ABSTRACT
This chapter assesses some of the peace and development challenges that confront the nascent Pan-Africanism and the African Union. It examines some of the sources of insecurity, political violence and conflict escalation. The chapter assesses the consequences of resource deprivation and social alienation as a key contributor to under-development in the continent. It argues for the need to move beyond the unit of the nation-state and forge genuine regionalism. The chapter looks at the effect and instability of conflict on the lives of people, the effect and impact of refugee flows and internally displaced persons and the accompanying war-crimes related to gender based violence. It assesses whether the advent of Pan-Africanism, in the form of the African Union, begin to address the limitations of the nation-state and promote sufficient continental solidarity to over come these challenges. The chapter explores some of the challenges of overcoming under-development in Africa.
