The Role of Trans-Border Ethnic Groups in Intra-State and Inter-State Conflict in Africa

Abstract

Trans-border ethnic relations in Africa have led to intra-state conflicts, including those between the state and the fraction of the trans-border ethnic group falling within its borders, and, others between the fraction of the trans-border ethnic group and the other ethnic groups in the state. Trans-border ethnic relations have also led to inter-state conflict between the state and other neighboring states that also have fractions of the trans-border ethnic group. Making use of case studies, the paper found that fractions of trans-border groups are driven to conflict whenever they are deprived from meaningfully participating in the affairs of the state. These conflicts can thus be handled only when the state system and individual states ensure that all citizens, irrespective of ethnic grouping, can participate effectively in the affairs of the state.

Notes

1 About 10 African countries eventually sent troops to the Malian operation. In addition, apart from France, a number of Western countries also provided material and logistic support (“Nigeria goes to war in Mali”, The Nation, January 18, 2013, 1).

2 Those events were connected with the death of Cote d'Ivoire's first president in 1993 and the subsequent attempts between that time and 2010 to conduct acceptable presidential elections in the country. See, Nwolise (2011).