Background and Summary -- Africa Peace and Conflict Network (APCN):
APCN is a humanitarian, charitable organization dedicated to contributing to a positive peace in Africa. It is comprised of over
150 Africanist scholars and professionals active in conflict analysis and resolution research, training, and practice. APCN is registered
with the IRS as a 501(c)(3) tax-exempt organization and with the State of Florida as an independent non-profit organization, effective
February 2008.
APCN’s work encompasses negotiations, alternative dispute resolution, and other areas related to conflict prevention and management such as
development, relief, governance, policing, and law. Activities include Africa-focused research and knowledge generation and dissemination,
and peacebuilding work, assistance, and training.
APCN developed out of a unique concentration of Africanist expertise within the Department of Conflict Analysis and Resolution (DCAR) of
Nova Southeastern University -- one of four doctoral level conflict resolution programs globally. At any given time roughly thirty African doctoral students are
undergoing training through DCAR and APCN. As the organization developed and gained organizational partners in Africa, Europe, and elsewhere, APCN
expanded its scope to become a forum for persons wishing to promote African peacebuilding.
APCN has multiple components. Its core activities are research, training, and practice. Members of the AWG encompass both neophytes and specialists,
including faculty members, postgraduate students, and professionals with extensive research and practitioner experience in Africa and conflict issues.
Members are affiliated with a variety of universities and institutions. Any interested persons may join the Group and its email listserv (see Contact Us page).
APCN is also open to the idea of further partners and collaborations. APCN members have unique expertise related to most current African conflicts,
including those in Ethiopia and the Horn, Cote de Ivoire and the Mano River region, the Nigerian Delta, and Darfur.
APCN's members, partners, and affiliated organizations are spread across the globe. The primary physical home of the group is Nova Southeastern University
and its postgraduate Department of Conflict Analysis and Resolution.
Since its inception in 2004, APCN has organized a number of events and activities focused on:
- Capacity building and development of human resources in the field of African peace-building.
- Education and information dissemination through public presentations, networking with other organizations doing research on Africa conflicts and the
APCN listserv.
- Mentoring Africans studying conflict analysis and resolution in order to produce a group of committed activists with robust analytical and practitioner
expertise in peacebuilding and development.
- Compiling information and gathering expertise on African conflicts and peacemaking.
- Development of a database on African conflicts and peacebuilding efforts and organizations and persons engaged in related work and research
The african peace and conflict network has organized a number of events and activities open to the public, students, and
specialists. Most took place on the nsu main campus. Examples include:
- Presentation by Hamdesa Tuso of his research and publication on the ethnic war in Ethiopia titled: Ethiopia: New Political Order. Ethnic Conflict in the
Post Cold War Era.
- Presentation on the dynamics of conflict transformation and the Oromo conflict in Ethiopia.
- Presentation by Jean-Mathieu Essoh Essis on the Ivorian Conflict and the challenges of a peaceful conflict resolution process.
- Presentation by Mark Davidheiser on how Gambian opinions and practices problematize accepted views of gendered power imbalances in conflict
mediation.
- Presentation by Mark Davidheiser on challenges to governance and legal reform programs as illustrated by development policy and mediation programs
in The Gambia.
- Presentation on the challenges of peacebuilding in post conflict Liberia.
- Presentation on the dynamics of the Darfur conflict in Sudan.
- Presentation by Chief Fonkem on the Anglophone Conflict in the Cameroons.
- Presentation by Jeff Mapendere, AWG member and Assistant Director of the Carter Center's Conflict Resolution Program, on negotiating with rebels in
order to achieve peace.
- Presentations by Solomon Losha, Jerry Stephens and Jacques Koko on African responses to conflict.
Selected examples of APCN member activities:
- December 2005, Andrew Rusatsi attended the International Congress on Inter-cultural and Inter-religious Dialogue in Bilbao-Spain.
- Since 2005 Mamane Sani Moussa has been working in Darfur as a Return, Reintegration, and Recovery Officer for the United Nations Mission in Sudan.
- Mark Davidheiser was Academic Director for the International Institute of Mediation and Conflict Resolution's 2006 Prague training and study symposium.
- July and August 2006, Andrew Rusatsi went on a finding mission in the Great Lakes Region as preliminary research feasibility study in Uganda, Rwanda,
Burundi, Democratic Republic of Congo and Kenya.
- October 2006, Mark Davidheiser gave an invited presentation in Germany at the Max Planck Institute of Social Anthropology for a symposium on historical
memory, tradition, and conflict in the Upper Guinea Coast.
- February 2007, Jean-Mathieu Essoh Essis attended a conference in Canada titled: Conflicts in Africa. At this conference Dr. Essis presented a talk on the
current Ivorian conflict
- March 29, 2007 at Nova Southeastern University; Colloquium on the Darfur Crisis. The event was held in the Carl DeSantis Building's Knight Auditorium.
There was no charge for admission. DCAR was one of the co-sponsors. The speakers were Gregory Garland, Public Affairs Advisor for the U.S. State
Department's Bureau of African Affairs, John Ukec Lueth Ukec, Sudan Ambassador to the United States, and Mamane Moussa, a doctoral candidate with
DCAR who works as a RPP Program Employee, with the UN Return, Reintegration and Recovery Program in the Sudan.
- Friday, March 30, 2007; Follow-up discussion on Darfur by APCN [formerly AWG] member and UN Return, Reintegration and Recovery Program (Sudan)
officer Mamane Moussa. Moussa gave a presentation on displaced persons in Darfur and there was an extended discussion with the audience. Moussa
also spoke about employment opportunities in the international sector as part of the SHSS Career Cafe program at Nova Southeastern University.
- March 31st, 2007, Mark Davidheiser held a conference presentation entitled “Sons of The Gambia: Migrants, autochthony discourses, and intergroup
conflict.” Davidheiser was organizer and chair, with Orit Tamir, of a special double session entitled “Displacement and Disputing: Migration, relocation,
and conflict.” The audience included NSU students and faculty. Society for Applied Anthropology annual meeting, Tampa, FL. Publication of selected
session papers is anticipated.
- May 17, 2007, Hamdesa Tuso directed the conference at Menno Simons College at the University of Winnipeg titled: Connecting the Two Continents:
Empowering Oromo refugees through education and networking.
- May 18, 2007, Hamdesa Tuso directed the conference at Menno Simons College at the University of Winnipeg titled: The Oromo people on the Horn of
Africa: Confronting the Oromo future.
- May 24, 2007, Hamdesa Tuso directed a workshop at Menno Simons Collegiate at the University of Winnipeg titled: Refugee Strategies: Why they don't
work; how to make them work.
Request for Volunteers and Acknowledgments
APCN achievements are made possible by those who donate their time or other resources to enhance our efforts to contribute to the attainment of a positive
peace in Africa.
APCN needs volunteers to help with various projects and tasks. Any interested persons should contact Dr. Mark Davidheiser at: mdavidhe@yahoo.com
We would like to recognize the generous efforts of those who have volunteered in the past, including Sophie Mamy-Kerlin, Robert Keller, and Jill Gambill.
APCN also gives special thanks to Dr. Judith McKay of NSU for her efforts on behalf of APCN.
APCN's achievements are made possible by those who donate their time or other resources to enhance our efforts to contribute to the attainment of a positive
peace in Africa.
Donations to APCN can be made here.
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