Justice Emile Short, Chairman of the Commission on Human Rights and Administrative Justice (CHRAJ), has stated that politics of exclusion and xenophobia are partly responsible for the conflicts in the West African sub-region.

“When people are excluded from the political or decision-making system of their country, they will become aggrieved and resort to violence as a last resort,” he said. Justice Short said this in an interview with the “Times” after opening a three-day workshop on human rights.

The forum was to provide a platform for the participants to identify and develop strategic relationships with colleagues of the United Nations (UN) family, local and regional partners. They will also use African such as NEPAD and the Bamako and Cotonou Initiatives on democracy to promote sub-regional involvement in mainstreaming human rights.

Justice Short explained that “xenophobia creates friction and tension in a country,” adding that conflicts would ensue when the rights of minorities were not respected and they were not allowed to participate fully in the affairs of the nation.

He asked African leaders to recognise that the issue of political inclusion was central to peace and stability and should, therefore, be taken seriously. Effective participation of all stakeholders in countries should also be incorporated in the political, economic and social aspects of the countries for harmonious development, he advised.