“This anthology examines five major cases of interventions in African conflicts by third parties either in a mediation role or in a peace enforcement role by a variety of actors ranging from states to regional and continental institutions with varying degrees of success. The cases include the protracted conflict in the Eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo which saw the involvement and intervention of more than eight other African countries; the attempt by neighboring countries as well as the African Union to rid Somalia of its ‘failed state’ status; the United Nations sanctioned and French led intervention in the Ivorian electoral crisis which led to the deposition of President Laurent Gbagbo and the installation of President Alassane Ouatara in Cote D’Ivoire; the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) military intervention in Libya to implement United Nations mandate and the hitherto dormant conflict between Ethiopia and Eritrea where mediation efforts have actually led to a situation of ‘no war, no peace’. This anthology is made up of five chapters: Chapter one takes an incisive look into the Somali conflict from and the intervention led by the African Union. Chapter two examines the protracted unrest in the eastern part of the Democratic Republic of Congo. It traces the conflict within a regional perspective, considering the number of African can countries which were and have been involved in the conflict. Chapter three addresses the Libyan crisis within the context of the Arab spring of 2011. Chapter four examines the Ivorian conflict from the perspective of a post electoral conflict and the role of the United Nations, France and neighboring countries in achieving the present status quo in Cote D’Ivoire. The chapter argues that, intervention was driven by a desire to
protect French interests which were threatened by the government of Laurent Gbagbo. Chapter five deals with the Ethiopian/Eritrean conflict and argues that the failure of both countries to properly prepare for post separation arrangements led to a situation of misunderstanding which eventually degenerated into violent conflict. The chapter deplores the massive economic and humanitarian costs associated with the conflict in relation to the gross domestic product of the both countries.”
