Abstract
The chief purpose of this thesis is to describe,
analyse and evaluate the role the Organization of African
Unity has played in African conflicts. In order to be
able to view the OAU in a broad perspective the first
chapter traces the historical background of Pan- Africanism
and the inter -African relations between 1957 -1963
culminating in the foundation of the OAU. The purpose of
the second chapter is to provide an analysis of the structure,
functions and objectives of the Organization with regard to
its role as an instrument of conflict resolution.
The main focus of the thesis is on three case studies
illustrating two types of conflicts with which the OAU
was confronted. While chapter III examines two territorial
disputes, i.e. the Algerian- Moroccan Territorial Conflict
and the Ethiopia -Somalia - Kenya Territorial Dispute, which
are examples of conflicts between independent states, chapter
IV deals with the Nigerian Civil War as a case study of a
crisis stemming from intra -state problems. Taking into
account the inherent limitations of comparative analysis,
the chapters aim to discuss the performance of the OAU
within the context of the specific historical and political
character of each dispute.
The closing chapter suggests some general conclusions
about the basic reasons for the success or failure of the
OAU in achieving the objective of peace -making in Africa.
It attempts to provide some insight into certain categories of
problems concerning the international African system with
the Organization of African Unity as its institutionalized
framework.
