Since the beginning of time, humans have faced endless conflicts. Some conflicts occur due to territory or lack of resources, while other conflicts arise due to differences between nations, groups and people. African conflicts are caused by many factors related to ethnicity, race, religion, and resources (Barnard 1). However, religion has been a major cause of many current conflicts, especially in Africa. Many people are sensitive when it comes to religion because for them religion is part of their individual identity. Religion is not only important for individual identity but also for group identity due to nationalism (Barnard 1). Therefore, most religious conflicts are identity-based types of conflicts. In other words, to threaten one's beliefs is to threaten one's religion, and this is why most people would fight for their religion (Barnard 1). Furthermore, religion can be a tool to unify a nation or group or it can lead to the destruction of nations and conflicts within states. However, the relationship between religion and conflict is very complex (Barnard 1). Therefore, many other factors must be taken into consideration before considering religion as the root cause. Most religions actually teach people that war is wrong and that violence should be considered the last option. Religious writings and books provide guidelines on how people should act and when to use violence and when not to. Most people interpret these guidelines differently and end up misusing these religious writings, which can lead to conflicts (Barnard 1). However, in many parts of the world, people of different religions live in harmony and coexist in peace, but in other parts of the world... middle of paper... n to unify Sudan as an Islamic state by politicizing religion and placing ideologies religious at the center of the conflict (Kustenbauder, 2012). The politicization of religion has been linked to globalization processes in two important ways. First, religious conflict has helped local government actors in the north and rebels in the south gain support within the region and from international actors abroad. The colonial era may have been the origin of the concept of South Sudan, but the wars waged by Khartoum gave way to its reality (Kustenbauder, 2012). Secondly, Sudanese living in the diaspora abroad have played an important role as representatives of the New Sudan. Their perceptions were formed through emigration and they kept alive a vision of a new independent Sudan, different from the control of Khartoum (Kustenbauder, 2012).