OPINION: Work In Progress For Africa’s Remaining Conflict Hotspots

Despite efforts by various stakeholders to establish a peaceful Africa, armed conflicts continue in parts of the continent.

The nature of violent conflicts in Africa has changed since before independence when they were mostly ideologically-driven guerilla warfare.

Many of the current conflicts are driven by prospects of political power or financial gain, with armed groups fighting to acquire valuable mineral resources, assert their ideology or address grievances.

Insecurity persists in the DR Congo, Somalia, South Sudan, Nigeria, Central African Republic, Mali and Libya.

In its quest to “Silence the Guns” in Africa by 2020, which is its theme for the year, the African Union and other partners ought to focus on the main crisis spots currently: The Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC), Somalia, South Sudan, Nigeria, the Central African Republic (CAR) and Libya, where tens of thousands of people have been killed and millions more displaced.

Democratic Republic of