African countries have been encouraged to talk to each other and find local solutions for their diplomatic and border conflicts.
Scholars believe that to unite Africa, countries need to resolve their own internal problems first.
In the book "Hurdles and Prospects of African Integration," authors James Zotto and Maxmillian Chuhila discuss the goal of uniting Africa to promote unity, economic growth, and political stability.
They examine the challenges facing African integration, especially focusing on the Western Sahara conflict.
Zotto explained at the book launch at Kenyatta University that the idea of African integration comes from the Pan-African movement of the early 20th century, which aimed to unite Africans against colonialism and racial discrimination.
He argued that local solutions would work better for conflicts like the Western Sahara crisis than solutions from outside Africa.
“Over the years, numerous efforts have been made to bring African nations closer together, from the formation of regional blocs to the establishment of the African Union (AU). But achieving a seamless integration in Africa remains a hard task, plagued by various challenges that hinder its progress,” he said.
Chuhila pointed out that international efforts over the past forty years have failed due to social, economic, and political problems.
He emphasized the need for internal agreements that consider all parties' interests to achieve lasting peace and regional stability.
“In a way, solving this crisis is tantamount to regional stability and enhanced political and socio-cultural stability,” Chuhila said.
The authors noted that the Western Sahara conflict involves complex issues such as self-determination, territorial integrity, humanitarian concerns, and economic interests.
They stressed that a fair and lasting resolution requires continuous diplomatic efforts, inclusive negotiations, respect for human rights, and involvement of all relevant stakeholders.
“Only a comprehensive approach can resolve the conflict, leading to regional stability and justice,” they said.
James Zotto is a lecturer on international border disputes, and Maxmillian Chuhila is an assistant professor of history.
Both are based at the University of Dar es Salaam and have extensive research experience in African issues.
