Course Description

The course covers studies of Africa’s economic and political developments and the role played by the United Nations as a catalyst in the continent’s democratization process and economic development. The course further provides students with a basis for examining Africa’s violent conflicts and the mechanisms employed by the United Nations (during current global turmoil) in resolution, reconciliation of these endemic conflicts and peace building.

Course Outline/Syllabus

Week 1: Africa’s Geography, Peoples and Brief history (Africa’s independence struggle: Decolonization, Establishment and roles of Organization of Africa’s Unity and African Union)

Week 2 -3: History of the United Nations Organization (UN), its Charter, Principal Organs, Programs and Agencies. Role of Secretary General and Security Council in maintaining global peace. Includes Challenges the UN has faced in the last sixty years. Examination of targets set by UN Millennium Development Goals and review whether Africa will meet these targets in 2015? What are the challenges?

Week 4-6: Causes of Africa’s conflicts (external, internal, effects of colonialism, globalization, ethnic differences, inequitable distribution of resources and land issues, recruitment of child soldiers, the impact of conflicts on civilians, especially women. Children as combatants and victims.  The place of truth commissions and tribunals

Week 7-8: Role of United Nations in global Peace keeping; role of UN, African Union and other Organizations in prevention, mitigation and resolution of Africa’s conflicts

Week 9-11: Promotion of durable peace. Reconstruction, Rehabilitation and Reintegration
Demobilization, Disarmament, Reintegration of ex-combatants and child soldiers, safe return of IDPs and refugees

Week 12-13: Case Studies: Conflicts in selected conflict prone African countries; The role of International Criminal Court and indictment of leaders; and the peace versus justice debate in Africa.  Which comes first, justice or peace?