The Challenges and Prospects of the Peace Movement in Africa

Peace is probably one of the most important topics that one can talk about in Africa for the simple reason that Africa has probably had more than its share of violent conflicts. Peace has been elusive in Africa for a very long time, especially in the last fifty years of the post-colonial period. In the last twenty to thirty years, we have experienced some very devastating conflicts. It is mind boggling, so I made a pledge to myself about ten years ago, that I’d visit at least one war-torn country in Africa each year. I said to myself that, if I wanted to live in Africa and if I really wanted to see what is going on beyond the headlines and below the radar, as well as understand conditions on the ground then I should find a way to visit some of these difficult places.