The African continent is the scene of a series of conflicts, a consequence of colonialist intervention, mainly at the end of the 19th century and beginning of the 20th century. This intervention process directly interfered in the political, economic and social conditions of the African population.
The territorial division of the continent was based only on the interests of European colonizers, disregarding the ethnic and cultural differences of the local population. Several communities, often rivals, which historically lived in conflict, were placed in the same territory, while groups of the same ethnic group were separated.
After World War II, there was an intense process of independence for African nations. However, new countries were formed on the same territorial base built by European colonizers, disrespecting culture and history of the communities, consequently countless ethnic conflicts over the dispute for power were unleashed within these countries.
Another aggravating factor for the emergence of these conflicts in Africa refers to the low socioeconomic level of many countries and the installation of dictatorial governments. During the Cold War, which involved the United States and the Soviet Union, arms financing for African countries occurred, providing technical and financial apparatus for the different groups of guerrillas, who often had – and still have – children who are forced, through ideological manipulation, to hate the different groups ethnic groups.
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The participation of children in armed conflicts
There are several conflicts on the African continent; what's worse, many of them are far from a pacification process. Most are motivated by ethnic differences, as is the case in Rwanda, Mali, Senegal, Burundi, Liberia, Congo and Somalia, for example. Others for territorial disputes such as Sierra Leone, Somalia and Ethiopia; Religious issues also generate conflicts, as is the case in Algeria and Sudan. In addition to so many dictatorial policies in place, the one that had the greatest repercussion was apartheid in South Africa – racial segregation policy that was made official in 1948, with the coming to power of the New National Party (NNP). Apartheid did not allow blacks access to the polls, and they could not acquire land in most of the country, forcing blacks to live in segregated residential areas, a kind of geographic confinement.
International organizations must intervene so that this and other problems on the African continent (AIDS, hunger, economy, health, etc.) are alleviated, as this process is a consequence of the colonialist policies of developed countries, which after sucking the wealth of these people, abandoned the continent, leaving a real sore.
By Wagner de Cerqueira and Francisco
Graduated in Geography
Would you like to reference this text in a school or academic work? Look:
FRANCISCO, Wagner de Cerqueira and. "Conflicts in Africa"; Brazil School. Available in: https://brasilescola.uol.com.br/geografia/conflitos-na-africa.htm. Accessed on June 29, 2021.
