its environment.
Peace
Peace is the concept of harmonious well-being and freedom from hostile aggression. In a social sense, peace is commonly used to mean a lack of conflict and freedom from fear of violence between individuals or heterogeneous groups
1.8 ORGANIZATION OF THE STUDY
This research work is organized in five chapters, for easy understanding, as follows. Chapter one is concern with the introduction, which consist of the (background of the study), statement of the problem, objectives of the study, research questions, research hypotheses, significance of the study, scope of the study etc. Chapter two being the review of the related literature presents the theoretical framework, conceptual framework and other areas concerning the subject matter. Chapter three is a research methodology covers deals on the research design and methods adopted in the study. Chapter four concentrate on the data collection and analysis and presentation of finding. Chapter five gives summary, conclusion, and recommendations made of the study.
