Lacunas e Necessidades na Prevenção de Conflitos, Consolidação da Paz, Mecanismos e Estruturas de Alerta Precoce e de Mediação no Gana e nas suas Áreas Fronteiriças
Apesar de um ambiente geral de paz,
State structures for peace and conflict prevention, as well as for managing peace and resolving ethnic, political and religious differences, have helped to maintain peace and stability in Ghana (UNDP, 2022). One of these structures is the National Peace Council (NPC), with structures at the regional (Regional Peace Councils) and district (District Peace Advisory Councils) levels (Home-National Peace Council, Ghana, 2024).
The Consortium partners of the Research and Action for Peace Network (REcAP) project are soliciting proposals from certified Consultancy Firms/Independent Consultants to conduct a Mid-Term Evaluation of the REcAP Project aimed at reviewing the project performance using the OECD/DAC criteria (relevance, consistency, effectiveness, efficiency, impact and sustainability), and also in line with the DAC Evaluation Quality Standards.
Les partenaires du consortium du projet Réseau de recherche et d’action pour la paix (REcAP) sollicitent des propositions de la part de cabinets de conseil certifiés/consultants indépendants pour réaliser une évaluation à mi-parcours du projet REcAP. Celle-ci vise à examiner les performances du projet en se référant aux critères OCDE/DAC (pertinence, cohérence, efficacité, efficience, impact et durabilité), et également en conformité avec les DAC Evaluation Quality Standards.
O documento de trabalho analisa os crimes transfronteiriços no eixo Sokoto-Zamfara-Katsina da fronteira entre a Nigéria e o Níger. Este território fronteiriço em particular constitui um microcosmo dos desafios multifacetados associados aos crimes transfronteiriços, proporcionando uma visão inestimável dos problemas mais amplos com que a região do Sahel se confronta ao abordar tais atividades, tanto a nível regional como internacional.
From 23 to 25 May 2024, the REcAP Network, organised a three-day capacity building workshop at Dalaba Eco-lodge in Gunjur, The Gambia. Funded by the European Union, the workshop aimed to enhance participants’ knowledge on peacebuilding, conflict prevention, and violent extremism. The key objectives were to identify peace and security concerns in Gunjur and surrounding communities, equip civil society organisations with relevant information on conflict management, and promote coexistence in communities, organisations, and workplaces.
Participants included civil society organisation (CSO) members, local government officials, traditional leaders, religious leaders, women, persons with disabilities, youth leaders, and academics. The workshop employed a participant-centred approach, encouraging inclusive and effective discussions.
Over the course of three days, participants engaged in technical presentations, question-and-answer sessions, role plays, and case studies. Presentations covered concepts of peace, violence, and conflict, exploring peace and security challenges faced by CSOs and CBOs in Gunjur. Key challenges identified included land disputes, sand mining, youth unemployment, depletion of natural resources, drug misuse and trafficking, inadequate land policies, and slow implementation of laws.
Participants also examined conflict sensitivity, conflict mapping, dialogue, communication, and negotiation. Group discussions and brainstorming sessions provided insights into conflict manifestations and peacebuilding processes. The workshop covered conflict resolution mechanisms, negotiation and mediation concepts, and indigenous conflict resolution methods, allowing participants to identify conflicts and propose solutions.
The workshop concluded with recommendations for follow-up exercises to sustain the momentum. The capacity building workshop in Gunjur is a significant step towards equipping local leaders and organisations with the tools needed for effective peacebuilding and conflict prevention.
Gunjur, The Gambia, 22 June 2024 – The Research and Action for Peace Network (RecAP), with funding from the European Union, organised a one-day community dialogue in Gunjur. The event brought together 15 participants from Gunjur and its surrounding areas, including traditional communicators, religious leaders, local authorities, women, and youths. The dialogue focused on documenting barriers and challenges to peaceful coexistence and social cohesion.
With support from the European Union (EU), the Research and Action for Peace (REcAP) Network organised a three-day capacity-building workshop in Ganta City, Nimba County, Liberia, from 4 to 6 July 2024. This workshop aimed to equip 20 participants with the knowledge, skills, and tools necessary to address and mitigate conflicts, prevent violent extremism, manage crises, and promote peaceful coexistence and social cohesion in their communities and workplaces in Nimba County.
Executive summary: Ce document de travail analyse les crimes transfrontaliers dans l’axe Sokoto-Zamfara-Katsina de la frontière entre le Nigeria et le Niger. Cette enclave frontalière particulière constitue un microcosme des défis à multiples facettes associés à la criminalité transfrontalière, offrant un aperçu inestimable des problèmes plus vastes auxquels la région du Sahel est confrontée dans la lutte contre ces activités au niveau régional et international.
L’étude a adopté une approche qualitative, en utilisant des analyses documentaires, des discussions de groupe et des entretiens avec des informateurs clés. Les résultats mettent en évidence la manière dont les réseaux criminels exploitent la porosité des frontières pour se livrer à des activités criminelles transfrontalières allant de la contrebande de marchandises, de drogues et d’armes à la traite des êtres humains. Cette recrudescence de l’activité criminelle pose des défis importants à la sécurité des frontières et à la stabilité régionale en général, en exacerbant le banditisme armé et d’autres activités illicites dans les communautés frontalières.
L’analyse des mécanismes de partenariat révèle des lacunes dans la coordination entre les services répressifs, tant du côté nigérian que du côté nigérien de la frontière, aggravées par l’insuffisance des ressources. L’engagement limité de la communauté entrave encore davantage la collaboration dans la lutte contre la criminalité transfrontalière. Parallèlement, des facteurs socio-économiques et géopolitiques, tels que la pauvreté, le chômage et la faiblesse des structures de gouvernance, apparaissent comme des facteurs clés de la prévalence de ces crimes.
L’évaluation des cadres juridiques et des instruments politiques révèle des lacunes dans la gestion de la criminalité transfrontalière, soulignant le besoin urgent d’une réforme juridique globale et d’une amélioration des politiques. Malgré le rôle essentiel joué par les communautés locales dans les efforts de sécurisation des frontières, elles ne sont généralement pas sensibilisées aux initiatives de prévention de la criminalité et n’y participent donc que de manière limitée. Cela souligne l’importance de développer des stratégies visant à renforcer la participation de la communauté, telles que la police de proximité et les campagnes de sensibilisation.
Le document conclut en proposant une approche à multiples facettes pour réduire la criminalité transfrontalière, avec des recommandations comprenant l’organisation d’ateliers pour éduquer les communautés, la formation d’ONG locales, la mise en place de technologies de surveillance des frontières, la poursuite d’efforts intégrés de lutte contre le terrorisme, la garantie d’efforts concertés pour relever les défis socio-économiques, la promotion de la collaboration entre les différentes parties prenantes, le plaidoyer en faveur de la réforme et de l’application des politiques, la promotion de projets de développement menés par les communautés et la recherche d’une assistance auprès d’organisations internationales pour s’attaquer aux causes profondes et suivre les progrès réalisés.
Auteur: Dr Abubakar Sama’Ila.
Executive summary: The working paper analyses cross-border crimes in the Sokoto–Zamfara–Katsina axis of the Nigeria–Niger borderlands. This particular border enclave provides a microcosm of the multi-faceted challenges associated with cross-border crimes, affording invaluable insights into the broader issues confronting the Sahel region in addressing such activities at both a regional and international level.
The study employed a qualitative approach, utilizing desk reviews alongside focus group discussions and key informant interviews. Findings highlight how criminal networks exploit porous borders to engage in cross-border crimes ranging from the smuggling of goods, drugs and arms to human trafficking. This surge in criminal activity presents significant challenges to border security and overall regional stability, exacerbating armed banditry and other illicit activities in border communities.
Analysis of partnership mechanisms exposes shortfalls in coordination between law enforcement agencies on both the Nigerian and Nigerien sides of the border, compounded by inadequate resources. Limited community engagement further impedes collaboration in addressing cross-border crime. Meanwhile, socio-economic and geopolitical factors—such as poverty, unemployment and weak governance structures—emerge as key contributors to the prevalence of these crimes.
Evaluation of legal frameworks and policy instruments reveals deficiencies in managing cross-border crime, emphasizing the urgent need for comprehensive legal reform and policy enhancements. Despite the essential role played by local communities in border security efforts, they generally lack awareness of crime prevention initiatives, and so have limited involvement. This points to the importance of developing strategies to enhance community participation, such as community policing and conducting awareness campaigns.
Top of Form
The paper concludes by proposing a multi-faceted approach to curbing cross-border crime, with recommendations including organizing workshops to educate communities; training local NGOs; establishing border surveillance technology; pursuing integrated counter-terrorism efforts; ensuring concerted efforts to address socio-economic challenges; fostering collaboration between various stakeholders; advocating for policy reform and enforcement; promoting community-led development projects; and seeking assistance from international organizations to address root causes and monitor progress.
Author : Dr Abubakar Sama’Ila.