Building paths to peace: Bo Peace and Reconciliation Movement
Women join together to prepare food for a community celebration in Georma-Jargo, Sowa chiefdom.
Paramount Chief Alhaji George Gbanyei Njibo II is now an active member of Niawa-Lenga chiefdom's Peace and Reconciliation Committee. Photos © Rosalind Hanson-Alp
Bringing change to the chiefdom
One of the common challenges faced by BPRM throughout their work is gaining the commitment of individuals and communities without a financial incentive to be trained as voluntary peace monitors. When BPRM first enter a dispute encouraging communities to participate in ‘new’ methods of peacebuilding sometimes people respond by saying “this is not how our grandfathers worked” and questioning the need for improved methods of reconciliation.
As a rule, BPRM will only enter a situation if both communities and their leaders agree to their intervention. Traditionally, negotiating and settling community disputes is the responsibility of the elders and chiefs who preside over local courts and determine penalties. This system however, has been fraught with challenges. Some chiefs and elders have been biased in their judgements, particularly when they have been personally involved in the dispute and have benefited financially from the ‘old’ system of court rulings. To some, therefore, the work of BPRM can appear as a conflict of interest.
Despite these challenges, BPRM persevere in bringing conflicting parties to the table. Crucial to the process of negotiation is the selection of voluntary peace monitors who will form a Chiefdom Peace and Reconciliation Committee (CPRC) and be guided through the process of mediating their conflict. Rather than blaming those who are at the heart of the conflict, BPRM bring them into the process of finding an amicable solution as part of the CPRC.
Joseph Zombie, a voluntary peace monitor, has seen the benefits. “BPRM taught us not to tell people they are wrong. They do not point fingers and say you are wrong, they will talk to each person and ask questions. Through this process people see where they have gone wrong and admit their faults.” When the antagonists become the mediators, genuine peace is sustained.
Paramount Chief Alhaji George Gbanyei Njibo II was a key part of the
conflict in Niawa-Lenga chiefdom and is now an active member of their
CPRC and deeply grateful to BPRM for their help in bringing peace among
his people.
“The year the peace came to my chiefdom, we approved
the building of a community barrie and later a primary and secondary
school. I know that BPRM are a blessing because if someone can bring
two sides in conflict together, join them, eat together, that somebody
is blessed.”
