Africa

Climate-proof reintegration of ex-combatants in Liberia

A comprehensive approach to peacebuilding

In Liberia, the process of recovery from war includes encouraging both ex-combatants and former IDPs to return to their place of origin and resume their lives there. There are many difficulties, not least the reluctance of some excombatants to go and to stay, and the reluctance of some communities to accept them back.

Janani Vivekanda
Mon, 14/12/2009

Terre, Pouvoir et Identité

Les Causes Profondes des Violents Conflits dans l’Est de la République Démocratique du Congo
Chris Huggins
November, 2010
International Alert
52 pages
London, UK
978-1-906677-81-7

Cette étude examine l’accès, l’utilisation et la gestion des terres et leurs rapports avec les causes premières de conflit au Nord- et Sud-Kivu et en Ituri. Elle a pour objectif de mettre en évidence

This study identifies disputed control over land as a root cause of conflict in the Eastern Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC). The report focuses on conflicts between customary and state-run land tenure systems, as well as claims by some communities to “indigenous” status which are used to relegate others to “migrant” or “foreigner” status. Waves of population displacement have created overlapping claims to land, and an ongoing process of refugee return is currently increasing tensions over these claims in parts of Eastern DRC. The report examines efforts to manage this return process and offers recommendations for action by local and international actors.

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The Complexity of Resource Governance in a Context of State Fragility

An Analysis of the Mining Sector in the Kivu Hinterlands
Steven Spittaels
November, 2010
International Alert
68 pages
London, UK
978-1-906677-71-8

Informal mining and illicit trading of minerals has long been associated with violent conflicts in the Kivu provinces of eastern Congo. Coltan from the Kivus became particularly well known around the world at the turn of the century because of its use in the manufacture of mobile phones. Gold, which has soared in value as a result of the global financial crisis, also comes in significant quantities from these provinces and the adjacent district of Ituri. The sites in the Kivus and Ituri are now well known and have been mapped.

Analysis of the mining sector in the Kivu Hinterlands and identifies mining sites, transport means and the export routes that operate mainly though the commercial centres of Bukavu, Goma and Butembo.

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Women, Elections and Violence in West Africa

Assessing Women's Political Participation in Liberia and Sierra Leone
Tim Kellow
December, 2010
International Alert
40 pages
London, UK
978-1-906677-82-4

Despite notable positive developments in many post-conflict countries in Africa, women’s representation in the parliaments of Liberia and Sierra Leone remains low and elections are still a considerable source of tension. This paper draws on local views to provide a largely qualitative assessment of the current state of women’s political participation in the two countries ahead of their forthcoming elections. It initially identifies the expanding opportunities for women that have emerged since conflict ended and shows how accompanying trends affect their greater participation.

Despite notable positive developments in many post-conflict countries in Africa, women’s representation in the parliaments of Liberia and Sierra Leone remains low and elections are still a considerable source of tension. This paper draws on local views to provide a largely qualitative assessment of the current state of women’s political participation in the two countries, Liberia and Sierra Leone, ahead of their forthcoming elections.

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Land, Power and Identity

Roots of violent conflict in Eastern DRC
Chris Huggins
November, 2010
International Alert
52 pages
London, UK
978-1-906677-80-0

This study identifies disputed control over land as a root cause of conflict in the Eastern Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC). The report focuses on conflicts between customary and state-run land tenure systems, as well as claims by some communities to “indigenous” status which are used to relegate others to “migrant” or “foreigner” status. Waves of population displacement have created overlapping claims to land, and an ongoing process of refugee return is currently increasing tensions over these claims in parts of Eastern DRC.

This study identifies disputed control over land as a root cause of conflict in the Eastern Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), focusing on the complex interplay of ethnic identity, acccess to land and access to power.

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Mediation during Guinean elections

Empowering Guineans to prevent and resolve election-related conflicts

As the people of Guinea were preparing to go to the polls to cast their vote to elect their president on 27th June 2010, the West Africa programme in collaboration with the Mediation Support Project – a joint venture between swisspeace and the Center for Security Studies (ETH-Zurich) – ran four mediation training workshops during May 2010 in N’zérékoré, Conakry, Labe and Kankan.

West Africa Team
Mon, 28/06/2010

Election violence in Burundi

International Alert and women get together for peace

Since May 2010, Burundi has embarked in a marathon electoral season, with five successive elections (at district, presidential, legislative, and village level) over a period of five months.

In the district elections on May 24th, the ruling party won a landslide victory. Despite some minor irregularities, international and national election observers stated the elections were largely fair, while opposition parties claimed they were fraudulent and withdrew from the election process.

Great Lakes Team
Sat, 28/08/2010

International Alert in Sierra Leone

Building long-term sustainable peace

In just two years’ time, elections in Sierra Leone will mark a decade since the end of the bloody civil war. Since the war was officially declared over, there have been some notable achievements. The country’s first peaceful and democratic handover of power from one political party to another took place in 2007. Free health care for all pregnant and breastfeeding women has been introduced to combat Sierra Leone’s alarming maternal mortality rate.

West Africa Team
Tue, 28/09/2010

Supporting local communities dealing with land conflicts in Ituri, North-East Congo

A manual by Alert and Réseau Haki na Amani

International Alert and Réseau Haki na Amani, a Congolese NGO, have recently published a manual in order to support local communities dealing with land conflicts in Ituri, a North-eastern district of the Democratic Republic of Congo.

Aurélien Tobie
Mon, 25/10/2010

Changing gender norms is essential for peacebuilding in Congo

Chris Dolan is interviewed by the Guardian

Chris Dolan, director of the Refugee Law Project in Uganda, has recently been conducting research for International Alert for an upcoming report on sexual violence in eastern Congo. In this interview he concluded democracy is not possible in the eastern Congo without big changes in relations between men and women. Article published on 20th October 2010, Guardian.

Judy El Bushra
Thu, 28/10/2010

Local mediation in the recent elections in Guinea

Seizing opportunities for peaceful change

Background

The Republic of Guinea in West Africa is rich in natural resources, but its people remain poor. Guineans have endured decades of autocratic governance, but they currently have an opportunity to turn a new corner towards a more democratic future. International Alert has worked there for the past few years, helping Guineans seize this opportunity for change and with a particular focus on holding dialogues where people can discuss and envisage practical ways forward.

Oumar Baldet
Sun, 28/11/2010

La Traversée

Petit Commerce et Amélioration des relations transfrontalières entre Goma (RD Congo) et Gisenyi (Rwanda)
Celestin Kimanuka
Maria Lange
June, 2010
International Alert
44 pages
London, UK
978-1-906677-63-3

Le petit commerce de produits vivriers (légumes, fruits etc.) entre la Province du Nord Kivu de la RDC (Goma) et la Province de l’Ouest du Rwanda (Gisenyi) est très important. Le petit
commerce transfrontalier est défini comme « activité commerciale génératrice de revenus dont la valeur des transactions commerciales journalières ne dépasse pas 100 dollars américains (USD) par commerçant ».

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Socio-Economic Reintegration Of Ex-Combatants

Understanding And Addressing Key Challenges
Charlotte Watson
December, 2009
International Alert
24 pages
London, UK
978-1-906677-60-2

International Alert is seeking to build on previous initiatives to inform and advance EU thinking on the reintegration of ex-combatants into post-conflict societies and economies. This is the second of two briefing papers produced as part of a year-long initiative aimed at reinvigorating the debate on reintegration. Based on research in Burundi, Liberia and Nepal, it discusses why the lessons of past reintegration programmes are not being learned and what implications this has for future EU disarmament, demobilisation and reintegration (DDR) programming.

This paper discusses why the lessons of past reintegration programmes in Burundi, Liberia and Nepal are not being learned and what implications this has for future EU disarmament, demobilisation and reintegration (DDR) programming.

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Governance of Natural Resources in São Tomé and Príncipe

A Case Study on Oversight and Transparency of Oil Revenues
Janet Murdock
November, 2009
International Alert
6 pages
London, UK
N/A

This case study, commissioned by International Alert, examines the governance of natural
resources in São Tomé and Príncipe by focusing on the management, oversight and
transparency mechanisms or structures set up to monitor oil revenues since 2007. The study
explores the activities, challenges and social communication strategies of these oil-related
bodies from 2007 through 2009, identifying problems areas and analysing if and how these
problems are linked to larger social dynamics, and how they could be exacerbated by the

This case study examines the governance of natural resources in São Tomé and Príncipe, focusing on the management, oversight and transparency mechanisms or structures set up to monitor oil revenues since 2007.

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Building Peace, Security & Development in Africa: Taking Forward European Union (EU) Commitments to Conflict Prevention

International Alert, Saferworld
February, 2003
International Alert, Saferworld
4 pages
London, UK

Africahas suffered a total of one third of global armed conflicts over the past decade. The bottom 27 countries in the UNDP’s human development index are African and there are an estimated 6.1 million refugees and 20 million internally displaced persons across the continent. Now, more than ever, an effective EU-Africa partnership is required to address the underlying and proximate causes of conflict, insecurity, instability and underdevelopment to effect a demonstrative, positive and sustainable impact on the ground.

This is a briefing by Saferworld and International Alert to the EU-Africa Summit 2003 in Lisbon

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