The Africa Governance Report iii) lack of democracy: the lack of democracy or democratic accountability has potential to trigger instability; iv) population imbalance and social and economic exclusion: these two factors are drivers of violence and instability. This has been observed in poor countries with relatively large youthful populations that are economically and socially excluded. The exclusion factor becomes particularly acute if education levels, rates of urbanisation and unemployment are comparatively high. v) continuous violence. Any country that has experienced large-scale violence is susceptible to more of the same; vi) the ‘bad-neighbourhood’ effect, where countries that are close to or bordering on other countries that are experiencing conflict are exposed to it; vii) Self-serving leadership: this is associated with the prevalence of poor governance. Exacerbating these is the impact of excessive dependence on commodity exports, and the resultant reliance on external funding for State expenditures and the economy. All these factors are interdependent. 5.6 Africa’s Conflict Zones The AU has identified 21 current conflicts in the 55 countries that make up the African Union (as of July 2018). Some countries are experiencing internal conflicts and other forms of unrest, while others are facing violent disturbances as a result of economic difficulties, race, religion, political divisions, violent extremism, terrorism, etc. A recent analysis for the African Union has identified major conflict zones and highlighted conflictresolution dynamics. Four major conflict zones are: the Mano River Region, the Great Lakes Region, the Horn of Africa, and the Sahel/Maghreb Region.38 5.6.1 The Mano River Region This geopolitical region covers the Manu River Union, which is a political and economic structure consisting of Liberia, Sierra Leone, Guinea and Cote d’Ivoire. These countries have since 1990 faced serious security challenges, including military coups and civil wars. Leaders of these countries tended to exploit cross-border ethnic linkages to further their own domestic political and security advantages, at the expense of peace and stability of the region. The Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) has played a significant role in preventing and managing conflict (peacekeeping and peace enforcement) in this region. 5.6.2 The Great Lakes Region This region, which straddles eastern and central Africa, and whose countries are members of the International Conference on the Great Lakes Region (ICGLR), is made up of Angola, Burundi, CAR, Republic of the Congo, DRC, Kenya, Rwanda, Republic of South Sudan, Sudan, Tanzania and Zambia. Instability and intractable conflicts have plagued the region since the 1990s, including the so-called “Africa’s World War” in the DRC in the late 1990s and the Rwandan genocide of 1994. Although these conflicts have been within borders, they have had regional ramifications. The region is characterised by alliances among States and non-State actors trying to ensure their security, survival and interest through armed activities. “Outsiders”, whose interests are economic, political, or even criminal, are often contributors to conflict in this region. 38 Aboagye F (ed) 2016. A Comprehensive Review of African Conflicts and Regional Interventions. Addis Ababa: AU Commission and African Peace Support Trainers Association (APSTA). Page 59 of 96