The rising trend of African nations being torn apart by tribalism, religious backgrounds, and political leadership is seen to be a difficult struggle. The inevitable chaos caused by protesters is affecting thousands of lives, but regardless of this people are willing to fight for change.
Ivory Coast has been frequently making the headlines for its unusual political confusion. Alassane Ouattara was voted winner in the 2010 November elections. However, President Laurent Gbagbo has relentlessly refused to step
down from his position in power. Ivory Coast has been a country split in two informally for almost eight years and this hostility has done nothing but emphasize the war between President Gbagbo and Outtara. President Gbago’s soldiers recently made an attack on, Abobo and Anyama, areas largely in support of Outattara. Horrific results have been witnessed in the past week and ‘over 200 deaths’ have been reported by the UN. The striking reality of a possible genocide grasps the international world.
Whilst Ivoirians struggle for peace within the government the Southern Sudanese are only breaths away from having their own state, 99% of Southern Sudanese from all over the world have already cast their vote towards the freedom of southern Sudan following the 2005 referendum. Years of struggle, bloodshed, disputes, differences and discrimination has caused a rift between these two areas in Sudan. Yet, even with the high probability of a new state, issues still lie within this country. Who will be responsible for the major oil region ‘Abeyi’? Their war may seem to be almost over but before solving such a critical problem, it is difficult to settle for peace. Noticeably, accounts of ‘breaching human rights’ and even ‘genocide’ have been placed forward by the International Court of Justice showing the intensity of ethnic differences.
‘One Zambia, one Nation,’ declared Kenneth Kaunda as he became Zambia’s first president In October 1964. This heroic phrase inspires Zambians to this very day. However, this country of peace is in a state of unrest as the Barotseland Agreement of 1964 has re-emerged with an abnormal force. Thousands of westerners in Zambia have started to demand for their separate country, Barotseland. The Barotseland agreement was initiated to emphasise Zambia’s unity. Leaders from the government and Barotseland saw numerous benefits from this force, a prosperous future lay ahead. Recently violent action has been witnessed between protesting Mongu residents in the western province and the government’s police force. The Lozi tribe from the west want their own country and they are determined to get it.
Samuel Mulafulafu is a retired business man living in Zambia’s capital city, Lusaka; he is from both the Tonga and the Lozi tribe. He believes that ‘Barotseland needs to become its own country, it would give the Lozi’s more freedom’ but he worries that ‘his family will be torn apart due to his mixed background’. His fear is shared by many Zambians torn between two or more tribes.
"Handle Barotose issue sensibly," said Anglican priest Father Richard Luonde to the Post newspaper in Lusaka on January 22. Fear reigns the lives of many Zambians who see their fellow African nations struggling with issues of tribalism. A country upheld for its unique aspects of serenity and unity seems to be turning a complete new direction; even the most peaceful countries in Africa cannot escape the ethnic differences. Economic dangers are also a critical problem. "Larger countries are prone to having larger economies as companies take advantage of economies of scale, so countries splitting up will have a negative effect on their economies," said Stephen Karangizi, Assistant Secretary general of COMESA from the headquarters in Zambia. "More countries means more borders which affects trading as movement costs increase," he said. "Resources, labor and investment all become harder to spread around and not only this, but also there are many tribes in African countries so once splitting starts it will probably never end as other tribes will want to split too." However Mr Karangizi also thinks "smaller economies can be advantageous as governments gain easier access to the voice of the people."
Ethnic difference is causing, has caused and will continue to cause the splitting of the nations of Africa. Many agree that this all leads back to colonialism, when Colonialists drew up boarders disregarding culture background. Native Africans already knew their borders, they knew where the different tribes could be located but this was destroyed. Today, the effects of colonialism of the 19th century are causing nations to split apart. Rebels are on the loose in an attempt for justice but in most cases this is leading to executions, murders, rapes, killings and a general disregard of human rights. The saddening reality of ethnic disputes continues to deteriorate African nations.
credit: SNAN
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