Colonialisme et conflits dans la région des Grands- Lacs: Héritages empoisonnés et dynamiques contemporaines

Abstract

Colonialism in the African Great Lakes region has left a deeply destructive legacy that continues to fuel contemporary conflict dynamics. By imposing arbitrary borders, favouring certain communities over others, and establishing authoritarian systems of domination, colonial powers sowed the seeds of lasting identity and political tensions. From a cultural and religious perspective, the colonial system, with the support of missionaries, dismantled traditional belief systems, creating a cultural and religious vacuum. These poisoned legacies manifest themselves today in recurring conflicts, exploited ethnic rivalries, and persistent regional interference. Understanding the links between past colonial practices and current violence is essential to understanding the geopolitics of conflict in the Great Lakes region of Africa and to envisaging sustainable solutions based on historical justice, reconciliation, and inclusive governance in this strategic region of Africa.