Issue No: 05/2023

Conflict & Resilience Monitor – 28 July 2023

The Conflict and Resilience Monitor offers monthly blog-size commentary and analysis on the latest conflict-related trends in Africa.

Joe Ross

For the July Edition of the Monitor we start with an article from Philani Mthembu about the recent peace mission undertaken by African leaders to Russia and Ukraine.  He argues that the peace mission represents a change in Africa’s approach to the conflict in Europe, and that African leaders should also broaden the scope of their mission to include other parties involved in the conflict, such as the European Union.  Our second article is by Niguse Mandefero Alene, Mohammed Seid Ali and Kebede Yimam Tadesse who write about the likelihood of a permanent seat for Africa on the United Nations Security Council.  They argue that Africa has long called for reforms at both the permanent and non-permanent levels of the Security Council, but that Africa’s campaign faces both internal and external challenges.

We then head to Mauritius, where Gwinyayi Albert Dzinesa has written  about Mauritius’ ability to sustain peace on the island.  The article discusses the concerted efforts by Mauritius to implement policies aimed at establishing and sustaining positive peace and addressing the challenges that the country faces.  Our fourth article is about climate, peace and security in Zambia. Cedric de Coning, Giulia Caroli, Gracsious Maviza, Joram Tarusarira and Leonardo Medina write about the potential negative effects of climate change on social cohesion in Zambia, and what can be done about it.

Finally, we end this month’s monitor with an article from Rumbidzaishe Matambo about Zimbabwe’s upcoming elections in August. She explains that Zimbabwe faces a number of challenges and disputes from the opposition in the run-up to the elections leading to a complex atmosphere in the country.

Chief Editor: Conflict & Resilience Monitor​
Managing Editor: Conflict & Resilience Monitor
Assistant Editor: Conflict & Resilience Monitor​
Manhhai
Peace and Security

Africa’s Peace mission to Ukraine & Russia: Towards a strategy of active non-alignment?

  • Philani Mthembu

African countries have been on the receiving end of a relentless diplomatic offensive seeking to sway their positions on the ongoing conflict in Ukraine. The recent peace mission to Ukraine and Russia, led by African Heads of State may herald the emergence of a shift in the continent’s strategy as Africa takes a more proactive role, speaking on behalf of those not directly involved but still heavily impacted.

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Eskinder Debebe
Peace and Security

Africa’s Quest for Reform of the United Nations Security Council

  • Niguse Mandefero Alene
  • Mohammed Seid Ali
  • Kebede Yimam Tadesse

When the United Nations (UN) was established in 1945, almost all African countries were still under colonial rule. Only four African states, namely Egypt, Ethiopia, Liberia and South Africa (called the Union of South Africa at the time), attended the founding conference. African countries were confronted with the fact that the UN Charter had established institutional hierarchies that favoured the great powers through permanent membership in the UNSC. During the Cold War, almost all Africa countries gained independence from colonial rule and subsequently joined the UN. The African group now has 54 members, and although Africa has three elected members out of a total of 10 non-permanent seats, it does not have a permanent seat in the UNSC.

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Matt Savi
Peace and Security

How Mauritius became Africa’s vanguard in sustaining peace

  • Gwinyayi Dzinesa

The small island state has been constantly rated as the top African country on the Global Peace Index and the Positive Peace Index. Mauritius has never had a violent intrastate conflict, except for short spells of ethnic-based riots in 1968, before independence, and in 1999, leading to loss of life, destruction of property and displacement of people.

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The Commonwealth
Elections

Road to 2023 Zimbabwe General Election

  • Rumbidzaishe Matambo

On 23 August 2023, Zimbabweans will go to the polls to elect Councillors, Members of Parliament, and a President. In March 2022, the main opposition party, the Citizens Coalitions for Change (CCC) won 19 out of 28 seats in parliamentary by-elections, setting the stage for a close race between it and the Zimbabwe African National Union – Patriotic Front (ZANU-PF) in the August polls.

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Bioversity International/E.Hermanowicz
Environment

Towards a Common Vision of Climate, Peace and Security in Zambia

  • Cedric de Coning
  • Giulia Caroli
  • Gracsious Maviza
  • Joram Tarusarira
  • Leonardo Medina

Over the last three decades, Zambia has experienced adverse climate change impacts, including more frequent and severe droughts, increased dry spells, higher temperatures, flash floods and changes in the growing season. Although Zambia does not experience violent conflict, the negative effects of the impact of climate change, compounded with other risk factors, can pose a challenge to human security, including for social cohesion, resilience and in some cases social stability.

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