GGH2601
Assignment 1
Unique No:143131
Due 18 August 2025
, GGH2601
The African Challenge – People and the Environment
Assessment 1
Unique Number: 143131
Student Name: Student Number:
Question 1: Discuss how diversity on the African continent can be viewed as fueling
conflict
Africa is renowned for its rich cultural, ethnic, and linguistic diversity. The continent is
home to more than 3,000 ethnic communities and over 2,000 distinct languages spoken
across its 54 nations (Akinwale, 2021). While this diversity represents a significant
cultural asset, it can also become a source of tension when not managed effectively. In
particular, when differences in ethnicity, religion, and culture overlap with political
exclusion and economic inequality, they can contribute to conflict and instability.
One key factor is ethnic rivalry over access to political authority and resources.
Many African nations were formed through arbitrary colonial boundaries that grouped
disparate ethnic groups without considering their pre-existing relationships. This legacy
has contributed to ethnic competition and, in some cases, violent conflict. For instance,
Nigeria’s major ethnic groups—the Hausa-Fulani, Yoruba, and Igbo—have long
competed for political dominance, contributing to civil unrest and even a full-scale civil
war (the Biafran War, 1967–1970) (Falola, 2020). Similarly, in Kenya, political
candidates often mobilize ethnic identities to secure electoral support, which was a
significant factor in the 2007–2008 post-election violence (Omeje & Mwangi, 2022).
Religious diversity can also play a role in conflict, especially when combined with
political grievances. In countries such as Nigeria, Sudan, and the Central African
Republic, divisions between Christian and Muslim communities have been manipulated
by political elites or aggravated by unequal resource distribution. For example, the
Darfur crisis in Sudan was shaped not only by religious differences but also by disputes
Assignment 1
Unique No:143131
Due 18 August 2025
, GGH2601
The African Challenge – People and the Environment
Assessment 1
Unique Number: 143131
Student Name: Student Number:
Question 1: Discuss how diversity on the African continent can be viewed as fueling
conflict
Africa is renowned for its rich cultural, ethnic, and linguistic diversity. The continent is
home to more than 3,000 ethnic communities and over 2,000 distinct languages spoken
across its 54 nations (Akinwale, 2021). While this diversity represents a significant
cultural asset, it can also become a source of tension when not managed effectively. In
particular, when differences in ethnicity, religion, and culture overlap with political
exclusion and economic inequality, they can contribute to conflict and instability.
One key factor is ethnic rivalry over access to political authority and resources.
Many African nations were formed through arbitrary colonial boundaries that grouped
disparate ethnic groups without considering their pre-existing relationships. This legacy
has contributed to ethnic competition and, in some cases, violent conflict. For instance,
Nigeria’s major ethnic groups—the Hausa-Fulani, Yoruba, and Igbo—have long
competed for political dominance, contributing to civil unrest and even a full-scale civil
war (the Biafran War, 1967–1970) (Falola, 2020). Similarly, in Kenya, political
candidates often mobilize ethnic identities to secure electoral support, which was a
significant factor in the 2007–2008 post-election violence (Omeje & Mwangi, 2022).
Religious diversity can also play a role in conflict, especially when combined with
political grievances. In countries such as Nigeria, Sudan, and the Central African
Republic, divisions between Christian and Muslim communities have been manipulated
by political elites or aggravated by unequal resource distribution. For example, the
Darfur crisis in Sudan was shaped not only by religious differences but also by disputes
