Across the Global South, nowhere is the interplay between power, peace, and the state more complex than in Africa—a continent with a long and layered struggle for self-determination, nationhood, and stability. The African state, forged in the crucibles of colonialism, post-independence upheavals, and modern democratic experiments, has continually found itself at the intersection of asserting authority and managing conflict. Understanding this dynamic is critical to decoding Africa’s pathway to sustainable peace and inclusive governance.
Globally, progress in peacebuilding and governance reform is recognised as fundamental to preventing conflict and ensuring long-term stability. According to the United Nations’ 2023 progress report on Goal 16 of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), investments in governance institutions—spanning security, justice, transparency, and accountability—remain the cornerstone of peacebuilding efforts. In 2022, the UN allocated funds to fragile states in support of these initiatives. However, the total official development assistance (ODA) per capita to conflict-affected states declined by 5.7% over five years, falling from $1,045 in 2018 to $986 in 2022. On a broader scale, the World Bank has noted that countries with strong governance frameworks enjoy 30% higher GDP per capita and 40% lower conflict recurrence rates than their poorly governed counterparts.
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The African Context: The Fragile Balance of State Power and Security
In Africa, the issue becomes more urgent. The African Union (AU) Peace and Security Council, marking its 20th anniversary in 2024, continues to grapple with threats such as terrorism, violent extremism, and post-coup instability. Between 2020 and 2023, over 24 African countries experienced some form of armed conflict or political violence, with hotspots in the Sahel, the Horn of Africa, and the Great Lakes region.
The AU–UN partnership has intensified under Resolution 2719 (2023), which authorises the AU to lead peace enforcement missions with support from the UN. This was a direct response to escalating threats in countries like Somalia, where the African Union Transition Mission (ATMIS) is being redesigned to counter growing insurgent activity. These developments underscore a shift in how African states are expected not only to maintain power but to wield it constructively—building legitimacy and peace through strong institutions and inclusive policies.
Fragility and Resilience
Ethiopia: The civil conflict in Tigray (2020–2022) claimed over 600,000 lives, according to the UN, and displaced millions. It laid bare the deep fault lines within a multi-ethnic federal system, where state power became a source of division rather than unity. The 2022 peace agreement brokered by the AU demonstrated the critical role of regional mediation and the importance of structured peace processes in restoring state legitimacy.
Burkina Faso: Since 2020, the country has seen more than 2 million people internally displaced due to Islamist insurgencies. Amid this turmoil, the military seized power in 2022, arguing that state institutions had failed to ensure security. Yet this centralisation of authority, lacking democratic legitimacy, has not delivered peace; rather, violence has intensified, according to data from the Armed Conflict Location & Event Data Project (ACLED).
South Africa: In contrast, South Africa demonstrates how institutional power can drive relative stability. Though grappling with challenges such as inequality and high crime rates, its robust democratic institutions, independent judiciary, and peaceful transitions of power offer a model of constitutional statecraft on the continent.
Rwanda: Another significant case is Rwanda, which, after the 1994 genocide, has rebuilt resilient state institutions. Today, it ranks among the safest countries in Africa, with a 70% public trust rating in government institutions. However, critics caution that its model prioritises state control over political pluralism—a dilemma many African states continue to face.
The Peace–Power Paradox
There exists a paradox at the heart of African statehood: consolidating power is often necessary to prevent collapse, yet excessive centralisation risks authoritarianism and renewed cycles of conflict. Governance that excludes or suppresses dissent ultimately loses legitimacy. Sudan exemplifies this, where repeated military coups and the failure to transition to civilian rule have reignited violent unrest.
Effective peacebuilding must therefore empower African states without reinforcing repressive structures. The UN’s New Agenda for Peace (2023) and the AU’s Silencing the Guns initiative both emphasise inclusive governance, justice, and development as the surest paths to stability. Notably, the UN Peacebuilding Fund has invested over $2.5 billion globally since its inception, with a substantial share directed towards African nations to support democratic governance, civil society participation, and rule of law programmes.
Towards a New African State
The future of peace in Africa is intrinsically tied to the evolution of its states—not only in terms of security capacity but in how power is exercised, distributed, and held accountable. African states must move beyond post-colonial governance templates towards systems that embrace democratic participation, economic inclusion, and transparent leadership.
Global support remains essential, but domestic political will is equally crucial. Whether in Ethiopia’s fragile peace, Somalia’s insurgency-plagued transition, or Senegal’s constitutional reform efforts, the lesson is clear: peace cannot exist without power, but power without legitimacy cannot sustain peace.
To achieve lasting peace, African nations must make peacebuilding synonymous with nation-building—an endeavour that transcends political regimes and speaks to the soul of governance: to serve and protect all citizens with justice and dignity.
