“Africa Without Wars: A Vision That is Possible; A Mission That Must be Possible” – Patrick Ogbe

By Patrick A. Ogbe
patrickadaofuoyi@yahoo.com

According to the philosophical words of a renown, anonymous writer, war is something that should not happen among mankind. Sadly however, it does happen-occasionally, in different parts of the earth, among living mankind. And whenever it happens-or occurs among mankind, anywhere, many, many people, become tragic casualties everywhere. All wars are acts of raw wickedness, and for humanitarian reasons, shouldn’t be aided or abetted, anywhere.
Peripherally defined, war is any (bloody) struggle in which two or more large groups try to destroy or conquer each other. Since the dawn of history-and civilization of humanity, there have been many kinds of wars. Families have fought against families, tribes against tribes, followers of one religion against followers of another religion-or sect, and in modern times, wars have been fought between nations, or groups of nations, because of one issue, one reason or the other.

War is also defined as “…the organized use of violence between independent political groups, or independent sovereign nations, because of one reason-or issue, or the other”. Since the advent, or rather dawn of human civilization, there have been many kinds of wars: International wars, which involve the use of force, and ammunition between two or more nations, or countries. Then there are civil wars, which are violent, as well as bloody conflicts between different political groups, ethnic groups or tribes, armed groups, or between different regional groups within the same country. There are also categories of wars that are referred to as “Cold Wars”.

Wars have always caused great suffering and hardship. Most people hate war, yet for hundreds of years-past to present time-war has been going on somewhere in the world, nearly all the time. War, and the concomitant grief and collateral damages they bring to mankind, are caused by the people involved-directly, or in-directly. Throughout the history of mankind, wars have caused great suffering and hardship for multitudes of people, everywhere. The irony about wars, in every nation, or country, where it has occurred, or in any nation or country where war is currently existent, or could occur-because of existent societal tensions, is the fact that people hate wars. Yet it has been “part and Parcel” of mankind’s history all these years, decades, and centuries.
Whenever war occurs anywhere, many international organizations work in collaboration to prevent such wars from escalating, through sanctions, strategic arms limitations and restrictions, timely interventions and restrictions, halting of foreign, humanitarian aids to offending nations-in any conflict or war, and acts of boycotting of bilateral ties with warring nations that are culprits in starting any war. In contemporary times, many organizations, notably the United Nations (UN), and its many arms and agencies, and departments, work ceaselessly so as to prevent wars from occurring, and work to resolve them quickly, whenever they do occur, or once they start.

Nearly all the parts and regions of the whole world have experienced violent crisis, bloody insurgencies, or outright wars, at one point-or the other, in mankind’s history. Rather sad, but true; Africa has not been spared, in this ubiquitous, age old trauma of the reality of war, past to present time. Africa, consisting, in contemporary times of 54 nations, with diverse languages, indigenous cultures and practices, as well as interesting origins and histories cannot nowadays, be relegated in the smooth running of the affairs of the planet that we all human beings are currently cohabiting in.
Africa is the second largest continent in the world, consisting-or rather featuring 54 countries. Africa, is also the world’s largest hot desert (the Sahara), and the continent with the longest river, (the Nile, in Egypt). Africa covers about 11.7 million square miles (304 million square km), or one-fifth of Earth’s Land. The largest country-by land area in Africa, is Algeria, while the most populous nation in the continent of Africa, is Nigeria, in West Africa. Africa’s highest peak, is Mount Kilimanjaro, in Tanzania, which stands at 5,895 meters.
Just like many other nations that abound in the world today, Africa-and its array of independent, sovereign nations, have had some “unpleasant” histories of crisis, bloody national insurgencies, violent rebellions, un-parsimonious up-risings, and in some sad circumstances, full scale wars, over the years, and decades. Such gloomy incidences, have smeared the “sanity as well as the “nobility” of the continent, with blood-shed and wanton destruction of precious lives and valuable properties and Government infrastructures involved in such violent fracas.
For instance, many nations in the continent, in times past, fought long guerrilla wars in the mid-to-late 20th century in order to end European rule. In Nigeria, there was a civil war which lasted from 1967-1970. The said war, began over a conflict over the secession of Biafra. This said war caused a severe humanitarian crisis in the affected country, before Nigeria-as an independent, sovereign nation, became re-unified.

In other African nations that were-in times past, under Portuguese domination and colonial rule; such African nations like Angola, Mozambique, and Guinea-Bissau, fought bitter wars for independence that ended in the 1970s. In Angola-specifically, (1975-2002), there was a long power struggle, which drew in foreign troops from Cuba, South-Africa and other nations.
In modern day, or rather contemporary Africa; the continent is still not 100% (percent) at peace, regionally. In Congo for instance, (1996-2003), the first and second Congo wars involved multiple African nations. The second Congo war is often called “Africa’s World War”. Then, there was the Rwanda genocide of 1994.

In West Africa, civil wars, in time past, in Liberia and Sierra-Leone, during the 1990s, is a point of reference in the continent, which serves as an un-pleasant reality that the continent has not been living, or co-habiting in peace, 100 percent with each other. Then also, as at this present time-and period, 2026; armed insurgencies and political instability persist in regions like Sudan, the “Horn of Africa”, and the Sahel. Also, the Somali civil war, (1991), un-pleasant acts and deeds of insurgency of ‘The Lord’s Resistance Army’ (1987), and the Eritrean-Ethiopian war, 1998 (and other similar acts and deeds, or rather, mis-deeds in various parts of Africa), portrays-with a chagrin, that the continent really needs to move on ahead, beyond wars, if the entire continent must move on up to more-lofty attainments of greatness, continental-development, as well as genuine international acclaim.
In contemporary times, parts of Africa, are still “smarting” from the bruises of past wars, and violent revolutions as well as bloody conflicts. Some parts of Africa, it is true, are still experiencing the un-palatable realities of internal, violent insurgencies and conflicts. Not minding this fact however; Africa must find avenues of rising above all these un-pleasant, gloomy trends, and join ranks, gradually with the league of “developed First -Class Nations” which Colonized Africa. The continent of Africa, must jointly embark on joint-continental peace initiatives, so that the entire continent, at every given time, will live in peace and harmony. Such an initiative, is ideal for the continent at this particular point in time, because, from time immemorial up till present time, the histories, incidences, and realities of wars, up-risings, insurgencies, and bloody conflicts in the continent, have never benefitted anyone-truly-at the end of all the bloody, un-humanitarian events.
The best way to end a(ny) war, is not to start it, in the first place. Every incidence of war, violent up-risings, or bloody conflicts, in Africa-past to present-have done nothing than to bring out the “animalism” in living man. Mankind, are distinct from animals in a jungle, and so should act, commensurately. In modern day time, there is, apparently, no gain, or benefit in war-(fare), anywhere. With the incidence of war anywhere, precious lives are lost, and wasted. Vital infrastructures are destroyed. Different categories of people suffer the effects of war, and at the end of each war; it’s always “saying administrative sorry” to all the parties-and victims involved in the said war, and then sourcing for money to rebuild, reconstruct, and rehabilitate, what has been “bruised” in the cause of the said war.

It’s easy to verbally apologize to parties involved-and victims of fought wars, for war crimes, and war atrocities committed during the crisis, but even after “administrative apologies” are tendered after each war has ended; the griefs, pains, wanton destructions caused by the war, lingers in the individual minds of those that had witnessed the war. It is people that have not witnessed, or experienced war, that will clamor for war. Why should we start any act, or deed or human behavior that is inimical to our individual existence on the earth, when at the end of the exercise; we all will turn out to be losers of some sort? All wars fought, from past to present, are acts of raw wickedness. There has never been any such thing as physical battle without blood-shed, anywhere among mankind, and we all know that the shed blood of any fellow human-being, anywhere, except as punishment for inimical crimes committed by a culprit, is wickedness to mankind, everywhere. In this light, my sincere out-cry to we all Africans, is this: “AFRICA: WAR IS RAW WICKEDNESS: “Mettons Fin aux Massacres en Afrique : The latter, phrase, when translated from French language, into English language, means: “ Let’s put an end to the Massacres/killings in Africa”.

From time past to time present, prominent people, and societal philosophers, have spoken, at one time or the other, sternly against wars, pointing out the irrefutable truth that at the end of all fought wars, nothing is truly gained, other than the pride of “bloody victory” for the winner(s) of such fought wars. One quote, attributed to Howard Zinn, states: “There is no flag large enough to cover the shame of killing innocent people.” George Orwell, the popular Author of the (little) novel, “Animal Farm”, stated that: “All the war-propaganda, all the screaming and lies and hatred, (and blood-shed), come invariably from people, who are not fighting.” A former Roman Catholic Church Pontiff, now deceased, Pope John Paul II, stated pertaining war, and glaringly, its lack of benefits for mankind, when he said: “Humanity should question itself once more, about the absurd and always un-fair phenomenon of war,” (when at the end of each war, even the strongest-hearted of individuals involved in such wars, do shed tears of grief, pertaining one tragedy or the other, encountered in the cause of the said war).

In a similar vein, some notable African Leaders philosophers, and writers. Have voiced out what are their glaring opinions, as well as characteristic, personal stances, against war. Revered, now deceased SouSouth Africanderly statesman, Nelson Mandela stated: “Peace is not just the absence of conflict, peace is the creation of an environment where all can flourish regardless of race, color, creed, religion, gender, class, caste, or any other social makers of difference…” One of Africa’s greatest international political office holders, Ghana’s Koffi Annan, who served as the United Nations 7th Secretary General, did point out: “we may have different religions, different languages, different colored skin, but we all belong to one human race…” and subsequently, should not hurt, and kill each other, (un-duly).

Some existent, traditional African proverbs, also serves as points of reference for us all in the continent to learn from, as the basis for all and sundry in the continent of Africa, to shun wars and conflicts-in the continent, and embrace peace instead, in Africa. A popular African proverb, (Swahili, in origin), states that: “When two elephants fight; it is the grass(es)-around the spots where the two elephants are fighting-that get trampled.” This said African proverb, has a twin, anecdote in a popular English adage which states: “When two elephants fight; it is the grass and trees, (that are around where the elephants are fighting,) that suffers.” These said two proverbs, or rather witty sayings, simply means that: It is ordinary people, or ordinary citizens in a (ny) nation, or the Hoi-polio in a nation that suffers the most, whenever powerful leaders go to war. Then again, a Somali proverb points out that: “If you can’t resolve your problems in peace; you can’t solve them with war.” Another African proverb, which warns against instigations to participate in wars, and violent conflicts-by certain powerful individuals, but who then avoid the actual battle front-lines, goes thus: “Those beating the drums of war, might not be around-or available-to hit the dance floor, when the dance, starts.”

The continent of Africa must look beyond its war histories and gloomy incidences of blood-shed, and focus, as well as concentrate on how to make the continent even greater among the entire committee of nations that abound on planet earth. Arguably true, each of the 54 nations in the continent of Africa is endowed with one unique individual, pearl, mineral deposit or resources, prowess-or capability, or potentials, which can make the continent to be enviable among the continents that exist on eaEarthWe all on the continent should concentrate on developing such potentials rather than permitting wars and incidences related to war, to prevent and or thwart the development of such potentials. During wars, nothing good and noble, thrives.
There is Gold in Ghana, Petroleum and Petroleum products in Nigeria, Edible oil (and edible oil related plants in Tanzania), Africa also has Tropical trees, like the Palm Trees which has diverse potentials and benefits. Also, different trees which has leaves, barks as well as roots that are medicinal in benefits, abound in the continent. The harsh sun, in Africa, also provides Solar Energy potentials in parts of Africa that are extremely hot during the Summer. There are lots of Cocoa in parts of Western Africa, and beyond, and then there are vast arable lands for farming in the continent. There is also the River Nile in Egypt-which remains the longest river in the world. Morocco and Egypt lead heavily in industrial minerals like Phosphates, (holding nearly 80% of global reserves in Morocco, alongside oil and gas. All these and more has potentials of enhancing Africa’s greatness. There is also an array of RARE HUMAN GEMS, in Africa that have done the continent proud in various ramifications. In contemporary times, these are things which the continent should focus on to boost its greatness, other than engaging in wars, bloody insurgencies, and violent liberation struggles that halt developmental strides in Africa.
As human beings living on a planet called Earth, we all should have some iota of value for human lives. We all shouldn’t kill each other, wantonly-without any just reason to do so. We all shouldn’t kill each other senselessly, periodically, like animals in a jungle. We all should learn vital lessons from an incidence in the history of mankind that is referred to as the shortest war in the history of mankind. Based on available statistics and facts, the shortest war in the recorded history of mankind, was the Anglo-Zanzibar war, fought between the British Empire and the Zanzibar Sultanate on August 27th, 1896. The said conflict, according to historical facts, lasted for approximately, 38 minutes.
Here is not the appropriate place to delve into details about this said war, its cause, its casualties, as well as its eventual, abrupt end. What is “strange”-and curious-about this said war, is its “brevity”. The brevity-and then abrupt end of this said war, teaches us all in modern day times that we civilized humans should not allow, or permit any crisis, up-rising, violent riots, protests, or incidence(s) of full scale war, to escalate, before the cause of the existent “un-parsimonious trouble”, or rather “the bone of contention” is nipped in the bud, and then peace is restored back to the troubled spot-or place. It’s always dis-heartening a fact to come to grips with, that nearly the cause(s) of all fought wars, as well as up-risings, and violent rebellions, everywhere, are tied to issues, which the people involved in the crisis, can-or could have –amicably resolved, in the first place,

An African continent that is beyond war, require certain rules, dictates, and continental constitutional rules that we must all adhere to in order to make the continent a safe haven for all we Africans to roam about in, and carry out legal activities and business in. Such continental rules and dictates, should be included in African Union (AU)’s updated guiding rules for the continent, such as, “no any African nation should attack any other African nation, deliberately. Two, no two African nations should go to war without first bringing the issue that is the bone of contention, to continental, as well as international arbitrary bodies to first arbitrate on. Then thirdly, no two African nations should be allowed to engage in acts of wars, for more than six months, without calling relevant, regional armed forces or continental armed forces, or international armed forces to bridle such on-going wars, before ending such an un-pleasant war. War has not done much good to the continent of Africa, and any future war in any part of the continent, surely, will not yield much benefit to the parties involved in the continent. It is he or she that has not experienced war, that will clamor for war. War, a particular African proverb, points out, is like many people, journeying inside a boat: when the said boat capsizes, everyone inside the boat, will become wet. War, in any part, or region of Africa, will in the long run, affect us all, whether directly, or indirectly. We all must unite, as Africans, and strengthen the things that make us great as a people, and discard the things that easily dehumanize, and scatters us. We all must strengthen continental trends like AFCON, WAFCON, WAFU, AFDB, ECOWAS START UP FUNDS, AU (AFRICAN UNION), AFTCA, and CONTINENTAL VISA EASE for fellow Africans, intent on travelling to one African nation, or the other, In times past, there was such a thing as URTNA (union of radio and television network of Africa), and FESTAC ’’77 (Festival of African Arts, and Culture). All such things, will aid in keeping the continent at peace, perpetually. Africa, when united, is like a bunch of broom-sticks, tied together: tied together, a bunch of broom sticks can achieve much. A lone, single broom stick, is however feeble, and fragile, and can easily be broken, and cannot accomplish much chores. Let’s remain united, Africa.

An Africa without war(s), is a vision that is possible: An Africa without war(s), is a mission that must be possible. Let’s all work, ceaselessly, towards this noble, ideal goal.

God Bless Africa.

Brief bio-data of the Writer:
The Author/Writer of this Feature Article/ Commentary/Opinion Article, is a well-known writer that is Nigerian in Origin, and works in Abuja, the Federal Capital Territory of Nigeria. He has an array of publications in National Newspapers in his country, as well as many publications in International Magazines, and Scholarly Journals.
His hobbies include Reading books, Writing, and Listening to news, on radio, and television.