Traditional conflict resolution strategies as spelt out by ajayi and buhari 2014 in their study of patterns or mechanism for conflict resolution in traditional african societies with particular reference to yoruba and igbo societies in nigeria and pondo tribe in south africa. Indigenous approaches to conflict resolution in africa sryahwa. Neither are they clashes between states, nor are they conventional. The most common conflict resolution approaches or mechanisms include peace negotiations, mediation andor facilitation, traditional or ineigenous methods, peace agreements and their implementations and. In what ways can a new understanding of the indigenous conflict resolution. Traditional african dispute resolution tadr mechanisms. The paper notes that conflict resolution in traditional african societies provides opportunity to interact with the parties concerned, it promotes consensusbuilding, social bridge.
Approaches to conflict resolution, as applied to international environmental disputes, include negotiation, mediation and arbitration. Cultural processes of conflict resolution in ghana traditional conflict resolution is a structured political, judicial and arbitration mechanism. Alternative dispute resolution techniques can strengthen dispute settlement systems and bridge the gap between formal legal systems and traditional modes of african justice. Methods in african traditional conflict resolution. Traditional methods of conflict resolution accord the african. Therefore, there is a gap on the traditional mechanisms for resolving conflict particularly land conflict in tanzania. Advantages and disadvantages of dispute resolution processes in order to select the most appropriate process, it is important to understand and appreciate the advantages and disadvantages of the various dispute resolution processes.
The paper notes that conflict resolution in traditional african societies provides opportunity to. Traditional mechanisms of resolving conflicts over land. They may have particular value in stabilization and statebuilding efforts when judicial institutions are weak and social tensions are high. Module 2 african traditional methods of conflict resolution. African conflict resolution united states institute of peace. Africa to bring creative african solutions to the challenges posted by conflict on the continent. The four contributors to the conflict resolution theme are all outstanding researchers in the field of environmental decisionmaking. This report aims to address this gap by examining the role played by traditional justice mechanisms in dealing with the legacy of violent conflict in five african countriesrwanda, mozambique, uganda, sierra leone and burundi. Land, in a majority of the cases was communally owned and control of land left almost. Accord the africa dialogue monograph series is published by the african centre for the constructive resolution of disputes accord. The african indigenous methods of dispute resolution places emphasis on the community and parties to the conflict, as opposed to the individuals in conflict.
Traditional approaches to conflict transformation potentials and limits volker boege 1. African traditional mechanisms of conflict prevention, management and resolution were largely effective and respected, and their decisions were binding on all. The traditional approaches are conquered and usurped in the process. This paper examines organization of african unity, now the african unions oau mediation of burundi conflicts between 1993 and 2009 to help observers of african international relations gain a deeper understanding of lessons that can be learned from mediation by african regional organizations. Ngwane returns in chapter six captioned old values. African traditional mechanisms of conflict prevention, management and resolution were largely effective and respected, and their decisions were binding on all parties, mainly because the identity of an individual is linked to that of his or her family and these families are formed by the acceptance of marriage alliances. Sources of conflict and methods of conflict resolution ron fisher, ph. African conflicts yielding no results or, at times, even exacerbating the conflict. This period was marked with definite systems of dispute resolution peculiar to each kenyan community. Public conflicts and ineffective means for dealing with them lead to wasted resources, social instability, reduced investment, chronic underdevelopment, and loss of life. African conflict, mediation, reconciliation, adjudication, negotiation, etc. Traditional conflict resolution as a better option to.
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. Indigenous approaches to conflict resolution in africa. In conclusion, having done this crosssection on traditional african dispute resolution tadr mechanisms, i am of the view that conflict resolution is a dynamic process. Nigeria, organised by the center for peace research and conflict resolution, national war college, abuja, september, 1998, p. Conflicts and causes of conflicts in africa project. Pdf on sep 21, 2015, adeyemi johnson ademowo and others published conflict. Accord is a civil society institution working throughout africa to bring creative african solutions to the challenges posted by conflict on the continent. Committed group members attempt to resolve group conflicts by actively communicating information about their conflicting motives or ideologies to the rest of group e.
How do conflicts in traditional africa compare with those of the region. Hybrid violent conflicts, hybrid political orders many of todays largescale violent conflicts in the global south cannot be perceived as conventional wars any longer. Conflict occurs between people in all kinds of human relationships and in all social settings. It concludes that traditional conflict resolution techniques such as mediation, adjudication, reconciliation, and negotiation as well as cross examination which were employed by africans in the past, offer. As for reasons for the failure, she points to the erosion of the values that existed within the traditional african societies and the replacement of these values by foreign ones to which africans are unable to adapt.
The paper notes that conflict resolution in traditional african societies provides opportunity to interact with the parties concerned, it promotes consensusbuilding, social bridge reconstructions. These projects are in collaboration with cecore and endorois welfare council ewc, holding training workshops on peace building and conflict resolution. Conflict resolution is conceptualized as the methods and processes involved in facilitating the peaceful ending of conflict and retribution. Traditional leaders play a vital role in local and grassroots communities in relation to socioeconomic development and the administration of. A viable alternative for peace building process in modern africa 8 opposition to the old definition of peace as the absence of war. African concepts of conflict, as well as the african methods, techniques and processes of conflict prevention, management and resolution aalae, 1994. Existence of traditional conflict resolution mechanisms such as negotiation, reconciliation, mediation and others is evidence that these concepts are not new in africa. Traditional conflict resolution mechanisms and institutions.
In the case of internal conflicts, all the three communities adopted very similar, if not identical, mechanisms, methods and procedures. Pdf conflict management in traditional african society. The concept paper series is the joint centers paper series addressing topics and concepts of foremost importance for understanding the dynamics of. This text identifies contributions of traditional mechanisms for conflict management in africa and elsewhere. Traditional mechanisms of conflict resolution in southern sudan by dr. Traditional methods of conflict resolution intertribal conflicts were resolved through negotiations and compromises so that peaceful relations could be restored. This book brings together nine specialists from africa and the united statesincluding former diplomats, academics, policymakers, and policy analyststo assess ways to enhance the u. Endalcachew bayeh et al traditional conflict resolution as a better option to court proceeding. The methods, processes and regulations are deeply rooted in the customs and traditions of peoples of africa. Methods of conflict resolution in african traditional. In the outline of advantages and disadvantages of dispute resolution processes provided below, a simplified. The evolution of conflict resolution maxwell school of. 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. What was the nature of conflicts in precolonial african societies.
They are translated into the language of western peace and conflict studies and hence adjusted in ways that make them fit that. These case studies are used as the basis for outlining conclusions and. In september 2009, mrg conflict prevention head chris chapman traveled to kampala, uganda, and nakuru, kenya to meet with cso representatives working on issues of conflict in the regions. Fig 1 is a model of how westerners often perceive conflict and its resolution. Conflict can be defined as a clash or disagreement often violent between opposing groups or individuals. 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. This study examined the patterns or mechanism for conflict resolution in traditional african societies with particular reference to yoruba and igbo societies in.
Traditional conflict resolution mechanism is a social capital, defined as the capability of social norms and customs to hold members of a group together by effectively setting and facilitating the terms of their relationship sustainability facilitates collective action for achieving mutually beneficial ends fredmensah, 2005. Lessons learned from mediation by an african regional. This article will address the issue of conflict, how it was dealt with in traditional african culture, the methods of communication both in traditional and modern uganda and the question of rights and responsibilities in promoting cross cultural amity. It can also be said to be an incompatibility, as of two things that cannot be simultaneously fulfilled. Those who want their conflicts resolved must have confidence in the tribunal that would resolve the dispute. Positive peace according to gultang johan, a professor of peace studies, is a social condition in which exploitation has been eliminated and overt violence has ceased, including. Nabudere 1997 mentions that the recent collapse of the somali nationstate and. It concludes that traditional conflict resolution techniques such as mediation, adjudication, reconciliation, and negotiation as well ascross examination which were employed by africans in the past, offer great prospects for peaceful coexistence and harmonious relationships in postconflict periods than the modern method of litigation settlements in law courts. Conflict resolution and peace buildind in africa as a.
Over the years, there have developed inter group conflict over land. Conflict, conflict prevention, conflict management and beyond. Integrating traditional and modern conflict resolution. Advantages and disadvances of dispute resolution process. Conflict management group cmg is dedicated to improving the methods of negotiation, conflict resolution, and cooperative decisionmaking as applied to issues of public concern. This study examined the patterns or mechanism for conflict resolution in traditional african societies with particular reference to yoruba and igbo societies in nigeria and pondo tribe in south africa. Download citation methods of conflict resolution in african traditional society this study examined the patterns or mechanism for conflict resolution in traditional african societies with. The case of the organisation of african unity oau author. The analysis of traditional methods of conflict resolution is. It concludes that traditional conflict resolution techniques such as mediation, adjudication, reconciliation, and negotiation as well as cross examination which were employed by africans in the. Ndebele traditional crisis resolution and phases follow more or less the same developments, conflict is precipitated by a conflict of. Traditional conflict resolution processes are part of a wellstructured, timeproven social system geared towards reconciliation, maintenance and improvement of social relationships. He identifies five different methodologies practices that can lead to conflict resolution that are modern. Methods of conflict resolution in african traditional society.
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