Conflict resolution by peaceful means is generally perceived to be a better option. This article argues that historical, political, and cultural topographies are essential to understanding patterns of the persistence and demise of precolonial institutions. According to the traditional view, any conflict in an organization is outright bad, negative and harmful. The effectiveness of conflict resolution methods by the. Definition of a traditional ruler a traditional ruler is defined differently by many authors depending on time and circumstances. Negotiation, the secret is to harmonize the interests of the parties concerned. Traditional institutions, sites and objects play a quasireligious role in the arbitration, mediation, conciliation and reconciliation of conflicts at a micro and macro level in kom society. Jul 12, 20 the conflict resolution community seems to pursue conflict resolution efforts in africa from a variety of purposes and interests and with policies that are often replete with ambiguities and contradictions. Traditional conflict resolution mechanisms and institutions. It was first developed in the late 1930s and early 1940s, with the most linear and simple approach towards conflict. Every conflict is unique in some ways, but like some other conflicts in certain ways. Traditional modes of conflict resolution remain strong where they have been internalized over centuries. Processes of conflict resolution in africa are characterised by three. By ernest uwazie november 30, 2011 download this brief as a pdf.
African communities which still hold their traditional leaders in high esteem and still use these leaders in indigenous conflict management institutions such as sharia courts to solve disputes between clans, subclans and at the rural areas where modern institutions of conflict management. Indigenous conflict resolution in africa by birgit brockutne university of oslo a draft presented to the weekend seminar on indigenous solutions to conflicts held at the university of oslo, institute for educational research 23 24 of february 2001. Contemporary cr differs in several ways from many traditional conflict resolution methods. The conflict resolution community seems to pursue conflict resolution efforts in africa from a variety of purposes and interests and with policies that are often replete with ambiguities and contradictions. There is, therefore, a need to promptly revitalize the african traditional conflict resolution institutions so that conflicts for a longterm be resolved. Two new institutions now at work in africa hold some promise for the future. It can also be said to be an incompatibility, as of two things that cannot be simultaneously fulfilled.
Conflict resolution in the ways of our ancestors, being the text of the address delivered by his. Wal duany describes a very significant peace process in 1993, built on traditional practices, organized to manage intraethnic conflict among the nuer of southern sudan after 1,300 people had been killed. The kom geographical location, as well as its social and political history, also play a great role in conflict resolution. To resolve disputes caused by various issues, the elders of west africa adopted several approaches in reaching a resolution. Click download or read online button to get traditional mechanisms of conflict resolution in ethiopia book now. The role of african women in peace building and conflict. Arbitration is the least used conflict resolution method in tra ditional africa. Marvin nii ankrah author year 20 pages 82 catalog number v231798 file size 800 kb language english tags the organisation of african unity oau economic community of west african states ecowas conflict resolution model multisectoral approach sub. Kpelle people of li beria, it is called house of palaver or moot. The study sought to examine the extent to which traditional leaders abide by their traditional roles. Methods of conflict resolution in african traditional society. The role of traditional leaders in conflict management in.
Nov 15, 2014 therefore, while acknowledging the tremendous contribution of traditional african dispute resolution tadr mechanisms to the corps of human conflict resolution practices, we must not see it. For years the treatment of conflicts in africa involving national armies revolved around conventional mechanisms that have excluded the traditional approaches. The methods of performing conflict resolution in the traditional african. This is because the understanding of the type of causes and actors will be a very useful tool for that purpose. The conflict resolution curve derived from an analytical model that offers a peaceful solution by motivating conflicting entities. Traitional approach conflict is everywhere, peace is not so hard to pin down, but can be attained. Pdf african union, conflict, and conflict resolution in. Key terms ndebele people nguni group of people in zimbabwe closely related to. Rankopo university of botswana introduction traditional conflict resolution processes are part of a wellstructured, timeproven social system geared towards reconciliation, maintenance and improvement of social.
The paper looks at the root causes of conflict in burundi at different levels and those institutions and practices that propagate these conflicts. Preserving the traditional measures of preventing conflict. This article examines the efficacy of indigenous conflict resolution mechanisms in grappling with myriad of conflicts that have ravaged the continent of africa, and draws out lessons for the nigerian state. Africas indigenous methods of conflict resolution have recorded tremendous results for. How do conflicts in traditional africa compare with those of the region.
Burundi, africa, women, war, conflict resolution, peace building introduction in the recent past, countries in africa have had numerous conflicts and presently. Indigenous conflict resolution mechanisms in africa. Pdf traditional african dispute resolution mechanisms. The evolution of conflict resolution maxwell school of. The use of traditional communications in conflict management. Traditional mechanisms of conflict resolution in ethiopia. The paper notes that conflict resolution in traditional african societies provides opportunity to. Pdf conflict management in traditional african society. Alternative dispute resolution techniques can strengthen dispute settlement systems and bridge the gap between formal legal systems and traditional modes of. In the west conflict has exploded in cote divoire and now threatens to reignite west africas longrunning regional wars. With africa as the frame of human race, it had fashioned out its own distinct indigenous means and. Levels of conflict resolution among some selected ethnic groups in africa in traditional african societies, the law enforcement agents, traditional police and courts were responsible for ensuring compliance with the laws of the land. Conflict resolution and peace building are issues which have become very. This paper examines the role of african women in peace building and conflict resolution with special emphasis to the role of burundian women.
This situation may be the reason why many african conflicts may be silenced but remain largely unresolved. All the three communities have their traditional habitat, distinctive social organisation and culture. So if africa has to put the falling apart together, her original values must be re. Emphasis will be placed on the liberian and ghanaian traditional structures of conflict resolution. African ethics and the moral possibilities of ubuntu. Traditional conflict resolution processes are part of a wellstructured, timeproven social system geared towards reconciliation, maintenance and improvement of social relationships.
This principle is rooted in the indigenous and traditional approaches to conflict prevention, resolution and peace building which have largely been excluded from. The case of ghana and botswana kwaku oseihwedie and morena j. A viable alternative for peace building process in modern africa 140 conflict resolution conflict management conflict transformation peace enforcement peace making peace keeping peace building this paper is dedicated to peace building. Monica matavire lecturer in citizenship and conflict transformation bindura university of science education zimbabwe abstract this article describes the zimbabwean traditional jurisprudence in relation to conflict resolution. Long before africa was colonised, and way beyond the advent of slave trade, african societies had institutional mechanisms as well as cultural. Settlement mechanism actual settlement of disputes shack shifta social sociocultural sodo teff theft tigray tigreans tigrigna tplf traditional disputes tribal tribes type of disputes usually values verdict warra wasis wereare wolfgang. Potential and limits of traditional approaches in peacebuilding 433 networks who do not care about states, borders, sovereignty or territorial integrity at all.
It identifies and discusses a lao conflict resolution spectrum, bringing particular attention to the village mediation committee neoy gai geer. Preserving, traditional measures, conflict and africa. In africa, there were levels or phases of conflict resolution, there were. The role of traditional leadership in conflict resolution. Indigenous conflict resolution institutions in ethiopia ethiopia is believed to be the museum of peoples with more than 80 ethnic groups constituting and forming one nation state.
African, traditional, systems, conflict, resolution. The paper notes that conflict resolution in traditional african societies provides opportunity to interact with the parties concerned, it promotes consensusbuilding, social bridge. The paper notes that conflict resolution in traditional african societies provides opportunity to interact with the parties concerned, it. Interrogating the zimbabwean traditional jurisprudence and. However various communities in africa call it various names. Conflict resolution and peace buildind in africa as a process. Africa security brief alternative dispute resolution in africa. Traditional conflict resolution as a better option to. What was the nature of conflicts in precolonial african societies. Furthermore, analysis is an integral part of good conflict resolution applications. Lowlevel disputes in africa can spiral into violence and conflict due to the lack of effective judicial systems that can provide a credible and timely.
Conflict resolution and peace buildind in africa as a. In the same way as the analysis of violent conflict has to overcome a statecentric perspective, so have the approaches to the control of violence and the nonviolent conduct of conflict. Indigenous approaches to conflict resolution in africa sryahwa. The role of traditional leadership in conflict resolution and. Introductory note on conflicts in ambo conflict is what dominating the current media coverage. Indigenous conflict resolution in africa citeseerx. Nov 30, 2011 lowlevel disputes in africa can spiral into violence and conflict due to the lack of effective judicial systems that can provide a credible and timely process for resolving differences. Pdf empirical evidence has shown that most of the conflicts that have been.
Horn countries which use the traditional peacemaking roles of elders and rely on traditional peacemaking methods. They are translated into the language of western peace and conflict studies and hence adjusted in ways that make them fit that. The methods, processes and regulations are deeply rooted in the customs and traditions of peoples of africa. This study examined the patterns or mechanism for conflict resolution in traditional african societies with particular reference to yoruba and igbo societies in. This paper examines african conflicts and the roles of the african union au in conflict resolution, focusing on the recent zimbabwe and kenya conflicts. Forced resolution of conflict might invoke another conflict in the future. Putting differently, countries of the world are experiencing conflict in one way or another. Therefore, this study seeks to find out the role of chiefs in conflict resolution and peace building in the rural communities. Uwazie a publication of the africa center for strategic studies b acklogged court dockets in africa, often requiring claimants to wait years, are common. Conflict can be defined as a clash or disagreement often violent between opposing groups or individuals.
Pdf on sep 21, 2015, adeyemi johnson ademowo and others published conflict. Therefore, traditional conflict resolution processes in africa are part of a wellstructured, timeproven social system geared towards reconciliation, maintenance and improvement of social. From mandela to zuma katabaro miti university of pretoria, south africa abstract this article looks at how the three presidential leaders of south africa nelson mandela, thabo mbeki and jacob zuma, have dealt with various conflict situations on the african continent. The effectiveness of conflict resolution methods by the africa union. Conflicts and causes of conflicts in africa project topics. Moreover, many current violent conflicts emerge and are carried out in the context of socalled weak or fragile or even failed states. The traditional view on organizational conflict is the earliest of the trio. The roles and the challenges of traditional rulers in land. Indigenous approaches to conflict resolution in africa. Up to now, traditional approaches to conflict transformation have not been adequately addressed by scholarly research and political practice. African ethics and the moral possibilities of ubuntu towards. Those mechanisms were geared toward fostering peaceful coexistence among the africans.
Conflict, conflict prevention, conflict management and beyond. In the precolonial era a traditional ruler is defined as a person who by virtue. The four contributors to the conflict resolution theme are all outstanding researchers in the field of environmental decisionmaking. Good analysis of the conflict in which a practitioner is engaged or. The role of chiefs, elders, family heads, and others is not only to resolve conflicts but also to anticipate and stopor intercept conflicts.
These are methods taken from the way traditional african. African countries, and particularly the drc, to incorporate african traditional ethics ubuntu in the resolution of their conflict for the promotion of peace, freedom, unity, human dignity and development. Background before the advent of colonialism, the communities living in africa had their own conflict resolution mechanisms. I explore conflict resolution principles, practices and procedures across various cultures in africa through the lens of several legal anthropologists working in africa. Therefore, while acknowledging the tremendous contribution of traditional african dispute resolution tadr mechanisms to the corps of human conflict resolution practices, we. It is written in the tradition and context of western thinking about politics in general and conflict transformation in particular. Indigenous conflict resolution mechanisms in africa bangladesh. Ambo town, conflict, traditional conflict resolution mechanisms, modern court system 1. Traditional african dispute resolution tadr mechanisms. A case study of burundis conflict resolution process a research project submitted to the institute of diplomacy and international studies of the university of nairobi, in partial fulfillment of the requirements of the award of masters of arts.
Pdf methods of conflict resolution in african traditional. This site is like a library, use search box in the. The case of the organisation of african unity oau author. A study of the barolong people of the north west province, south africa 15 journal of law and judicial system v1. But they differ among themselves in their history and present.
The evolution of conflict resolution1 louis kriesberg. A study of the barolong people of the northwest province, south africa journal of law and judicial system v1 i1 2018 12 african indigenous approaches to conflict resolution. Pdf methods of conflict resolution in african traditional society. Feb 11, 2019 traditional institutions, sites and objects play a quasireligious role in the arbitration, mediation, conciliation and reconciliation of conflicts at a micro and macro level in kom society. Methods of conflict resolution in african traditional. In what ways can a new understanding of the indigenous conflict resolution. Traditional conflict resolution as a better option to court. Preventing conflict and enhancing stability by ernest e. Conflicts and causes of conflicts in africa project.
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