Africa

Progress needed in DRC

An open letter to UN Secretary General Ban Ki-Moon

Dear Secretary-General,

As NGOs working in the eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC), we remain very concerned by the grave humanitarian situation that continues to severely affect the civilian population, characterized by persistent high levels of violence, human rights abuses and violations of international humanitarian law. Renewed fighting between M23 and FARDC around Goma this month highlights the significant and continuing insecurity faced by communities.

Tue, 28/05/2013

Promoting peace

The African Union at 50

Read our new paper Promoting peace: The African Union at 50 hereThis year Africa celebrates 50 years of collective action: first through the Organisation of African Unity (OAU) and more recently the African Union (AU).

Mon, 20/05/2013

Promoting peace

The African Union at 50
International Alert
May, 2013
International Alert
6 pages
London, UK
978-1-909578-14-2

This year Africa celebrates 50 years of collective action: first through the Organisation of African Unity (OAU) and more recently the African Union (AU). This is also a critical juncture in African history: the post-colonial period is over and the African Renaissance is underway; economic growth has been steady for a decade; and the number of wars and coups d’état has declined. However, Africans still face many challenges. This paper examines how the AU can enhance its contribution to sustainable peace. This is part of our Peace Focus series.

This paper examines how the African Union, which celebrates its 50th anniversary this year, can enhance its contribution to sustainable peace. This is part of our Peace Focus series.

Publication Image

New Deal - real deal?

A blog by our Secretary General

In both low and middle income countries, well established arguments and solid evidence confirm that there is no real development without peace and only the peace of the graveyard without development. These conclusions have shifted the fulcrum of discussion about development over the past several years. But they have not yet added up to telling anybody how to do it.

Thu, 18/04/2013

Oil, governance and livelihoods

The impact of oil exploration in Uganda’s oil-rich Albetine Graben

Last week we launched a new report, Governance and livelihoods in Uganda’s oil-rich Albertine Graben.

Robert Esuruku – Head of Research, Uganda
Wed, 03/04/2013

Governance and livelihoods in Uganda's oil-rich Albertine Graben

International Alert
March, 2013
International Alert
60 pages
London, UK
978-1-906677-38-1

This study was commissioned by International Alert and the Democratic Governance Facility in March 2012. It was carried out in the Albertine Graben, where oil exploration activities are ongoing. The study was conducted within the framework of the Harnessing the Potential of Oil to Contribute to Peace and Development in Uganda project, which is currently being implemented by International Alert and its partners.

This report measures the degree and quality of change in the livelihoods of the communities in Uganda's Albertine Graben region, where oil exploration is taking place.

Publication Image

The power of dialogue

How community discourse is healing wounds in Rwanda

Photo by Carol Allen Storey for International AlertAn innovative project in Rwanda is helping to heal old wounds by bringing genocide survivors, ex-combatants, ex-prisoners and the youth together through dialogue.

Betty Mutesi
Tue, 26/03/2013

Crisis in Mali

A peacebuilding approach

Mali refugees collecting water in Niger, July 2012. Photo by Sean SmithOur new paper, Crisis in Mali, looks at what a peacebuilding approach to the conflict in the country could look like.

Katrine Høyer
Wed, 20/03/2013

Crisis in Mali

A peacebuilding approach
Katrine Høyer
March, 2013
International Alert
6 pages
London, UK
978-1-909578-02-9

While there are several narratives about Mali, the one currently dominating the agenda concerns the capture of Mali’s north by radicals and the perceived ungovernability of that region as a result of the lack of governance, and state complicity with criminal groups which in turn was exploited by well-armed, equipped and trained international terrorist groups.

The crisis in Mali is currently being defined by far too many commentators in terms of security for Western citizens, and realpolitik is dominating the agenda. In this paper we will discuss what a peacebuilding approach to the conflict in Mali could look like.

Publication Image

Democratic Republic of Congo: New peace framework requires shared vision

Maria Lange blogs for The Huffington Post

Article published on 28th February 2013, The Huffington Post

The latest agreement for peace in eastern Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) offers a fresh and much needed glimmer of hope for ordinary Congolese citizens suffering from two decades of violence.

Maria Lange
Wed, 06/03/2013

Celebrate International Women's Day

Will you help the women of Burundi to recover from conflict?

 

The civil war in Burundi led to the death of 300,000 people and the displacement of 1 million more. Now with an influx of people returning, the road to recovery truly begins. Moving on from conflict means the rebuilding of lives after the trauma of violence, dealing with the death of loved ones and returning home to find land and homes repossessed.

Selena Mirams
Thu, 28/02/2013

Heads of state sign DRC peace deal

Alert's response

 

Massimo Fusato
Sun, 24/02/2013

Gender and peacebuilding - research in northern Uganda

Gender-relational approaches to peacebuilding in the Acholi Region

In northern Uganda, the Acholi communities are settling back into their villages after years of insecurity and internal displacement as a result of the conflict between the Lord’s Resistance Army (LRA) and the Ugandan government.  The conflict, displacement and return process had different impacts on men, women, boys and girls. The consequences of this require gender-relational approaches to peacebuilding.

Jana Naujoks
Thu, 21/02/2013

Call for a genuine peace process in the DRC and the Great Lakes region

Press release

For years the international community has attempted to help stabilize Eastern DRC, at the expense of billions of dollars, yet sustainable peace remains elusive. Elections in November 2011 were widely seen as lacking credibility1 and provincial and local elections have been delayed indefinitely. There has been scant progress on critical reforms in justice, security, land and governance. Successive military campaigns have failed to remove foreign and domestic armed groups and have increased the population’s suffering causing large scale displacement.

Thu, 14/02/2013
Syndicate content