Africa

Regional approaches to conflict prevention in Africa

European support to African processes
Lindsay Alexander
Adam Higazi
James Mackie
Javier Niño-Perez
Andrew Sherriff
October, 2003
European Centre for Development Policy Management
12 pages
London, UK

This In Brief article exams EU policy on conflict prevention and the instruments at the Union's disposal, exploring how these instruments can be used to support African initiatives to counter conflict. This article is available in French.

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Small Arms Control in West Africa (MISAC)

Adedeji Ebo
November, 2003
International Alert
56 pages
London, UK
1-898702-35-0

This report is an overview of illicit small arms and light weapons (SALW) proliferation in West Africa, focusing on the implementation of sub-regional control instruments. In this regard, the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) Moratorium on the Importation, Exportation and Manufacture of Small Arms and Light Weapons in West Africa (ECOWAS Moratorium) stands out as the main platform on which arms control in the sub-region is based.

 

This report is an overview of illicit small arms and light weapons (SALW) proliferation in West Africa, focusing on the implementation of sub-regional control instruments. In this regard, the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) Moratorium on the Importation, Exportation and Manufacture of Small Arms and Light Weapons in West Africa (ECOWAS Moratorium) stands out as the main platform on which arms control in the sub-region is based.

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Enhancing the Capacity of Women Leaders of Community Organisations to Contribute Towards Peace Building in the Niger Delta region of Nigeria

Amina Salihu
Emem Okon
Ndeye Sow
January, 2004
International Alert
34 pages
London, UK

This report documents the processes and outcomes of a needs assessment carried out with women in the Niger Delta region of Nigeria between the 12th and 20th of July 2002. The Niger Delta region has been subject to a three-pronged conflict between communities, oil companies and the Nigerian government, as well as facing conflict within communities.

This report documents the processes and outcomes of a needs assessment carried out with women in the Niger Delta region of Nigeria between the 12th and 20th July 2002 - part of a project to build the capacities of women leaders to contribute towards a non-violent resolution of conflict.

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Strategising for Peace and Social Justice in West Africa

Nana K. A. Busia
January, 2004
International Alert
32 pages
London, UK
1-898702-40-3

The West Africa Programme at International Alert (IA) has been actively working with partners from the region for many years in seeking to transform conflicts in the area through projects that contribute to bringing about social justice and peace. We are very much aware that other actors have also played a role in conflict transformation in the region. This overview is designed to provide an insight into the history of IA’s work there, particularly since the inception of the West Africa Programme in 1998.

This is an overview of International Alert's work in West Africa.

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What Role for Oil Majors in Supporting Sustainable Peace and Development in Angola? A Survey of Stakeholder Perspectives

Jessica Banfield
Phil Champain
February, 2004
International Alert
24 pages
London, UK
1-898702-39-X

Introduction

This report presents the findings of a consultative research project examining the potential of oil majors to support peace in Angola. It looks in particular at oil companies’ relations with stakeholders, and argues that frequent and meaningful engagement with all stakeholders is essential for enabling business to become conflict-sensitive and to fulfill its peacebuilding potential.

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Small Arms Control in Ghana, Nigeria and Senegal (MISAC)

Christiane Agboton-Johnson
Adedeji Ebo
Laura Mazal
March, 2004
International Alert
50 pages
London, UK

This report seeks to document governmental and civil society activity in Ghana, Nigeria and Senegal with regard to the control of SALW. The case studies provide an overview of the main sources of SALW proliferation. The report also aims to assess the current national legislation on SALW, the implementation of SALW control policies, as well as the role of national governmental and nongovernmental structures in addressing the issue of SALW proliferation in the three countries.

This report seeks to document governmental and civil society activity in Ghana, Nigeria and Senegal with regard to the control of SALW.

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Natural Resource Exploitation and Human Security in the Democratic Republic of Congo

Seminar Report
International Alert
Pole Institute
June, 2004
International Alert, Pole Institute
24 pages
London, UK
1-898702-51-9

The Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) is immensely rich in natural resources but its people are among the poorest in the world. This paradox is both cause and effect of the brutal exploitation of the country’s resources that has taken place since King Leopold, and that has fuelled such violent and devastating conflict.

The report is organised in three parts: first, summaries of the seminar presentations and plenary discussions; then analysis of the issues discussed and some conclusions; lastly a sketch of relevant policy actors and processes, with a view to further research and advocacy.

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International Companies and Post-Conflict Reconstruction

Cross-Sectoral Comparisons
John Bray
February, 2005
Conflict Prevention & Reconstruction Unit, Social Development Department, The World Bank
64 pages
London, UK

The role of international companies in post-conflict reconstruction is an essential complement to the work of international aid agencies. However, if policy-makers are to secure the maximum benefits from private investment, they need to understand how different companies and sectors view opportunity and risk, and find ways to assess their overall impact in post-conflict settings.

In development circles, the debate about the role of business in conflict-affected regions has tended to focus on petroleum and mining. This paper begins with a review of the extractive industries, but then broadens the discussion to discuss three other sectors: mobile phones, construction and commercial banks. It cites examples from Afghanistan, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Iraq, Somalia, Sierra Leone and Timor- Leste.

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Women's Bodies as a Battleground

Sexual Violence Against Women and Girls During the War in the Democratic Republic of Congo, South Kivu (1996-2003)
International Alert
Réseau des Femmes pour un Développement Associatif, Réseau des Femmes pour la Défense des Droits
April, 2005
International Alert
72 pages
London, UK
1-898702-60-8

Combatants on all sides of the conflict in Eastern DRC have been using sexual violence purposefully asa weapon of war. Acts of sexual violence continue to be committed with unprecedented cruelty, the perpetrators inflicting the most humiliating and degrading treatment on their victims that they can devise. This report is based on interviews with 492 women and 50 soldiers in Eastern DRC. It documents the violation of women's human rights during the war and examines the socio-cultural roots of this violence and the different forms it takes.

This report documents the violation of women's human rights during the war in Eastern DRC and examines the socio-cultural roots of this violence and the different forms it takes.

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Changing Fortunes

Women's Economic Opportunities in Post-War Northern Uganda
International Alert
September, 2010
International Alert
56 pages
London, UK
ISBN: 978-1-906677-66-4

The five years of relative peace in Northern Uganda has enabled the majority of former Internally Displaced Persons to return to their home areas and begin rebuilding their lives. During and after the long war in Northern Uganda, women have emerged as critical economic actors, taking advantage of economic opportunities to secure their families’ livelihood, security and advancement.

This report explores dynamics in the peace economy in northern Uganda, with a focus on women’s economic and political status, and the extent to which government and development partner recovery interventions are sensitive to these issues.

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The Current State of Diamond Mining in the Mano River Basin and the Use of Diamonds as a Tool for Peacebuilding and Development

International Alert
June, 2006
International Alert
58 pages
London, UK

Based on a series of visits to working diamond mines, interviews with diggers, mine owners, traders, exporters, government officials and NGOs, the report describes the current state of the diamond industry in West Africa, providing both an overview of the sub-region and detailed analysis of each country.

This report describes the current state of the diamond industry in West Africa and possible ways of using diamonds as a tool for development, rather than a fuel for conflict.

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Report on the proceedings of the Diamonds for Development Sub-Regional Conference

International Alert
June, 2006
International Alert
19 pages
London, UK

This conference was convened within the framework of the Diamonds for Development initiative (D4D), which focuses on the sustainable use of revenue from mineral resources for the purposes of development. It was organised by the Government of Liberia in partnership with UNDP Liberia and International Alert with the objective of identifying ways to ensure that the alluvial diamond sector contributes to sustainable peace and development in the Mano River Basin sub-region.

Report on the proceedings of the Diamonds for Development Sub-Regional Conference.

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Peacebuilding in The Great Lakes

Challenges and Opportunities for the EU in the DRC
Charlotte Vaillant
September, 2006
International Alert
42 pages
London, UK
1-898702-82-9

Produced as part of the EU-funded Conflict Prevention Partnership, this paper analyses the context in which the European Union uses its external relations instruments to address security issues, promote legitimate and effective governance, and support economic recovery and regional integration, in the DRC. Consultations in the region and in the EU, as well as meetings held in Kinshasa in September 2006 with local officials, civil society and international diplomats have been used to develop recommendations and suggest possible avenues under each theme.

This paper analyses the context in which the European Union uses its external relations instruments to address security issues, promote legitimate and effective governance, and support economic recovery and regional integration, in the DRC.

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Conflict-Sensitive Business Practice: Guidance for Extractive Industries

International Alert
March, 2005
International Alert
195 pages
London, UK
1-898702-65-9

This is a set of tools for companies concerned about improving their impact on host countries to begin thinking more creatively about understanding and minimising conflict risk, and actively contributing to peace. It consists of guidance on doing business in societies at risk of conflict for field managers working across a range of business activities, as well as headquarters staff in political risk, security, external relations and social performance departments. It provides information on understanding conflict risk through a series of practical documents.

This is a set of tools for companies concerned about improving their impact on host countries to begin thinking more creatively about understanding and minimising conflict risk, and actively contributing to peace. It consists of guidance on doing business in societies at risk of conflict for field managers working across a range of business activities, as well as headquarters staff in political risk, security, external relations and social performance departments.

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The UN Peacebuilding Commission: A Chance to Build Peace More Effectively

The Case of Burundi
International Alert
October, 2006
International Alert
14 pages
London, UK

Set up during 2006 with peacebuilding as its sole objective, the UN Peacebuilding Commission has the potential to use its intergovernmental voice to focus attention on the factors that could drive a renewal of conflict. In this light, Alert submitted recommendations in late 2006 on how the PBC could most effectively orientate its short and long-term support to the process of improving security and sustaining peace, for men and women, in Burundi. More widely, this publication also looks at the main challenges for the PBC and how it should focus its activities.

Recommendations on how the UN Peacebuilding Commission (PBC) could most effectively orientate its short and long-term support for men and women in Burundi.

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