July 19, 2012 (QOL) Conference Title:
The Horn of Africa: From Conflict to Regional Integration
through Conflict Resolution
Conference Date: September 28th to September
29th, 2012
Conference Location: University ofMinnesota,LawCenter
Conference Theme:
Despite
common history and geography tying together, the Horn of Africa
region had both recent and past conflicts that made democratic
governance nearly impossible. The region is home to a large
number of ethnic groups living in eight interrelated different
countries marked with soft borders – Sudan, South Sudan,
Ethiopia, Eretria, Djibouti, Kenya , Uganda and Somalia.
Horn of Africa is a region plagued by armed
conflicts that produce turbulent and tumultuous conditions
laced with massive displacements, gross human rights violations
and mass violence. Although instability is more common than
otherwise, the emergent regional integration among some of
these countries seems to be an alternative course. Cases in
point are the Ethio-Djibouti infrastructural development along
major routes that connect the port of Djibouti and Ethiopian
population centers, and the South Sudan –Djibouti agreement
signed in October 2011. Moreover, if the Ogaden issue is peacefully
resolved, the potential for exporting the Ogaden gas and oil
resources through either the ports of Djibouti or Barbara
may further enhance both peace and democratization in the
region.
Despite
common history and geography tying together, the Horn of Africa
region had both recent and past conflicts that made democratic
governance nearly impossible. The region is home to a large
number of ethnic groups living in eight interrelated different
countries marked with soft borders – Sudan, South Sudan,
Ethiopia, Eretria, Djibouti, Kenya , Uganda and Somalia.