The Religious And Ethnic Conflicts In The Plateau State Of Nigeria Since The 21st Century

Religious and ethnic conflict are world-wide problems, and they existed in most part of countries all over the world. After the Second World War, the national independence movements upsurged in Africa. Since the 1960s, a large number of countries in Africa gained independence. However, many Africa countries which had gained political independence failed to step on the road of rejuvenation because of frequent religious and ethnic conflicts. After the end of the cold war, especially since the 21st Century, national religious and ethnic conflicts arose again in Africa. They also existed in the current Africa continent, and over a long period of time they happened in some countries to different degree, bringing complex and profound influence on regional stability and harmony.In Nigeria of West Africa, in order to seize the economic interests and facilitate its own rule, the British colonial rulers merged a number of British colonies. Since the beginning of the 21st century, there have been frequent violence conflicts between Christian indigenous ethnicities and Islam Hausa-Fulani in the Plateau State of Nigeria and these conflicts made a heavy loss of lives and property and also aroused wide concern. The reasons of conflicts are not only that different groups were treated unequally on political rights and economic resources, but also the hostility between Christians and Muslims about faith. Furthermore, violent conflicts not only torn the fragile ethnic and religious relation, deepened the hostility between Christian indigenous ethnicities and Islam Hausa-Fulani, worsened the local political environment, hindered the development of society and economy, caused widespread concern of the international community, but also damaged Nigeria's image. In fact, with promoting the social economy development, fully guaranteeing civil rights of the constitution, making people from different ethnicities and religions share the political rights and local resources equally, the crisis in the region can be fundamentally resolved and a new prospect of ethnic and religious harmony can be created. For the Africa countries like Nigeria, realizing the transition from traditional society to the modern nation-state is a necessary process. Letting the national identity displace religion or ethnic identity is just the key to achieve stability and development in Africa.