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Regional Approaches to Conflict Prevention in Africa: European Support to African Processes

Author: L Alexander and A Higazi
Date: 2003
Size: 12 pages (273 KB)

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Summary

The situation is ripe for enhancing regional approaches to conflict prevention in Africa. This paper, published by the European Centre for Development Policy Management and International Alert, argues that the EU should adopt a broader view of regional conflict prevention by involving all stakeholders including civil society, local and multinational business and parliamentarians. A more integrated strategy is required to ensure a holistic and mutually-reinforcing approach at continental, regional, national and local levels.

There is a strong regional dimension to conflict in Africa and the spread of conflict has a destabilising impact on the region. The cross-border aspects of conflict include: armed groups that are coerced and driven across borders to fight; exploitation and trade of natural resources that fuel conflict at a regional level and flows of refugees who are forced to flee their homes. A regional approach to conflict prevention is particularly relevant in light of recent pan-African initiatives, which create a window of opportunity for establishing reliable conflict prevention programmes. The African institutional framework for conflict prevention is quickly developing at continental and regional levels. This includes the dynamic security agenda of the African Union (AU) and the New Economic Partnership for African Development (NEPAD).

The regional dynamics of conflict in Africa are increasingly reflected in the EU’s policy framework, which has developed into a sophisticated set of instruments for conflict prevention. Key features of the EU’s approach include:

  • Institutional commitments: The EU engaged in discussions with African leaders on a medium-term support facility for peace and security at the African Union (AU) summit in Maputo in 2003.
  • Sectoral support: Conflict prevention has been identified as a sector of co-operation in EU development aid and is eligible for support from the European Development Fund (EDF). The EDF is the main development aid instrument for African, Caribbean and Pacific (ACP) countries.
  • Programming objectives: Conflict prevention is systematically incorporated in the national and regional programming documents for EU development aid, known as National Indicative Programmes (NIPs) and Regional Indicative Programmes (RIPs).
  • Response mechanisms: The EU’s Rapid Response Mechanism is designed to enhance the EU’s capacity to intervene quickly and effectively in civilian crisis management.

The EU is a natural partner for regional conflict prevention in Africa and has a wide range of mechanisms at its disposal. Nevertheless, significant gaps remain in the implementation of a holistic and integrated approach to the African peace and security agenda. An integrated approach requires:

  • Ensuring that the various levels of EU regional engagement in conflict prevention are inter-linked, rather than independent of one another.
  • Supporting the capacity of African regional organisations to enable them to act as the front line in preventing, managing and resolving conflicts.
  • Ensuring that regional programmes deliver on conflict prevention objectives. This may involve assessing conflict sensitivity and regional coherence in the mid-term reviews of EU programmes or compiling conflict indicators to monitor regional approaches.
  • Promoting the role of non-state actors in conflict prevention activities. The European Commission Delegations could assist by mapping the role of non-state actors at a regional level to ensure adequate participation.
  • Incorporate the regional dimensions of conflict in political dialogue at relevant multilateral fora such as EU-Africa dialogue and the G8, as well as bilateral dialogues with individual countries.
  • Addressing wider issues such as the role of natural resources in conflict. This may involve establishing conflict resolution mechanisms in relation to the use of water, livestock, minerals and timber. This would complement existing mechanisms such as the Kimberly Process for diamonds.
  • Ensuring coordination and complementary approaches among donors. EU Member States’ expertise could be useful in military operations to assist regional peace support operations and crisis management.

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Source: Alexander, L., Higazi, A. Mackie, J. et al., 2003, Regional Approaches to Conflict Prevention in Africa. European Support to African Processes, European Centre for Development Policy Management, ECDPM In Brief 4, Maastricht


 
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