Dynamics of Local Conflict in Post 1990 Africa: A Case of Border Dispute

Across African countries, various strands of local conflicts are discernible. In the post 1990 Africa much of the inter and intra country disputes reappears and provides important insights to explore patterns of such local conflicts as themes such as border dispute provide influential prognosis to re-evaluate democracy resurgence and local conflict transformation challenges. The paper contends that borders which are volatile and strategic constitute dominant strands of local conflict dynamics and deploys the incompatibility framework and secondary data sources to explore some theoretical issues raised on African border dispute. It examines the nexus between colonial demarcation of Africa and novel trends such as globalization, from revisionist and anti-revisionist view points to understand the struggles and agitations for border control and ownership which are important in enriching the understanding of Africa’s democracy since the end of authoritarian one party system. Findings suggest that despite democracy resurgence, reforms seem minimal. Policy discourse on more collaborative efforts and cooperation aimed at lasting peace is crucial. 1