The African continent is arguably described as a continent inflicted with recurrent conflicts. Conflicts in all its forms have been present in Africa since the dawn of independence of most African states. Since the 1960s, series of civil wars emanated from different regions across Africa, most notably Rwanda, Burundi, Sierra Leone (1991-2001). Besides civil wars, the continent has been witnessing a number of recurrent border disputes and inter-state conflicts. However, Conflicts and violence are not contemporary to Africa, other regions of the world are also experiencing regular conflicts and social upheavals. Worth noting are regions such as the Middle East and Asia. This therefore clearly demonstrates that conflicts are inherent and ineradicable as long as humans exist and pursue different interests. Nevertheless, leaders have a responsibility to ensure that peace and tranquility prevail within their jurisdiction and beyond.
State related conflicts can be stratified into two broad categories, internal conflicts (or intra- states conflict) and International conflict (interstate conflicts). These conflicts have prevailed and continue to escalate because of multidimensional factors. The Colonial era divided Africa into arbitrary boundaries causing heterogeneous ethnic compositions within African states, this has been the cause of most internal conflicts and civil wars. The struggle for natural resources and boundary disputes among neighboring countries have also contributed to the recurrent conflicts. Intra-state conflicts have been escalated by inept political leadership, corruption and poverty, pushing the citizenry to be indulged in violence and conflicts.
To solve these patent issues, leaders in Africa need to take center stage in ensuring that peace prevails. The continent needs leaders who should ensure citizens exercise their human right of living in a peace and secure environment. I believe reducing conflict and violence in Africa will take a leader who aligns, manifests and reflects his/her values and beliefs towards people-centered/driven approaches in ending conflicts and violence.
The continent is filled with leaders that are unscrupulous and have no heart for their subjects. Africa has suffered from leadership problems which have retarded political integration and unity in almost all African countries. Our leaders are self-minded, corrupt and unpatriotic thus causing internal conflicts. Such leaders have sparkled off widespread bloody violence in many African states. The African continent lacks leaders who are unifiers and hold people with conflicting interests into one understanding by mobilizing and motivating people and pursuing inclusion policies rather than exclusion policies.
Despite all the negativity, the African continent is full of optimism as a new crop of leaders is emerging. Holding a position that influences a paradigm shift in conflict and violence resolution would enable an overhaul in the system. Struggles and wrangles in natural resources acquisition has been at the center of both inter-state and intra-state conflicts. A number of violent conflicts have erupted, in part, over the abundance of resources. In several African nations, lucrative mineral resources such as oil, diamonds, and other strategically important minerals have fueled ongoing conflicts. Politicians and government elites use their control over these resources to enrich themselves, this has fueled the citizenry to demand justice and power overhaul within a number of states such as the Ivory Coast and Burkina Faso. As a remedy to this cause, if I was given the power to influence decisions, I would ensure an even distribution of resources among the various geo-political zones by ensuring that resources are equally provided to everyone with disregard to race, color, ethnic background, status, sex, religion and political affiliation. Concurrently, I would put in place measures that would inculcate people to receive what they earn and vehemently abolish the spirit of handouts and corruption currently terrorizing the African continent. I would enact and implement policies that protect scarce and non-renewable resources such as minerals and ensure that the circulation and access of resource crucial for human survival are made available. Services such as health care systems, education, and security would be made accessible to all, disregarding the financial status of the citizenry.
Exploitation of vulnerable citizens would be strongly condemned and punishable by law to ensure access to decent services. However, for all this to be achieved, it will not take an individual alone, thus before this, I would form a network of young leaders who shall share the same sentiments and would be willing to change the system. Thus leadership change shall start down-upwards until the whole system is overhauled with new ideologies.
Peace and security in the African context has been highly fueled by the ever increasing levels of corruption. African state leaders, politicians and civil servants have embezzled and mismanaged public funds meant for socio-development. This has impoverished the citizenry leaving few people to benefit and enrich themselves. In attempts to fight these imbalances, the masses have revolted and violently demanded for accountability and order in countries, thus causing series of violent conducts that have caused damage to property and innocent lives. Perhaps corruption is not the root cause of the violence and conflicts across Africa. Poverty has instigated corrupt practices, evidence points that Africa is one of the poorest continents in the world and as of 2012, 501 million people, or 47 percent of the population of sub-Saharan Africa, lived on $1.90 a day or less (World Bank,2012).
Concurrently, the rise of poverty has synonymously given rise to the upsurge of armed conflicts and insecurity in Africa. Hence leaders need to deal with poverty if they are to register change in levels of violence and conflicts. It is for this reason that I would empower people in sustainable income generating activities that would ensure they escape from the shackles of poverty. Access to food is of prime importance and together with it comes access to sustainable livelihood opportunities. By heavily investing in the agricultural sector, I would ensure that agriculture moves from subsistence to commercial production by among other, promoting farm mechanization and enabling smallholder farmers have access to improved inputs and supporting services (financial and extension services).
Additionally I would ensure that struggling farmers have access to profitable markets that offer lucrative prices by guarantying agricultural products have a comparative advantage against the rest of the world in terms of quality and standards. Domestic and regional market would be heavily utilized as a means of jointly ensuring inter-boundary relations and trade for economic growth.
I would also revive the African industrial sector by searching investment opportunities of development partners whose aims are not to exploit the common African. Partners who have mutual beneficial opportunities would be allowed to invest in Africa. These would provide mentorship and empowerment to Young Africans to have an entrepreneur mindset. Young Africans shall be inspired to open up businesses that would provide jobs and also reduce over reliance on European products. However, in the absence of basic education and tertiary education, entrepreneurial education would be in vain. Hence I would ensure that education is accessible to all regardless of financial status, ethnic background, sex and political affiliations. The importance of education to socio development is undoubtedly a bridge to human societal development. Unfortunately, the underprivileged do not have access to basic education attributing to the fact that school is a financial burden to most Africans. Thus, I would introduce school supporting service to deserving students such as loans, bursaries and scholarships. I believe curing education poverty could cure financial poverty which in would keep people especially the youth out of violence.
Conclusively, leaders form the backbone to sustainable development hence solving leadership problems in Africa is a fundamental principal. Young leaders with innovative and dynamic ideas need to take center stage and help the continent reach great heights. Older leaders have a role to play in grooming and mentoring these young leaders, in the absence of this, the African continent shall continue to move in cycles of poverty, hunger, conflict, insecurity and economic recession.