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Abstract
The War –
Affected African
Women ,
With Special
Stress on Africa
Horn Region.
By : Tahani
Ibrahim Mohammed
.
International
University of
Africa .
Before the
European
colonization ,
life in Africa
was healthy and
stable in the
traditional
social and
political
communities .
This state of
Affairs changed
with the coming
of the Europeans
to Africa .
After the Berlin
conference in
1885 the
continent was
divided by
political
frontiers that
paid no
attention to the
social and
cultural
differences in
each region ,
what was
important to the
European states
was the
economic gains
anticipated .
As a
result of this
colonization
conflicts across
the frontiers
and between
tribe have
flared up,
these conflicts
became a major
source of
suffering for
the women .
The
African women
used to perform
their
traditional role
of the economy
inside the
families in
addition to
their role as
wives and
mothers .
During
conflicts and
wars the
economic and
social roles
were maximized .
Men were absent
because they
went to the
battle fields ,
some were killed
,some were
caught as
prisoners and
the whereabouts
of some were
unknown . Thus
women found
themselves
forced to work
hard to bring
food and care
for children
and disabled
members of
families .
Under such
circumstances
women had to
do more work in
cultivation and
other works to
satisfy the food
needs of the
members .Such
exhaustive
working
conditions are
manifested
mal health,
bad social and
economic
conditions of
the women .
This
research
discuses the
position of the
African women
specially those
in the Africa
Horn region .
The paper
is divided into
the following
sections :-
(1)
Historical
background to
the African
continent and to
the African Horn
.
(2)
The women's
position in the
African
communities .
(3)
Conflicts and
wars in the
African Horn.
(4)
The position of
African women
during wars .
(5)
The role of
African women in
peace making .
(6)
The role of
African women
in post- peace
times.
(construction ,
reconstruction
and development
).
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