Conflict in Africa
Reading and Questions
Conflict is a way of
life in many African countries. Read the
excerpt from the World Book Encyclopedia for Students below to
understand why Africa is often subjected to so much violence. Answer the questions that follow.
Struggles for independence. Organized groups in some African colonies began
to demand self-government in the early 1900’s. But not until after World War II
(1939-1945) did the demands for independence become a powerful mass movement.
Some colonies achieved their independence through largely peaceful means. For others, it came after lengthy armed
struggles.
In
1951, with the aid of the United Nations, Libya became the first country in
Africa to gain independence. Morocco, Sudan, and Tunisia also gained their
independence relatively peacefully in 1956. A revolt against the French in
Algeria broke out in 1954. The bloody revolt lasted eight years and cost about
1 million Algerian lives before the country won independence in 1962 after 132
years of colonial rule.
The
most difficult wars of liberation were fought in southern Africa. Portugal
fought costly wars in Angola and Mozambique. They were granted freedom in 1975.
In Rhodesia, blacks fought for years against white-minority rule. A government
with a majority of blacks was finally elected in 1979. The following year, the
United Kingdom recognized Rhodesia's independence. The country was renamed Zimbabwe. South
Africa's control over the territory of Namibia (called South West Africa until
1968) became an international issue during the mid-1900's. Most nations
considered South Africa's control of Namibia to be illegal. In 1990, Namibia
became an independent country. Finally, South Africa made the transition from apartheid
(strict racial segregation) to a multiracial democracy under black rule in
1994. This transition marked the end of European colonialism in Africa.
Africa since independence. African countries faced many serious challenges
inherited from colonialism and brought by independence. Military officers
overthrew civilian governments in many countries. In a few countries, military
dictatorships emerged. Civil wars broke out in Chad, the Democratic Republic of
the Congo, Nigeria, and other countries. During the 1990’s, struggles for
democracy grew more intense across Africa. Today, the majority of African
countries are democratic. However, several African states struggle to promote
good government. Ending corruption
remains an issue of concern. In some regions, ethnic or religious loyalties
often clash with national loyalties.
At
independence, most African economies were small and underdeveloped. In the
1960’s and 1970’s, some African countries pursued different development
strategies. Some opted for free enterprise, while others chose socialist
strategies. Most countries experienced
economic growth. However, this changed in the late 1970’s as prices for African
goods, such as coffee and cocoa, fell in world markets. National debt rose in
most nations.
Other
challenges to African stability include disease and warfare. In the 1990's and
early 2000's, the AIDS epidemic reached disastrous levels in several parts of
Africa. Internal conflicts and regional wars have devastated several countries
in Africa since the 1990’s. In 1994, Hutu militias massacred hundreds of
thousands of Tutsi and moderate Hutu in Rwanda. Civil war in the Democratic
Republic of the Congo broke out in 1998 and involved several other countries.
Even after the war ended in 2003, ethnic clashes continued. Since 1998,
conflict in Congo has claimed more than 5 million lives, mostly from disease
and malnutrition.
Cooperation
is the ideal behind the movement of pan-Africanism. Pan-Africanism promotes the unity of
African countries. The 1990’s saw the strengthening of regional economies which
produced organizations such as the Economic Community of West African States,
the Southern African Development Community, and the Arab Maghreb Union. These
organizations will help Africa to compete in the world economy.
The
push for African regions to unite has continued into the 2000’s. The African
Union (AU), an association of African states, was formed in 2002. The AU works to promote economic and political
cooperation in the continent. The AU has several administrative groups,
including a Pan-African Parliament and a Peace and Security Council. These groups
are set up to promote good government, justice, and peace across Africa. These
developments have given Africans hope that they can successfully overcome the
challenges that face the continent.
1.
The demands for independence became popular in
Africa after what time period? _________________________.
2.
__________________________________ was the
first country to gain independence.
3.
The most difficult wars
for independence were fought in ____________________________ Africa.
4.
The transition from Apartheid to
________________________________marked the end of European colonialism in
Africa.
5.
Describe the economies
of newly independent African countries.
6.
Why might the economy of a country lead
to corruption and violence?
7.
What are some other
challenges to African stability?
8.
What is Pan-Africanism?
9.
How might organizations
like the AU help Africans to overcome the challenges that face their continent?
