Contemporary Wars and Conflicts over Land and Water in Africa

by Carlson Anyangwe

Overview

Contemporary Wars and Conflicts over Land and Water in Africa highlights Africa’s tragedy of endless conflicts. Rich in case studies, it examines violent conflicts and Africa’s approaches to conflict resolution. The case studies show that Africa continues to be a chronically unstable space tormented especially by frequent and devastating civil wars of which ethnicity, religion, and bad governance are some of the root causes. These conflicts have occasioned massive human rights abuses, arrested development, reversed or slowed economic growth, created a vicious circle of instability and hunger, and exacerbated levels of poverty and disease in the continent. In the final part of this book, Carlson Anyangwe considers indigenous mechanisms for settling disputes, post-conflict transitional justice systems, and the African Union conflict-resolution mechanism that relies, as it does, on the United Nations’ peace and security framework and the peace and security functions of the African regional economic organizations.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781666910384
Publisher:	Lexington Books
Publication date:	03/15/2024
Pages:	350
Product dimensions:	5.94(w) x 8.97(h) x 0.99(d)

About the Author

Carlson Anyangwe is professor emeritus of law connected with University of Fort Hare.

Table of Contents

Preface

List of Acronyms

Introduction

Part One: Boundary and Territorial Conflicts

Chapter 1: Claims and Conflicts over Land Territory and Land Boundary

Chapter 2: Disputes over Maritime Boundary

Part Two: Armed Conflicts Within and Between States

Chapter 3: Sources of Civil Wars: Colonial Hangover

Chapter 4: Sources of Civil Wars: Despotism, Overstay in Power, and Historical Discontent

Chapter 5: Noticeable Features of Africa’s Civil Wars

Chapter 6: Causes of Inter-State Wars in Africa

Part Three: A New Dimension of Conflicts in Africa: Domestic and Transborder Terrorism

Chapter 7: An Overview

Chapter 8: Combating Terrorism through Law

Chapter 9: Punishing Acts of Terrorism

Part Four: African Approaches to Conflict Resolution

Chapter 10: Some Indigenous Mechanisms for Settling Conflicts

Chapter 11: Indigenous System and Transitional Justice: Rwanda’s Gacaca

Chapter 12: The African Union and Conflict Resolution Arrangements

Bibliography

Index

About the Author

Editorial Reviews

"A thoroughly researched and well-written book by Carlson Anyangwe, an expert on African and international law and a renowned scholar, this book examines case studies on salient aspects of recurrent African conflicts and approaches to conflict resolutions since independence. It provides analytical insights on the more recent yet neglected conflict in Cameroon--a decolonization struggle by Ambazonians (former British Southern Cameroons) from French La Republique du Cameroun. The roles of France, Western powers, and African governments in these conflicts are clarified. A must-read for students and scholars of African law, politics, conflict resolution, and history as well as non-academics."

"In this most relevant and significant volume, Carlson Anyangwe provides one of the most comprehensive and insightful analyses of the array of conflicts in postcolonial Africa. Going beyond history and law, Anyangwe's book advances, broadens, and deepens the reader's knowledge as it instigates serious conversations on Africa's numerous conflicts, from territorial to maritime boundary issues, armed conflicts within and between states, domestic and transborder terrorism as a new dimension of conflicts, and African approaches to resolving the complex conflicts. The extensive coverage of the different conflicts makes this book essential reading for all scholars on modern Africa."

Few African issues are as consequential as strife over land and water. Anyangwe's valuable overview examines boundary and territorial conflicts, sources and features of civil wars, domestic and transborder terrorism, and African approaches to conflict resolution.... This book's 12 chapters provide comprehensive, convincing, yet succinct summaries of numerous conflicts. Although Anyangwe does not offer new solutions, he does offer well-documented, wide-ranging analyses of practically every outbreak of violence.... Highly recommended. Advanced undergraduates and graduate students.

From the Publisher

A thoroughly researched and well-written book by Carlson Anyangwe, an expert on African and international law and a renowned scholar, this book examines case studies on salient aspects of recurrent African conflicts and approaches to conflict resolutions since independence. It provides analytical insights on the more recent yet neglected conflict in Cameroon—a decolonization struggle by Ambazonians (former British Southern Cameroons) from French La Republique du Cameroun. The roles of France, Western powers, and African governments in these conflicts are clarified. A must-read for students and scholars of African law, politics, conflict resolution, and history as well as non-academics.”

Bridget A. Teboh

Few African issues are as consequential as strife over land and water. Anyangwe’s valuable overview examines boundary and territorial conflicts, sources and features of civil wars, domestic and transborder terrorism, and African approaches to conflict resolution…. This book's 12 chapters provide comprehensive, convincing, yet succinct summaries of numerous conflicts. Although Anyangwe does not offer new solutions, he does offer well-documented, wide-ranging analyses of practically every outbreak of violence…. Highly recommended. Advanced undergraduates and graduate students.

Choice Reviews

In this most relevant and significant volume, Carlson Anyangwe provides one of the most comprehensive and insightful analyses of the array of conflicts in postcolonial Africa. Going beyond history and law, Anyangwe’s book advances, broadens, and deepens the reader’s knowledge as it instigates serious conversations on Africa’s numerous conflicts, from territorial to maritime boundary issues, armed conflicts within and between states, domestic and transborder terrorism as a new dimension of conflicts, and African approaches to resolving the complex conflicts. The extensive coverage of the different conflicts makes this book essential reading for all scholars on modern Africa.”

Fonkem Achankeng

In this most relevant and significant volume, Carlson Anyangwe provides one of the most comprehensive and insightful analyses of the array of conflicts in postcolonial Africa. Going beyond history and law, Anyangwe’s book advances, broadens, and deepens the reader’s knowledge as it instigates serious conversations on Africa’s numerous conflicts, from territorial to maritime boundary issues, armed conflicts within and between states, domestic and transborder terrorism as a new dimension of conflicts, and African approaches to resolving the complex conflicts. The extensive coverage of the different conflicts makes this book essential reading for all scholars on modern Africa.

Fonkem Achankeng I