The impact of regional integration on conflict resolution and peace building in Africa; a case study of the East Africa Community (2000-2010)

Abstract

The main aim of the study is to investigate the impact of regional integration on conflict resolution and peace building in Africa; where a case study of the East Africa Community was taken as from 2000-2010. Against the background of profound global political, economic, and social change since the end of the cold war, Scholars argue that regional organizations play only a limited role and that even when they do so, it is often in pursuit of resolving conflict and peace building thus the literature review and theoretical framework has supported this.

This study used both primary and secondary data from ministry of foreign affairs of Kenya and Uganda government official, united nation peace keeping mission dealing with regional integration and EAU. This instrument of data collection enables the researcher to control the setting; it is flexible as one can probe and in the process get in- depth information. Research design used in this study was descriptive and exploratory in nature method.

This study presented a detailed background of the conflict resolution and peace building in Africa, including the origin of the conflict and showcasing it effect on East Africa and background of the regional integration in Africa. The finding indicated that the existence of regional integration in East African has significance influence in peace building and conflict resolution, Regional integration in the East African community will not only lead the stabilization of the East African region but also affect Africa and the world at large due to its 'spill over' and the working of east African together leads to social harmony in the region are significant. In this respect the study supports the alternate hypothesis that regional conflicts in constrained water resource areas.