The Causes And Consequences Of Civil Conflicts In Africa

The Liberian Civil Conflict was the culmination of a series of factors ranging from inter-related structural–factors that reach deep into the very foundation of Liberian history and triggerissues that have escalated disputes into the cycles of violent conflicts. Structural factors such asthe lack of one unifying national identity, economic and political disparities between Americo–Liberian and the indigenous population, lack of good governance, widespread poverty and overalllack of socio-economic development of the Liberian society have played key roles in the conflict.Consistent violation of human rights by consecutive regimes, unequal distribution of the countrywealth and resources, changes in control of central authority and the consequent distribution ofpower, as well as land dispute, interferences by neighboring states and the US all have contributedto the intermittent violence that has characterized the country for the past twenty-five years. Allthese, which have permeated the Liberian society and have been on the increase since theformation and independence of the Liberian state, exploded and degenerated into chaos beginningfrom the Settlers-Indigenous Conflict of1822to the failed Coup d’état of November12,1985.The civil conflict in Liberia has caused unparalleled tragedy that resulted in the death ofhundreds of thousands and displacement of more than half of country’s pre-war population andeven millions of dollars of damages in infrastructure. There were severe large-scale massacres,flagrant violations of human rights, widespread rape and sexual abuse of women and girls,random killings, brutalities, and abuse against children.Despite these, there are a lot of prospects for the Liberia state to rise from the ashes ofwanton destruction due to the aforementioned causes of the Liberian civil conflict. Measures canbe taken to prevent future occurrences of the conflict. Amongst them are needs to institute certaindemocratic and, good governance practices and adopt policies that promote pluralism,transparency, accountability, trust and confidence in government institutions and facilitatenational reconciliation. Much can be done also by investing in human resource development,capacity building, empowerment and engaging the youths in useful economic activities to preventidle–mindedness and make them more relevant to the society.Once these are properly put into play, the Liberian society will once again gain its properplace among the comity of nations and restore its lost pride as a result of the brutal civil conflict.