Title: Impacts of Internal Conflicts on Integration and Development of the East African Community
Authors: Pamphile Bigirindavyi, Lopez Mikalano, Anastase Niyonsaba, Shadrack Igunza Onzere, Jambo Japhael Mgoma
Volume: 9
Issue: 2
Pages: 57-64
Publication Date: 2025/02/28
Abstract:
Although many regional institutions are primarily economic and have no explicit or direct security role, they are often implicitly designed to promote stability, conflict avoidance and the collective viability of their communities by encouraging integration among their members. (Bailes& Cottey, 2006). Nevertheless, these organizations and communities face disagreements that sometimes result in conflicts between member countries. This study aims to demonstrate how conflicts between member countries of the East African Community hinder the development of this community and block full integration within it. In other words, our study aims to identify the consequences of conflicts between the member states of the East African Community on development and integration within it. Theoretically, this study is guided by the negative conflict theory developed by Johan Galtung in 1969. This study also reviews certain conflicts that have opposed countries within the East African Community. This study follows a qualitative data collection method, using focus groups with 80 nationals from 8 countries of the East African Community, with a group of 8 people per member country. The results identified a number of impacts of these internal conflicts, namely: social, economic, and political impacts.