African Conflict Resolution: The U.S. Role in PeacemakingWhen Somali gunmen killed 18 American Rangers in Mogadishu on October 3, 1993, public and congressional support for the American and UN missions in Somalia dropped dramatically. In fact, U.S. policymakers began to rethink commitments to peacemaking in Africa in general. Nevertheless, many African and U.S. specialists on African affairs--including the contributors to this volume--strongly urge the United States to continue active engagement with Africa and creatively support African initiatives to manage and resolve their own conflicts. This book brings together nine specialists from Africa and the United States--including former diplomats, academics, policymakers, and policy analysts--to assess ways to enhance the U.S. contribution to African efforts to prevent, manage, and resolve violent conflicts. The contributors conclude that U.S. initiatives can take a variety of forms and need not involve American troops. There is a new African willingness to assume responsibility, but African instutional and fanancial capabilities are severely limited. African initiatives therefore have little chance of success without significant and sustained international, and particularly American involvement. |
Contents
Introduction | 1 |
The African State as a Political Refugee | 9 |
The African Role in Conflict | 27 |
The U S Role in Managing African Conflicts | 39 |
A Diplomatic Perspective on African | 57 |
African Capabilities for Managing Conflict | 77 |
Guidelines for Preserving Peace in Africa | 95 |
Institutional CapacityBuilding for African | 105 |
Notes | 133 |
Abbreviations | 141 |
Contributors | 147 |
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accords action active actors administration African conflict agreement American Angola army assistance become Burundi called capacity civil civilian collapse conflict management conflict resolution continued cooperation countries create crisis democracy democratic develop direct dual early effective efforts elections engage establish ethnic example experience external followed forces foreign groups human humanitarian implementation important independence initiative institutions interests international community intervention involved issues lead leaders leadership Liberia major means mechanism mediation meet ment military mission Namibia negotiations NGOs Nigeria officials operations organizations parties peace peacekeeping peacemaking period political position President pressures prevention problem promote proposed refugees regional relations representatives resolve response role Rwanda secretary-general Security Council signs situation society Somalia South Africa southern strong successful Sudan SWAPO tion troops UNITA United University Zaire