dc.description.abstract | The best known examples in the Eastern African regi
on are Intergovernmental Authority for
Development (IGAD), East African Community (EAC) an
d now Eastern African Standby Force
(EASBRIG). By bringing 14 states with a common purp
ose having accepted, the leadership role
of EASBRICOM and having realized that co-operation,
especially in issues of peace and security
offers, tangible benefits to all participating part
ies, the Eastern African countries are on the best
tract of overcoming the dynamics of national intere
sts and competing regionalism. However,
there are many factors that sustain insecurity and
instability in the region, making the promoting
of peace a major challenge.
During the cold War, it was evident that the Organi
sation of Africa Union, which was founded to
provide the African people with a better life, did
not achieve this objective. However, the end of
the Cold War brought about a rudimentary shift in t
he structure of the international system. This
gave rise to pressures and opportunities for a fund
amental and unconstrained re-assessment of
the root causes of war, conflict and human sufferin
g, as well as appropriate response mechanisms | en |