African Problem - African Solution: An Examination of the Application of the Ubuntu Conflict Resolution Systems to Prevailing Conflicts in Africa: A Case Study of the Democratic Republic of Congo and Namibia's Tension

Abstract

The conflict within the Democratic Republic of Congo is demonstrably violent and primarily localized in the eastern region, formerly known as Zaire. In contrast, Namibia experiences tension between native and non-native African populations arising from inequitable land accumulation by the minority white-German population, which holds the potential for violent escalation. The protracted conflict in the eastern region of the Congo, which resulted in the deaths of millions of Africans and the loss of billions in property, along with the societal tension in Namibia, both trace their origins unequivocally to the Berlin Conference of 1884-1885.  To mitigate the violent and deadly conflict in Congo and the potential for violent escalation in Namibia’s tension, we propose the establishment of a centuries-old framework designed to provide permanent peace resolutions, given that these conflicts are occurring on African soil, in a broader context, we see it as an African problem thus requires primarily African solution – The Ubuntu system on conflict resolution –  While the United Nations peace system has been employed to resolve numerous global conflicts, including those within the Congo, its efficacy in the Congolese context has been demonstrably ineffective. Thus, we argue that ‘Ubuntu,’ an African system of conflict resolution, has the potential to resolve both direct violence and structural violence that creates tensions not just in the case study countries but in the whole of Africa and beyond, as the system has no specific tribal or religious affiliation, it is just a human-centric philosophy that sees all humans as equals irrespective of races or social status. Lastly, this paper adopts a qualitative research design to explore the application of the Ubuntu conflict resolution system in addressing conflict.