East and Central Africa

Can the London conference on Somalia get it right?

Camel traders
Can the London conference on Somalia succeed this time where others have failed? After a year in which large swathes of Somalia have been hit by famine and continued war, and international militarisation has markedly increased, the UK government’s initiative to host an international conference on Somalia on 23 February is welcome. But lessons must be learnt from past mistakes. Ahead of the conference, Mark Bradbury makes the case that support should be given to local Somali-led solutions that promote legitimacy and participation.

The Voice of Peace: Grassroots news and opinions on the LRA conflict (2013)

Apr 2013

News and views from areas affected by the Lord’s Resistance Army in Central African Republic (CAR), Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), South Sudan and Uganda.

Find out about our partners in the Regional Civil Society Network who produce this bi-monthly newsletter to share with their communities.

Military action against LRA rebels risks new wave of retaliations, charities warn

In this joint press release, Conciliation Resources, Oxfam, Cafod and Christian Aid, along with 10 local organisations, stress that renewed military action against the Lord’s Resistance Army (LRA) risks triggering further devastation for local people in DR of Congo, Central African Republic, and South Sudan unless more is done to protect civilians and prevent retaliations by one of Africa’s most brutal rebel groups.

Central African Republic: Peace talks without talks. A new model of perpetuating violent conflicts?

UNHCR warns of risks to civilians in Central African Republic as refugee numbers rise. Some of those previously displaced by the conflict are pictured. ©UNHCR/H.Caux
In January 2013 it took just three days for the Seleka Coalition and the Government of the Central African Republic to reach a peace agreement. Kennedy Tumutegyereize and Nicolas Tillon of Conciliation Resources' East and Central Africa programme analyse what the prospects are for sustainable peace without wide public participation.

Crisis in the Democratic Republic of Congo requires a comprehensive response

A girl cycles through a camp for internally displaced people (IDP) in Dungu, DRC
Over the past year the security situation in eastern DRC has deteriorated significantly as military and armed group activity and ethnic tensions have increased. Conciliation Resources, as part of a group of 19 local and international organisations, is calling for strengthened international oversight and commitment to peace.

Case study: Somalia

Accord Insight: Women building peace
Mar 2013
As part of a set of case studies shedding light on the role of women in peacebuilding, Faiza Jama's article is taken from Accord issue 21 (2010), focusing on Somalia.

Case study: Sudan

Accord Insight: Women building peace
Mar 2013
As part of a set of case studies shedding light on the role of women in peacebuilding, Anne Itto's article is taken from Accord issue 18 (2006), focusing on Sudan.

Case study: Angola

Accord Insight: Women building peace
Mar 2013
As part of a set of case studies shedding light on the role of women in peacebuilding, Henda Ducados's article is taken from Accord issue 15 (2004), focusing on Angola.

Case study: Northern Uganda

Accord Insight: Women building peace
Mar 2013
As part of a set of case studies shedding light on the role of women in peacebuilding, Rosalba Oywa's article is taken from Accord issue 11 (2002), focusing on Northern Uganda.

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

Feb 2013

The recent escalation of violence in the eastern Congo has displaced over 700,000 people since April 2012 and resulted in an untold number of rapes, killings and other human rights violations. The conflict is complex but the fundamental underlying causes remain the same:  poor governance, violent competition for land and natural resources, impunity for serious human rights abuses, and outside interference.

Pages

© Conciliation Resources 173 Upper Street, London N1 1RG, UK 
Tel: +44 (0)20 7359 7728  Fax: +44(0)20 7359 4081  Email: cr@c-r.org
Terms and conditions Charity registered in England and Wales (1055436)
Company limited by guarantee registered in England and Wales (03196482)