The State of Peacebuilding in Africa: Lessons Learned for Policymakers and Practitioners

Description

This open access book on the state of peacebuilding in Africa brings together the work of distinguished scholars, practitioners, and decision makers to reflect on key experiences and lessons learned in peacebuilding in Africa over the past half century. The core themes addressed by the contributors include conflict prevention, mediation, and management; post-conflict reconstruction, justice and Disarmament Demobilization and Reintegration; the role of women, religion, humanitarianism, grassroots organizations, and early warning systems; and the impact of global, regional, and continental bodies. The book's thematic chapters are complemented by six country/region case studies: The Democratic Republic of Congo, Rwanda, Sierra Leone, Sudan/South Sudan, Mozambique and the Sahel/Mali. Each chapter concludes with a set of key lessons learned that could be used to inform the building of a more sustainable peace in Africa. The State of Peacebuilding in Africa was born out of the activities of the Southern Voices Network for Peacebuilding (SVNP), a Carnegie-funded, continent-wide network of  African organizations that works with the Wilson Center to bring African knowledge and perspectives to U.S., African, and international policy on peacebuilding in Africa. The research for this book was made possible by a grant from Carnegie Corporation of New York. Acknowledgments Contents Notes on Contributors List of Figures List of Tables Part I Peacebuilding in Transition 1 Introduction The State of Peacebuilding in Africa Key Issues and Themes in Peacebuilding in Africa Organization of the Book 2 Learning Lessons from Peace Operations in Africa Introduction Trends in Peace Operations in Africa Record Levels Wide-Ranging Mandates Protecting Civilians Using Force Partnership Peacekeeping Lessons Identified from Peace Operations in Africa The Primacy of Politics Ends and Means in Tune Effective Force Generation Ensure Accountability Key Recommendations 3 The Economics of Peacebuilding: International Organizations for Dealing with Victor and Vanquished Introduction The Treaty of Versailles—An Ambiguous Peace An Economic Peace to Begin All Peace Dividends of the Economic Reconstruction Program Lessons from the Economic Reconstruction Program Economic Development and Peacebuilding in Africa Inaction in Guinea-Bissau Côte d’Ivoire—A Success Story Bleak Outlook for Libya and the Sahel Conclusion Key Recommendations 4 Religion and Peacebuilding in Sub-Saharan Africa Introduction The Past 30 Years: An Overview of Major Developments in Religious Peacebuilding in Africa Religious Diplomacy Islamic Social and Humanitarian Services Inter-faith Peacebuilding Initiatives and Education for Peace Case Studies, Key Issues, and Lessons Learned Côte d’Ivoire The Central African Republic Religious Pluralism as a Challenge to Peaceful Coexistence Forms of Intolerance Muslim Peacebuilding Key Recommendations 5 Field Reflections on Post-Conflict Reconstruction: The Social Imperatives of Disarmament, Demobilization and Reintegration Introduction Disarmament, Demobilization, and Reintegration Case Studies: Uganda and Burundi Uganda Veteran Assistance Programme The Structural Challenges with the  Uganda Veteran Assistance Programme Reintegration of Burundi’s Child Soldiers Key Recommendations 6 United Nations Peacekeeping, Human Rights, and the Protection of Civilians The Basis of the Mandate The Normative and Institutional Framework Implementation and Track Record Lessons and Challenges Uncertain Political Commitment and Support Conceptual Ambiguity Compatibility with the Original Idea of Peacekeeping Finding the Right Balance Among the Tools Enforcing the Primary Responsibility of the Host State Key Recommendations Part II Strategies and Tools 7 Sustaining the Women, Peace, and Security Agenda: The Role of UN Peacekeeping in Africa Introduction Catalyzing Women, Peace, and Security through UN Peace Operations in Africa Evolution of Women, Peace, and Security in Peacekeeping Intersection with Continental, Regional, and Domestic Approaches Furthering Women, Peace and Security Through UN Peacekeeping Missions: Case Studies Liberia: Lessons from Integrating Gender and Transitions South Sudan: Navigating Politics and Protection Concerns Conclusions Key Recommendations 8 Local Peace Committees and Grassroots Peacebuilding in Africa Introduction Evolution of Local Peace Committees as Mechanisms for Grassroots Peacebuilding in Africa Emergence of Local Peace Committees in Africa as Self-Help Community Initiatives Toward the Formalization of Local Peace Committees in Africa The Ascendancy of NGO-Sponsored Local Peace Committees Three Decades of Local Peace Committees: Key Issues and Lessons Learned To Formalize or Not to Formalize? Relationship with Formal Institutions and Processes of the State Scope of Local Peace Committee Intervention Local Peace Committees as Sites for Social Contestation and Normative Contradictions Funding and External Support Conclusion Key Recommendations 9 Three Decades of Disarmament, Demobilization, and Reintegration of Ex-Combatants in Africa: Lessons Learned and Challenges Ahead Introduction Disarmament, Demobilization, and Reintegration in Africa: Contexts and Contents Thirty Years of Disarmament, Demobilization, and Reintegration in Africa: Issues, Trends and Lessons Learned Africa, a Major Host of Disarmament, Demobilization, and Reintegration Programs Africa as a “Living Laboratory”23 for Disarmament, Demobilization, and Reintegration From Combatant-Focused to Community-Based Disarmament, Demobilization, and Reintegration Disarmament, Demobilization, and Reintegration in Africa: The Achilles Heel, and the Iron Rules The Achilles Heel: The Challenge of Incomplete Reintegration Conclusion Key Recommendations: Three Iron Rules 10 The Changing Nature of Elections in Africa: Impact on Peacebuilding Introduction Elections and Peacebuilding Three Decades of Elections in Africa: What Do We Know About Their Impact on Peacebuilding? Winner-Takes-All Politics Sequencing and Timing Challenges and Emerging Threats to Election Peace in Africa Technology and Elections Litigating Election Results Abusing Presidential Term Limits Increasing Cost of Financing Elections and Elective Politics Key Recommendations 11 Contributions of Early Warning to the African Peace and Security Architecture: The Experience of the West Africa Network for Peacebuilding (WANEP) Introduction Overview of the Post-Cold War Security Context of Africa The African Peace and Security Architecture: Early Warning and Conflict Prevention WANEP’s Early Warning Contributions to Peace and Security in West Africa Key Recommendations Part III Regional and International Dimensions of Peacebuilding 12 The African Union in Peacebuilding in Africa Introduction Understanding Peacebuilding African Initiatives Toward Peacebuilding: From the OAU to the AU Peacebuilding Before the African Post-Conflict Reconstruction and Development (PCRD) Policy The Post-Conflict Reconstruction and Development Policy Key Recommendations 13 Trends in SADC Mediation and Long-Term Conflict Transformation Introduction Systemic Conflict Transformation Framework and Mediation SADC’s Policy and Institutional Framework for Mediation Trends in SADC Mediation in Zimbabwe, Lesotho, and Madagascar Zimbabwe Madagascar Lesotho The Potential Contribution of the Systemic Conflict Transformation Framework to SADC Mediation Key Recommendations 14 The International Criminal Court’s Impact on Peacebuilding in Africa Introduction Domestic Amnesties Domestic Amnesties in Uganda Domestic Amnesties in the Democratic Republic of the Congo Peace Negotiations Peace Negotiations in Uganda Peace Negotiations in the Democratic Republic of the Congo Conclusion Key Recommendations 15 Humanitarian Action and Peacebuilding: Incompatible or Complementary? Introduction Origins of Humanitarian Action Mandate Shift in Africa The Humanitarian Bind South Sudan The Central African Republic The Democratic Republic of the Congo Mali Key Recommendations 16 Peace Management and Conflict Resolution: A Practitioner’s Perspective Introduction Cyprus and Myanmar—Lessons for Africa? Darfur/Sudan Key Challenges Striking a Balance Between Peace and Justice, Including Strengthening Relations Between the United Nations and the International Criminal Court Factoring Implementation Agreements into Mediation Efforts Ensuring Strong Women’s Participation in Conflict Resolution Managing Spoilers Through Innovative Approaches: Inducements, Socializations, Coercion, and Leverage The Inducement or Carrots Strategy The Socialization Strategy Coercion or Stick Strategy Exercising Leverage Promoting Cohesion among Mediators and Good Offices through Support for a Unified Mediator Relations with NGOs and Civil Society Groups Conclusion Key Recommendations Part IV Country-Case Studies 17 Peacebuilding as State Building? Lessons from the Democratic Republic of the Congo Introduction The Shift in International Peacebuilding Toward State-Building Evolution of International Peacebuilding in the Democratic Republic of the Congo Background to the Conflicts Peace Accords: Ending the Second Congo War (1998–2003) Politics Below the Surface Power Sharing and National Elections: The DRC’s Transitional Government (2003–2006) Politics Below the Surface Evolution of UN Peacebuilding (2006–2017): “Restoring State Authority” Politics Below the Surface Conclusion Key Recommendations 18 Violence, Peacebuilding, and Elite Bargains in Mozambique Since Independence Introduction Historical Background The Post-independence Civil War Failed Attempts to End the War The Rome General Peace Accord Learning from the Past for Future Peacebuilding RENAMO’s Electoral Fortunes The 2019 Peace Accords Importance of Decentralization for Peacebuilding Conclusion Key Recommendations 19 The Dog That Did Not Bark: Why Has Sierra Leone Not Returned to War After Peacekeepers Left? Introduction1 Sierra Leone’s Peacebuilding Challenges Addressing the Peacebuilding Challenges Domestic Actors Regional Actors External Actors Conclusion Key Recommendations 20 Lessons in Failure: Peacebuilding in Sudan/South Sudan Introduction The Problem Sudan and South Sudan and the Failure of Peacebuilding in the Post-CPA Era The Emergence of the “New South” Mass Violence Breaks Out in the South Local Animosities Turn Inward Time for a Rethink? Key Lessons from Sudan/South Sudan Conclusion Key Recommendations 21 Such a Long Journey: Peacebuilding After Genocide in Rwanda Introduction Origins of Genocide Building Peace Democracy Security Justice and Unity Economic Vision Women Conclusion Key Recommendations 22 Crisis and Transition in the Sahel Introduction Peacebuilding in the Sahel Setting the Scene An Evolving Internationalization—And Mutualization—Of Crisis Management Mali Crisis—A Step Change French and UN Intervention A Parallel in the Lake Chad Basin Peace Process Struggles to Gain Momentum Momentum Is Lost Before Bamako Finally Moves G5—A Fresh Regional Military Approach Crisis Forces a Deeper Rethink A Way Forward—Questions and Challenges Key Recommendations 23 Conclusion Index