It is easy to romanticize African history. Let's be frank: there were good and bad, and there were wars and slave dealers. But there is also much to learn from the administrative stability of the BaKongo kingdom of the Atlantic coast of Central Africa. Or from the Nigerian Kings who could be deposed on request of their subjects. 

Modern Africa has much going against it. Ancient states, kingdoms, and ethnic units were split between different colonial states, often with 'divide and rule' as a motive. Anglophone and Francophone colonies contained people of similar ethnic backgrounds. One of the concerns expressed at decolonization was that Africa would degenerate into ethnic wars.

It did not happen. Pan-Africanism, as articulated by the leaders at the time of independence, cleated a strong African tradition of respect for territorial integrity, colonial borders, and non-interference in the affairs of neighboring states. And although the African Union, as its predecessor, suffers from being an organization of "Heads of State and Government" and not one of "these United Nations" as the Preamble of the UN Charter states, it has developed its own way of dealing with conflict. 

The African Union's Peace and Security Council met recently in Malabo, in Equatorial Guinea, to consider the reaction to a rising tide of coups, unconstitutional changes of Government, and conflict between members. No great breakthroughs were reported, only slow, incremental progress towards a consensus on security issues. A matter of concern was the role of extra-African actors in African conflicts. 

In the past, coups were sanctioned by neighboring countries, and governments that came to power unconstitutionally were suspended from the continental organization until elections could be held. Regional organizations were supported in finding solutions to regional conflict.

Such is the case regarding the simmering conflict between Rwanda and the Democratic Republic of Congo. On one hand, a highly centralized government based on the ancient aristocracy, efficient education, and highly organized society, but with little mineral or other resources; on the other, a sprawling, fragmented country with vast resources, a population fragmented by ethnic conflict and misgovernment. Remnants of the perpetrators of the 1994 genocide in Rwanda still hide in the Congolese forests, enslaving the local population to mine illicitly, playing power politics in tribal conflicts, and planning a return to power in Rwanda. The M23 rebels, allegedly again with Rwandan support, have become active again lately, and clashes have been reported.

The countries of the region take this conflict seriously. President Uhuru Kenyatta of Kenya, chairing the East African Community, called for an immediate cessation of hostilities. A Regional Force will be deployed to ensure compliance with the norms of civilized behavior. 

The Ambassador of Kenya expressed this concept eloquently when calling on those involved in the Russo-Ukraine conflict to resolve their problems: Africa has learned how to handle border conflicts. Imperfectly, perhaps. But others are welcome to come and learn.