This paper argues for a return to African indigenous conflict resolution mechanisms to achieve lasting peace and psychosocial well-being for people displaced by protracted conflicts in Africa. It critiques modern, often external, intervention strategies as ineffective and unsustainable, leading to the recurrence of devastating conflicts. Read the paper.

The Failure of Modern Conflict Resolution

Current conflict resolution strategies in Africa often fail because they are driven by external actors whose methods are alien to African cultural patterns and who prioritize their own interests. This approach typically results in short-term

conflict management rather than sustainable conflict resolution. Instead of addressing fundamental issues, these interventions merely ameliorate symptoms, offering temporary solutions that allow conflicts to reoccur and protract.

The consequences are severe. Africa experiences a repeated phenomenon of protracted conflicts, leading to immense suffering and displacement. As of 2024, over

40 million Africans are forcibly displaced due to conflict, with the largest numbers coming from countries like Sudan, the Democratic Republic of Congo, and Somalia. This displacement has serious psychosocial implications, including intense stress, trauma, and a breakdown of community trust, which hinder individuals’ ability to engage in education and economic life.

The Wisdom of Indigenous Mechanisms

Historically, indigenous conflict resolution in African communities was part of a time-proven social system designed to achieve long-lasting reconciliation and improve psychosocial relationships. These methods are deeply rooted in the customs and traditions of the people and are therefore more easily understood and accepted by the affected communities.

The core goal of these mechanisms is to restore harmony and focus on the holistic

psychosocial wellbeing of the community, which encompasses the physical, social, moral, and spiritual aspects of life. This approach is founded on African social philosophies like

Ubuntu and Ujama’a, which emphasize the values and practices of living and working together for the common good, rather than satisfying individual self-interest.

Key Principles of African Conflict Resolution

The paper highlights several core principles and practices that make indigenous mechanisms effective:

• Inclusion and Consensus: The process provides an opportunity to interact with all concerned parties, promoting consensus-building and social bridge reconstruction. The mechanism of inclusion for both parties is the foundation of the process.
• Holistic Justice: The process strives “to restore a balance, to settle conflict and eliminate disputes”. It is a social construction where the morality of self-interest is discouraged in favor of the common good.
• Core Humanistic Values: Reflecting the philosophy of Ubuntu, key mechanisms include placing the human person at the center of life, upholding human dignity, non-exploitation, ensuring equal opportunities, and promoting hard work and self-reliance.
• Spiritual Connectedness and Rituals: Conflict resolution often culminates in symbolic traditional rituals to appease God, plead for reconciliation, and eliminate the chance of future reoccurrence. The performance of these rituals is an outward sign of an inward commitment to peace.

Conclusion and Recommendation

The paper concludes that there is an urgent need to shift preference toward indigenous conflict resolution processes in Africa. These methods have proven to be more effective and efficient than imported ones because they are based on cultural concepts and values that are familiar, understood, and accepted by African communities. To achieve sustainable peace, most Africans are now calling for African conflicts to be solved by Africans, using African mechanisms.