Sustainable peace is the key to achieving economic growth and social progress in any society. African countries have had their fair share of conflicts, internal struggles, and political instability, which have hampered the continents’ efforts at socio-economic development over the years. However, in recent times, there have been more concerted efforts towards charting a path towards sustainable peace.
In many African countries, peacebuilding has evolved from an activity that was solely left in the hands of the government, security forces, and international organizations, to become a community-based initiative involving civil society groups, youth, women, and faith-based organizations.
The approach adopted by these groups includes conflict prevention and resolution, peacebuilding, and addressing the underlying causes of conflicts, such as poverty, inequality, and marginalization. This strategy has helped in developing partnerships and networks to promote a common agenda of peaceful coexistence.
One of the success stories in Africa’s journey towards sustainable peace is the initiative by the African Union (AU) to provide funding and technical support to countries emerging from a conflict. The AU has an African Peace and Security Architecture (APSA) that involves mediator teams, rapid deployment forces, and post-conflict reconstruction and development support.
The APSA has intervened in various conflicts on the continent, including the crisis in the Central African Republic and the recent conflict in Tanzania. The successful mediation activities led by the African Union in these conflicts have resulted in the restoration of democracy, peace, and stability.
Another strategy successful in Africa’s peacebuilding efforts is gender mainstreaming in conflict prevention and resolution. Women are often most affected by conflicts, especially in fragile environments, and are also essential agents of change. For example, the inclusion of women in mediation processes and peace negotiations has improved the success rate of peacebuilding outcomes.
In Rwanda, the government included women in the country’s peacebuilding process by establishing a 30% quota for women in leadership positions in decision-making bodies. Rwanda’s effort at including women in peacebuilding initiatives has led to increased participation, representation, and empowerment.
The role of youth has also been significant in promoting peacebuilding in Africa. Youth-led initiatives have helped in creating platforms for dialogue between conflicting groups and addressing the root causes of conflict. In Sierra Leone, a group called “Fambul Tok” facilitated community reconciliation meetings amongst the youth, ensuring that they played an essential part in securing sustainable peace through cooperation, forgiveness, and mutual understanding.
In conclusion, Africa’s journey towards achieving sustainable peace is a long one that requires cooperation amongst different stakeholders. Efforts in addressing the underlying causes of conflicts, such as inequality, marginalization, and poverty, are essential towards achieving lasting peace. The involvement of civil society groups, women, youth, and faith-based organizations in peacebuilding initiatives remains a key strategy towards achieving sustainable peace in the African continent.