• However, ethnicity by itself does not relate to minority issues and needs to be examined separately in some situations as the missing link to conflicts in many parts of Africa. • Discrimination, domination and marginalisation of minorities expressed in denial of power, resources or recognition result in violation of their human rights as peoples/communities. • The African Union (AU) and Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) have established early warning mechanisms to nip conflicts in the bud.