Efforts Towards Conflict Prevention In The Eastern African Region. The Role Of Regional Economic Communities And Regional Mechanism
Abstract
Regional conflicts continue to constitute threats t
o states and communities within the Eastern
African Region. These include border attacks by arm
ed groups and communities straddling the
borders, smuggling, motor vehicle thefts, drug traf
ficking, flows of small arms, landmines, and in
recent time’s threats of terror networks (ICGLR, 20
06). The areas along borders make it ideal for
the activities to flourish. Obstacles (terrain, for
ests, deserts) to accessibility and the absence of
penetrative transport and communication channels ma
ke the situation even worse. Responses to
these threats have been state based and tended to g
enerate security dilemmas and complexities in
this region.
Africa’s Regional Economic and Regional Mechanisms,
working with the AU have made
substantial strides in assuming primary responsibil
ity to curb these security problems thus,
maintaining peace and security in the region (Berma
n, E. &Sams, K., 2000). The best known
examples of this in the East African Region are: In
tergovernmental Authority for Development
(IGAD), East African Community (EAC) and the Intern
ational Conference of Great Lakes
Region (ICGLR) and the Eastern African Standby Forc
e (EASF), which serves as a regional
mechanism.
In this paper, Regional Economic Communities (RECS)
and Sub Regional Organizations will be
interchangeably. The paper is divided into six part
s: The introduction, followed by an outline of
the nature of conflicts in the Eastern African Regi
on. The next section examines conflict
prevention and the importance of sub regional organ
izations in conflict prevention. The paper
then focuses on an examination of the existing sub
regional organizations in the area and their
efforts in conflict prevention, their success, chal
lenges and limitations. The final session
introduces EASF, an initiative by the Africa Union
and what its existence in the region means for
conflict prevention. The paper closes with some con
clusions and ways of enhancing the role of
these RECS and Regional Mechanisms (RMs) to become
more effective in conflict prevention.
Citation
MARTINON, MUMMA-CA. 2010. Efforts Towards Conflict Prevention In The Eastern African Region. The Role Of Regional Economic Communities And Regional Mechanisms. . . (Occasional Paper, Series 1. No.1. )(Kenya: International Peace Support Training Centre, Ed.)., Number Occasional Paper, Series 1. No.1. , NairobiPublisher
University of Nairobi Political science and Public Administration