INTRODUCTION (page 3)

DAY 1 ___ KEYNOTE SPEECHES (page 5)

___ PANEL DISCUSSION (page 7)

___ WORKING SESSIONS (page 9)

DAY 2 ___ KEYNOTE SPEECHES (page 14)

___ PANEL DISCUSSION (page 15)

___ WORKING SESSIONS (page 17)

CONCLUSIONS AND RECOMMENDATIONS OF THE CONFERENCE (page 20)

APPENDICES (page 23)

TABLE OF CONTENTS

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Onthe5thandthe6thofNovemberTheHaguePeaceProjects,incoopera=onwiththeAfricanDiasporaPolicyCentre(ADPC)andtheInterna=onalIns=tuteofSocialStudies,organizedadiasporaconferenceontheGreatLakesRegioninAfrica,=tled:“RootCausesofConflictandOpportuni=esforPeace”.Duringtwodays,aroundseventypar=cipantslistenedtospeakers,joinedplenarydebatesanddiscussedinsmallworkinggroups.

Theorganizersaimedtofacilitatetheposi=veandeffec=vecontribu=onofdiasporacommuni=esfromRwanda,Uganda,BurundiandDRCongo,livinginTheNetherlands,tothepeaceprocessintheirregionoforigin.Bywayofopendiscussionanddialogue,peoplefromdifferentdiasporabackgroundsreflectedonthecontextoftheconflictinTheGreatLakesRegion.Throughsharingtheirknowledgeandexper=se,theywereabletoanalyzethemainobstaclestosustainablepeace.Togethertheyhaveformulatedpossibili=esonhowtheseobstaclescouldbeovercomeandhowtheythemselvescouldbecomeengagedinthispeacebuildingprocess.

INTRODUCTION

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DAY 1

Duringthefirstday,theconferencefocusedonthesubjectof‘rootcausesofconflict’.Theideawastostartwithaverygeneralintroduc=ontoconflictstudies,thentozoominontheconflictintheGreatLakesRegion,andfinallytohaveawitnesstellabouthispersonalexperiencesduringhislifeinthemiddleofthisconflict.

1. ROOT CAUSES OF CONFLICT

JagodaPaukovic

JagodaPaukovicisanindependentconsultantonpeacebuildingandgender.Inherkeynotespeechshegaveanoverviewofkeythemesofconflictstudies.Sheexplainedsomeofthemostcommondefini=onsof‘conflict’thatareusedwithintheacademicworldandcomparedthosedefini=onswithherownexperiencesworkinginmanydifferentcontextsofconflict:fromMyanmartoHai=,GeorgiaandDRCongo.

Paukovicstressedexplicitlytheimportanceoflookingatthemul=dimensionalityofanyconflict.Thereisatpresenthardlyanydefini=onthatcanreallycaptureeverydifferentaspectandthemul=plicityofeventsthatareatthecoreofeveryconflict.Everyscien=ficapproachofaconflictshouldthereforebeawareofitslimita=ons.Probablythebestthingonecandoinordertoreallyunderstandaconflictistosumupawholerangeofdifferentelementswhich,whenputtogether,createasitua=onthatwecall‘conflict’.Someimportantques=onstoconsiderwhilemakingananalysisofaconflictare:Whatarethe(poli=cal,economicalorcultural)mo=va=onsbehindawar?Whatroledonaturalresourcesplay?Howispoli=calpowerorganizedinasociety?Whatistheroleofthestate?Whofinancesawar?Howarethegender-rela=onsinasociety?Whatisthelocalhistoryandhowisitusedbyactorsintheconflict?Etc,etc.

Paukovicpaysspeciala`en=ontoarela=velynewconcept thatisgainingground,bothattheUNandintheacademic world:theconceptof‘HumanSecurity’.Thisconceptputs theelementaryhumanrightsandneedsatthecentreof everyapproachtoestablishsecurityandstability.Inthat senseitopposesso-called‘hardsecurity’,theapproach usedbymoststatesthatmainlyconsidersthestabilityand securityofthestate(andnotnecessarilyitinhabitants)in astrictmilitarysense.Theinteres=ngthingaboutthis conceptisthatitcrossesthelinesofwhatistradi=onallyregardedasa‘conflict’.Notonlydoesitcoversecurityissuesforthepopula=onduringarmedstruggle,butalsotheproblemsofstabilityandsecuritythatarisefromextremepoverty,exploita=on,discrimina=on(ethnic,religiousetc.),humantrafficking,climatechange,healthpandemics,interna=onalterrorism,andsuddeneconomicandfinancialdownturns.

Paukovicconcludesbystressingonceagainthatonlyaholis=capproachcouldleadustotrulyunderstandwhatcausesconflict.

1.1 KEYNOTE SPEECHES

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BenRutabana

ThesecondspeakerwasBenRutabanawhospokeabouthisownexperiencesandabouthisvisiononthecurrentsitua=on.Inamovingpersonalstory,BentoldusabouthischildhoodinRwanda.Whenhewass=llveryyoung,hesome=meshadtohideinthebushwithhisfamilyfrompeoplewhowantedtokillthem.AsaTutsiinRwanda,heexperiencedalotofdiscrimina=on,exclusionandfinallyhewitnessedgenocideagainsthispeople.Hismotherwasoneofthevic=ms.

Justbeforethat=meBenhadbeeninjailforseveralmonthsaccusedofpar=cipa=nginsubversivepoli=calac=vi=es.Fedupwithdiscrimina=on,RutabanachosetotakeuparmsandjointheranksoftheTutsiarmywhichhadbeencreatedinUganda,theRwandanPatrio=cFront(RPF).TheRPFenteredRwandaduringthegenocideof1994andtookoverpowerinthecounrty.AferthevictorybytheRPF,Benwasatfirstrelievedbecausehethoughtthatfinallyeverythingwasgoingtochangeforthebe`er.

ButsoonRutabanadiscoveredthatthenewregimehaditsowndarksides,andhadnointen=ontorulethecountryforitspeoplebutjustforthemselves.Aclearsignofthatisthewaytheyarecurrentlys=llusingtheremainsofthevic=msofthegenocideasapoli=caltoolagainsttheirenemies.Theregimechosenottoburythem,whichwouldnotonlybeappropriatebutinfactalsoanecessityaccordingtoalmosteveryAfricanbelieftogiveresttothespiritsofthedeceased.Instead,thebonesarebeingexposedinagenocidememorial.Thismonumentusesthefeelingofguiltofbothci=zensandtheinterna=onalcommunityfortheirroleinthegenocidetopreventthemformcri=cizingthecurrentregime.

ImmediatelyaferthewarRutabanaquitthearmyandcon=nuedhisfightforfreedomofRwandabymakingmusic.Becauseofhisclearandhonestsongsthatwereofencri=caloftheregime,hewasputinprisonforsixmonthsandhasbeenseverelytortured.Since2004Rutabanalivesinexile.Intheend,hedoesnotbelievethattherootcauseoftheproblemsofRwandahastobesoughtinethnicity,butratherinbadgovernance.

FilipReyntjens

ThefinalspeakerofdayonewasFilipReyntjens,professorofpoli=calscienceattheUniversityofAntwerp.InhalfanhourheclarifiedsomeoftheelementsthatheseesasrootcausesofconflictintheGreatLakesRegion.Heelaboratedthefollowingtopics:theweaknessoftheCongoleseState,theterritorialextensionofcivilwar,theconstantlyshifingalliances,thelocalandcrossborderdynamics,theprofitabilityofwar,andimpunity.

TheweaknessoftheCongolesestatehaspreventeditfrom protec=ngitseasternpartformintrusionsbyforeign armiesandrebelgroupsthatareloo=ngtheresourcesand leavingpopula=onsdevastated.Becauseoftheporous borders,civilwarsinanyoftheGreatLakesRegion countrieseasilyspreadtobecomeregionalconflicts.The clearestexampleisthefactthatthegenocideinRwanda, thefollowinginfluxofrefugeesandthemilitaryincursions bytheRPFledtothecompletecollapseoftheCongolesestate.

Reyntjensexplainedindetailsomeoftheextremecomplexi=esofconstantlychangingalliancesandagita=onsbetweennotonlytheGreatLakescountries,butalso,Angola,TanzaniaandSudanoverthepast30years.

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Ofencountriestendtoreasoninthefollowingway:“anenemyofmyenemyismyfriend”,thuscrea=ngadhocpartnershipswithothercountriesandarmedgroupstoachieveshorttermgains.Thiscreateseach=meaveryinstabilebalancethatcanturntowarformonedaytotheother.

AlsoReyntjenspointedattheprofitabilityofwarformanyactorsinvolved,mainlybecauseoftheloo=ngofmineralresourcesinvolvedinmanyofthesewars.Under‘normal’circumstances,warisacostlybusiness:allarms,salariesofsoldiersandinfrastructuretosupporttroopscostimmenseamountsofmoney.However,thedataabouttheRwandesearmyopera=onssuggestthatthecostofwarfareseemstobemorethanfullycompensatedbynetprofitsfromloo=ng.

LastlyithastobeconsideredthatallHeadsofStateintheGreatLakesRegionhaveamilitarybackgroundratherthanexperienceingoodgovernance.Theywillmoreeasilychooseformilitary‘solu=ons’thanfordiploma=candsocialarrangements.Also,noneofthemhasanyinterestinprosecu=ngwarcriminalsbecausetheycaneasilybeaccusedthemselvesofsimilarcrimes.Thiscreatesaperpetualsystemofimpunityandcon=nuanceofviolence.

InthepaneldiscussionJagodaPaukovic,BenRutabanaandFilipReyntjensallansweredonques=onsfromtheaudience.Manyques=onswereabouttheroleofthe1994genocideinRwanda,bothasacauseandaresultofconflictintheGreatLakesRegion.Belowfollowsasummaryoftheques=onsandanswers:

Q:(toBenRutabana):IsthereamovementinRwandaofpeoplewhoaremakingapointoftheexposureofthecorpsesandarewillingtoburytheirrela=ves?

A:Rutabana:Yes,therearesomepeoplewhoareadvoca=ngtheburialofthegenocidevic=ms.However,itremainsaverysensi=vethingandpeoplearealsoafraidofoffendingtheregimeinRwanda.

Q:(toBenRutabana)Whydidyoufeelthenecessitytomen=onyouareTutsi,andwhydidyouspecifyjustabouttheTutsigenocide?Isn’titcommonpolicyinRwandanottorefertoanytribalbackgroundbutjusttosimplystatethateveryoneisequallyRwandan?

A:Rutabana:ThereasonwhyIwantedtostatethatIamaTutsiisthattodayanyonewhodoesnotagreewithGovernmentisaccusedofbeingagenocide-denialist.Bysta=ngthatImyselfamaTutsiandagenocidesurvivor,noonecanmakethisaccusa=onagainstme.

Q:(toBenRutabanaandFilipReyntjens):ThecurrentRwandanregimesaysweshouldn’ttalkaboutTutsiorHutuandrefertotheen=repopula=onasbeing‘Rwandans’instead.SowhyisitnecessarytosaythatitwasaTutsi-genocide?ManyHutu’shavebeenkilledaswell.Sowhydon’twecallitaRwandangenocideagainstbothHutu’sandTutsi’s?

A:Rutabana:IknowthattherehavebeenamassacresofHutuaswellbut,donotdaretocallitagenocidebecausetherehasnotbeenenoughevidencepresentedbyscien=stsorcourtsthatcanprovethatthiswastrulyaHutugenocide.Theresimplyisn’tenoughevidenceyet.Butassoonasitcanscien=ficallyprovenIamreadytoacceptthattherewasaHutugenocideaswell.

A:Reyntjens:ThisisaverycourageousstatementbyBenandIthinkitshouldbeconsideredanexampleofhowweshouldapproachthisma`er.Intermsofdecidingwhetheryoucancallwhathappenedin1994agenocideagainstbothTutsi’sanHutu’s,Ihavetoreplyinastrictjuridicalsense.

1.2 PANEL DISCUSSION

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Theterm‘genocide’hasaveryspecificmeaning:theintenttodestroy,inwholeorinpart,ana=onal,ethnical,racialorreligiousgroupassuch.Thedefini=onofgenocideisabouttarge=ngspecificallyonegroupbyoneormoreothergroups.Soonegenocidecanbydefini=onnotbedirectedtowardstwoormoregroupsatonce.Inthatcaseoneshouldspeakofseparategenocidestakingplaceatthesame=me.InthecaseofRwanda,infactnobodydoubtstheevidenceofthegenocideagainsttheTutsi’s.TheevidenceofapossiblegenocideagainsttheHutu’sinRwandaisnotsoclearyet.Ontheotherhand,theevidenceforagenocideoftheHutu’sinDRCongointheyearsafer1994areveryobvious.ThereisnowayofdenyingthathundredsofthousandsofHutu’shavebeentargetedandkilledbytheRwandanarmy.Thistookplaceeitherbydirectmilitaryac=onandmassacringoftherefugeecampsinEasternCongo,orbydisplacingthousandsofpeoplewithoutfood,whoofendiedofmalnutri=onanddiseases.

Q:(toFilipReyntjens)Youbegantalkingjustafer1994withoutmen=oningallthethingsthathappenedbeforethat=meandthatleadtothegenocidethen.Whycouldn’tyoustartwithforinstancethegenocidethattookplaceinBurundiin1972?

A:(Reyntjens):Yesyouareright,Icouldhavestartedmuchearlier,forinstanceincolonial=mesorevenfarbefore,backintothe11thcenturyorevenearlier.Inpartthecurrentstrugglesarealwaysconnectedtopreviousphasesinhistorywhenonegroupwassubjuga=ngtheother.Eachbloodshedleadtorevengeanda`emptsatannihila=onoftheother.Thisgoesbackaverylong=me.

Q:(toBenRutabana):Yousayyoudon’tacceptethnicdifferencesasrootcauseoftheconflict,butaren’tyouthenignoringthemostobviousfacts?Aren’tHutu’sandTutsi’sopposedtoeachotherateverystepinhistory?

A:(Rutabana):MaybeIshouldhavebeenmoreclear.Ofcoursemanyofthesufferingsareinflictedbyonegroupagainsttheother.Ihavespokenaboutthedehumaniza=onofTutsiinRwandathatIexperiencedmyself.ButwhatIwantedtosaywasthattheethnici=esthemselvesarenotthecauseofallthesetroubles.Ethnicityandtribaliden=tyarejustbeingusedasatooltodividepeople,assoonasitservessomeelites’interest.Thatwasclearlythecaseincolonial=mesanditcon=nuestobetrueun=ltoday.

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Thegoaloftheworkingsessiononthefirstdaywastodiscussinthreegroupswhatthepar=cipantsbelievetobetheRootCausesofConflictintheGreatlakesRegion.Thegroupsweresplitupbylanguage,havingaFrench,anEnglishandaDutchspeakinggroup.Belowfollowsasummaryofthemostimportantrootcausesmen=onedbythepar=cipants.

1.3.1Colonialism

Colonialauthori=eshadalargeinfluenceontheconflictsoftodaybybuildingtheirpoliciesonastrictdivisionofdifferenttribesandcommuni=es.Insomecountriestheethnicconflictderivedfromthewaycolonizersfavoredsomeethnicgroupsaboveothers.Everywhereinsociety,eveninschools,peoplewereclassifiedbyethnicity.Eachethnicityhadassignedcertaincharacteris=csandwassupposedtobehaveaccordingtothesepre-determinedcharacteris=cs.Onegroupwastaughttoleadandanothergroupwastaughttofolloworders.Par=cipantsinsistedthatbeforehandthiswasnotreallyaproblemun=lthecoloniza=onoftheregion.

Othernega=veaspectsofcoloniza=onthatweremen=onedwerethedestruc=onoflocaliden==esandsocialstructures,dehumanizingprac=cesofslaveryandoppressionandalackofinvestmentintheeventualindependenceofthecolonybywayofcrea=ngeduca=onsystems,infrastructure,legisla=onetc.

1.3.2DecolonizaDon

Mostcountrieswereunpreparedfordecoloniza=onandindependence.Thisledtoalotofproblemsthatares=llnotsolvedtoday.ThisisespeciallythecaseforDRCongo.Afaileddecoloniza=onprocessmadesurethatCongowasnevercapableofdevelopingintoanormalmodernstate.Whereothercountriesinheritedamoreorlesswell-func=oningstateapparatuswherethelocalpeopleweremoreorlessinvolvedinbuildingthena=on,nosuchthingwasavailableinCongo.CongowasneverintendedbytheBelgiansasatrue‘colony’includingallitsservicesandcivilianinfrastructure,butmoreasa‘resourcearea’inprivatepropertyoftheBelgianKing,andallofitsinhabitantshardlymorethanslavesforthepurposeofexploita=on.WithoutanyhighereducatedCongolese,adefunctstatesystem,andanpermanentlackofresourcesCongoasanindependentstatewassetuptofail.

1.3.3ThecoldwarandaIerwards

Thecoldwarwasaperiodinwhichtheworldwasbeingsplitupinlargelytwoopposingblocks.BoththeSovietandtheWesternbloccreatedpuppetregimesworldwidethatwouldobeybytheirrules.Theseweremainlydictatorships.Forthisreasonna=onalandlocalcausesweresacrificedfortheexclusiveinterestofworldpowers.Forexample,the32yearruleofMobutu,aprotégéoftheUS,destroyedCongo(Zaïre)bothmateriallybyloo=ngwhateverresourcespossibleandspirituallybyannihila=nganyhopesthatremainedamongthepopula=onaferthecolonialepoch.Thelackofaresponsiblestateduringthisperiods=llhassevereeffectsonthementalityofpeopleinDRCongo.

1.3.4The1990’sandtheRwandangenocide

TheriseofdemocracyafertheColdWarintheearly90susuallydidnottakeintoaccountthena=onalandregionalfragilitythatmostcountriesintheregionenduredinthepast.Weakanddishonesta`emptsatcrea=ngdemocracyhaveendedinalackofeffec=veins=tu=ons,andhavegiventhepowerinthehandsoffewpeoplewhoac=velypar=cipateinthedeteriora=onofthe

1.3 WORKING SESSIONS

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stateoflaw,territorialintegrityandthestate’spoverty.ThisandmoreledinRwandaandtheen=reregiontooneofitsdarkestepochs:thegenocideof1994andtheresul=ngCongowars.Thegenocides=llhasatremendousnega=veeffectontheen=reGreatLakesRegion,bothpoli=cally,sociallyandevenpersonallybetweenfamiliesandneighbors.

1.3.5Governance

Elites

Besidesthehistoricproblems,manyproblemsweremen=onedbythepar=cipantsregardinggovernance.MostofthecountriesoftheGreatLakesRegionareruledbyaverysmalleliteofjustahandfulofindividualsorfamilies.InthecaseofDRCongoitiseasytoseethatalwaysthesamefamiliesenduponhighposi=ons.Evenuptothis=mefamilymembersoftheformerdictatorMobutuareac=veintheopposi=on.Theseelitesoffamiliesorindividualsareallhighlyconnectedandfullydependentonforeignactorsandtheinterna=onalcommunity.

Militarydictatorshipandimpunity

Mostleadersintheregionshavehadamilitarycareerandareusedtotacklingproblemsthoughtheuseofforce,in=mida=onandmurder,bothininternalandforeignaffairs.Dictatorshiphasbeenthemostcommonwayofgoverningtheregionsinceindependence.Noneoftheseleadersisactuallyinterestedinsolvinganyconflictorpersecu=ngwarcriminalsbecausethismightharmtheirowninterests.Thissitua=oninturnleadstoimpunityandtheprotec=onofthoseresponsibleforwarcrimes.

Weakdemocracyandins6tu6ons

Democracyisseenbymanyleadersandalargepor=onofthepopula=onassimplyholdingelec=ons.Elec=onsarethebeginningandtheendofthedemocra=cprocess.Especiallylocalgovernanceisveryfragilebecausealla`en=onispaidtona=onalelec=onsandna=onalins=tu=ons.Localconflictsareofenexploitedforthegainsofthepoli=calagendasofna=onalleaders. 10

Lackofgovernance

Insomecases,likeinDRCongoonecouldspeakofanen=relackofgovernanceinlargepartsofthecountry,especiallytheeast.Thisispartlyduetothesizeofthecountry,incombina=onwithalackoffundsforlocalsecurity,theinfluenceoflocalmili=aandincursionsfromneighboringstates.

Ethnicmanipula6on

Knowingthecomplexandtroublednatureofethnicrela=onsintheregion,manypoli=ciansaretryingtoexploitexis=ngethnicdivisionsinordertomobilizecertainethnicgroupsorgaincontroloverotherethnicgroups.Althoughnotfundamentallyacauseofconflict,ethnicitycon=nuestobeatoolforthosewhoprofitfrominstability.

Legisla6on

Lawsareveryofencopiedfromothercountries’lawswithoutunderstandingexactlywhattheymeanandwithoutanyadapta=ontothelocalsitua=on.TheCongolesegovernmentadoptedtheBelgianlegisla=onunaltered,eventhoughthena=onalandlocalcircumstancesaretotallydifferent.AlsotheAfricanUnionismerelyacopyoftheEuropeanUnionwithoutunderstandingitstruephilosophyandpurpose.

Corrup6on

AnothertrademarkoftheGreatLakesregimesistheiruseofcorrup=on.Corrup=onisins=tu=onalizedasawayofliving.

1.3.6Land

ManyproblemsintheGreatLakesRegionarerelatedtotheuseofland.Notonlythelegalorillegalminingofresourcescreatelandissuesforinhabitants,alsocon=nuousflowsandrese`lementsofgroupsofrefugeescreatetensionsoverlanduse.Besidesthat,manyareasareoverpopulatedandcertaincountriescreatepoliciessurroundinglandwhichareattherootofnewproblems.

AnexampleisRwanda.AlargepartofthelandinRwandabelongstothegovernment.Ifapersonstopsusingitforawhileordoesn’tuseitaccordingtotheplansofthegovernment,thestatemayexpropriateitandsellit.ThishappenedalotaferthegenocideinRwandawhenmanypeoplefledtoneighboringcountriesandcurrentlys=llhappenstothepropertyofRwandanslivingabroad.Italsohappenstopeoplewholacktheresourcestomakegooduseoftheland.Accordingtothelawthegovernmentshouldgiveacompensa=onwhentheytakethelandback,butthisdoesnotalwayshappen.Suchdisposi=onofthelandownershipincreasedthedivisionbetweenrichandpoorwithinRwandaandthistriggersconflicts.

Anotherproblemconnectedtothelandisthesellingoflandtoforeigncompanies.Thisreducesthepossibilityforpoorpeopletouseitandthereforeittriggersconflicts.Thisiscausedbythefactthattheowners,theonesthatcouldsellittotheforeigncompanies,areusuallynottheoneswhoac=velyfarmitnoraretheyotherwisedependentonthislandfortheirlivelihoods.Theownersareusuallyrich,andthefarmerswhoactuallymakeusethelandarepoorpeoplewhorenttheirplotsfromtheowner.Whentheylosetheirlivelihoodbysellingofftheirfarminggroundstoforeigncompanies,andaresentawayfromtheirfarmsasaconsequence,thiscantriggeraconflict.SomeDutchcompaniesarecurrentlybuyingsome20.000acresoflandinRwandaandtheyuseacadastresystemtodetermineownership.TheseDutchcompaniestrytobuythelandfromtheowners,buttrytomaintaintheworkersinordertoavoidconflict.

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1.3.7TheroleoftheInternaDonalCommunity

Westerncountriess=llplayamajorroleintheconflictoftheGreatLakesRegionbecausemanyrawmaterialslikegold,coltanandcassiteriteendupingoodsandproductsthataretransportedtotheWest.BecauseWesterncountriesandcompaniesdependsomuchonthemineralsthatareplunderedandtakenbyforce,theymaybeconsideredkeyactorsintheconflict,eveniftheyremainatgreatdistanceoftheactualfigh=ngandsuffering.

AnotherroleisplayedbythoseWesterncompanieswhichprofitfromthearmstradeintheregion.Prolifera=onofweaponsintheregionmostlytakesplaceinthevillages.Thiss=mulatesthegrowthofarmedgroupswhocontrolahugeterritoryalltogether.

1.3.8KnowledgeandeducaDon

Alackofknowledgeandeduca=onaddstotheproblemofconflict.Thisismostlyapparentatthelocallevel,wherepeoplearelargelyunawareoftherealcausesbehindtheconflict,duetoalackofproperinforma=onservices.Thisdeniesthemofmeanstosolveandpreventconflict.Besidesthat,manypeoplelackaneduca=onaboutwhatitmeanstoliveinademocracy.Veryfewpeopleunderstandtherealidea,theins=tu=onsandtherulesthatcouldguaranteeatleastaminimumofpopularinfluenceindecisionmaking.

Finally,inDRCongoproperknowledgeandexperiencearelackingonhowtocreateaneconomymoretechnologicallyadvancedthanjustabasedontheexportofrawmaterials.Thissitua=onkeepsthelevelofdevelopmentandstabilityverylowandfragile.

1.3.9Socialaspects

Otheraspectsthatweremen=onedthatcontributenega=velytothesitua=onofconflictaresocialma`ers.Firstofall,manysocialstructureshavebeendestroyedduetoseveralconflicts.Thereisalackofbothtradi=onal,familyandgovernmentauthority.Peopleeasilymistrusteachotherwhichpreventspeoplefromcoopera=nginpeacebuilding.

Anotherproblemthatwasmen=onedistheapparentlackofna=onaliden=ty.Inmostcountriesthereisnocommonvisionofwhatthecountryshouldlooklikeandhowtoachievethat.Rather,peoples=cktothesmalleriden=tyofthegrouptheybelongto.

Someoneelsemen=onedalsotheproblemofmentality.Somepeoplepointedtowardsprideasarootcauseofconflict:thewaypeoplethinktheyarebe`erthanothersandhavearighttooppresstheothergroup. 12

DAY 2

Theseconddayoftheconferencefocusedonopportuni=esforpeace.Themainques=onwashowthediasporacanplayaposi=veroletowardssustainablepeace.

2. OPPORTUNITIES FOR PEACE

Dirk-JanKoch

Dirk-JanKoch,SpecialEnvoyNaturalResourcesofTheNetherlandsMinistryofForeignAffairs,explainedtheeffortsthatarebeingdoneinterna=onallytomakesurethatmineralresourcesofCongodonotcontributetowar.Manythingshavebeenachievedoverthepastyears.Lessandlessminesarebeingcontrolledbyarmedgroupsduetostrictcer=fica=onmeasures.Ar=sanalgoldminingremainsoneofthebiggestproblemshowever.StudiesbyBelgianresearchins=tuteIPISshowthatgoldminingsuffersmostfromthepresenceofarmedgroups.AccordingtoKoch,eachstakeholderofthe‘valuechain’fromresourcetoendproducthasaresponsibilitytomakesurethattheyonlyusematerialsthatare‘clean’.Thereforeanelaboratesystemofinspec=ons,andqualitylabelsisbeingdevelopedatagloballevel.Kochendshispresenta=onbysta=ngsomefinalconclusions:Statebuildingisessen=alforstability:ifthereisnoworkingstatepresentinanareaofminingitisveryhardtoprofessionallyorganizetraderegula=ons,controls,taxservicesandsecurity.Onlywithafunc=oningstate,thelocalpopula=onshaveachancenottobeexploitedonly,butalsotoprofitandtoprosperfromtheirnaturalriches.

JoostvanPuijenbroek

JoostvanPuijenbroekofDutchpeaceorganiza=onPAXtalkedaboutthelocalcontextoftheIturiregioninEasternCongo.Heexplainedthedifferentdynamicsofaconflictthatcon=nuealong=meaferawarhas‘officially’ended.Heexplainsthedifferentstagesatwhichcivilsocietyorganiza=onscouldinterveneinordertocontributetosustainablepeace.

VanPuijenbroekespeciallyhighlightsthedevasta=onthat hastakenplaceonasociallevel.Hardlyanystructurein society,bothtradi=onalorlegal,hasanylegi=macy. Everybodyisdividedandnormalfunc=oningofsocial ins=tu=onsisdisrupted.Itwilltakealotof=meand investmenttobringpeopletogetherandstartnormal socialrela=onsancoopera=onbetweengroupsagain. Otherproblemsconcerntheland,goodgovernanceandtherole oftheinterna=onalcommunity.

Assolu=onsVanPuijenbroekgavemucha`en=ontotheroleofcivilsocietyinthisprocess.Womenandtheirorganiza=onscanplayaveryessen=alroleinopposingtoconflictanditscon=nua=on.

2.1 KEYNOTE SPEECHES

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StéphanieMbanzendore

StéphanieMbanzendore,founderofBurundianWomenforPeaceandDevelopment(BWPD)explainedhowshe,asamemberofthediaspora,triestos=mulatethepeaceprocessinBurundi.

Inherpresenta=on,sheiden=fiedthreemainchallengesfacingregionalpeacebuildingintheGreatLakesregion.Sheespeciallymen=onedtheinadequatepar=cipa=onoflocalactorsandcivilsocietyinthepeaceprocess,whichpreventstheprocessfromhavingenoughlegi=macyandeffect.Anotherproblema=cfactoris,accordingtoMbanzendore,thefailuretoaddresshistoricalinjus=ces,issuesoflandandnega=veuseofethnicity.Finallyalsothelackofcommitmenttotheimplementa=onofpeaceagreementsandins=tu=onalreformsplaysanimportantroleinthecon=nua=onofconflict.

Se`lingtheabovemen=onedissueswillgreatlyimproveanychancesforrealsustainablepeace.Besidesstrengtheningoflegalandpoli=calins=tu=onsinordertoenhancegoodgovernancethereshouldbeafocusonhealingandreconcilia=ontorestoreharmoniousrela=onshipswithinthecommuni=es.

Mbanzendoreadvocatesforacomprehensivepeacebuildingapproachthatsynthesizespeacebuildingbothatapoli=callevel,involvinggovernments,andgrassrootsini=a=ves.

Theaboveini=a=vescanaddresshistoricalinjus=ces,hos=lityandinsecurityandincreasefairpoli=caltransi=ons,rese`lementofinternallydisplacedpersonsandrefugees,repara=onforvic=msofcivilwar,resul=nginhealthyrela=onshipsandajustpeace.Mbazendoreendsherspeechbysaying:“Peaceisveryexpensive,butwarisevenmoreexpensive,soweshouldchoosethefirst”.

Q:Canthediasporaplayaroleinpeacebuilding?

A:StéphanieMbanzendore:“WhatcanIsay,ofcourse!”

A:Dirk-JanKoch:“Ithinkitisnotaques=onof‘if’butof‘how’,Ithinktheyhaveto.Aswelookatthesta=s=cs,forexampleofDRCongo,one-tenthofthepopula=onislivingabroad.

A:JoostvanPuijenbroek:“Irecentlywasatamee=ngofthecabinetinKinshasa.ThereImetCongoleseministerswhoIgottoknowwhentheyweres=lllivingasmigrantsinBrussels.TheywentbacktoCongotobeelected.Theybroughttheirexper=seandexperiencestotheirhomecountry.Theinteres=ngthingisthattheyfeelmorefreetospeakbecausetheyhaveadoublepassport.

Q:(toJoostvanPuijenbroek)InIturithereare150.000InternallyDisplacedPersonswhocannotgobacktotheirhometownbecausetheirlandisstolen.Don’tyouthinkweshouldworkwithinformalframeworksofsocietytosolvetheseproblems?

A:VanPuijenbroek:Yesthatisverynecessary.Therearetwoparallelsystemsfunc=oningatthesame=meinCongo:theofficialadministratorsoflandandthecommunallandsystemorganizedundertheauthorityofthelocal“chefscoutumiers”.Thefirsthas100%legalitybut0%legi=mity,thesecondhas0%legalitybut100%legi=mity.Howevereventheauthorityofthesetradi=onalstructureshavesufferedgreatlyduetotherecentwars.Duringthewar,manypeoplehavelosttheirlandands=lldon’thaveitback.Somecommuni=estooklandfromothercommuni=es.

2.2 PANEL DISCUSSION

15

Whenthewarwasover,peoplewereafraidtoclaimitback.Therearecurrentlynoeffec=velocalstructuresandinformalframeworksthatcansolvetheseproblems.Oneofthemostsevereeffectsofthewarshasbeenexactlythat:thedestruc=onofthefabricofsociety.Thewomenandtheelderlywhousuallyformthebondofsocietyhavebeentargetedonpurposeasvic=msinordertoweakenlocalsocie=es.Iturihasn’trecoveredfromtheselossesyet.Thepeacecommi`eesandorganiza=onswhoaredealingwiththeseissues,haveli`letobuildupon.Sotherearesocialini=a=vessupported,butwehavetobeawareoftheirlimits.Themainpersonsresponsibleares=llthechiefs.

Q:InallofyourspeechesImisstheroleofUganda.ManycurrentpresidentsoftheregionhavetakenrefugeinUgandaandwereorares=llfriendswiththeUgandanpresident.TheUgandanarmyisdeployednotonlyinCongobutallacrosscentralaneasternAfrica:alsoinSouthSudan,SomaliaandtheCentralAfricanRepublic.AreyouawareoftheroleofUgandainalloftheseconflicts?

A:(VanPuijenbroek):Yesyouareabsolutelyright.UgandawasinCongoduringthewarandtheyoccupiedland.Atfirstonthepretextofdefendingthemselves,butsoontheywerealsoprofi=ngfromthelocalnaturalresources.CongoisaskingUgandatopaybackeverythingthattheyhavestolen,intotalsomethingaround10billiondollar.Ugandaisamajorplayerbehindmanyconflicts.

Q:Whatistheroleofreligiousgroupsorins=tutesinpeace-building?

A:VanPuijenbroek:InIturi,theregionIamspeakingabout,everychurchwasrelatedtooneoranotherarmedgroup.Churchesaremainlydividedalongethniclines.Theyareimportantactorsbecausetheyhavesociallegi=macy.Wehavetolookattheloyaltyofthereligiousleaders,isthatthechurchorthecommunity?Forexample,afewyearsagotheCatholicNa=onalConferencecondemnedthefraudulentelec=ons,butthebishopsinKatangamadegreateffortsinordertonotdoso.IamworkingforPAX,soweareworkingtogetherwithlocalchurches.Theyareainfluen=alpoten=alplayerinpeacebuilding.Butinrealitytheyareunfortunatelyalsoactorsofwar.

Q:(toStéphanieMbanzendore)Doyoureallythinkitisnecessarytohaveaquotaforwomeninpoli=cs?Shouldn’twejustchoosethebestcandidates,noma`erwhethertheyaremanorwoman?

A:Mbanzendore:Myfindingisthatyoushouldn’tfollowpoli=cs,youhavetomakepoli=csfollowyou.Burundiisamen’scountry,underthetableitisclearthatonlymenareallowedinpoli=cs.Butin=mesofwar,womenarethefirstvic=ms.Sothisquotawassomethingweaskedforourselves,weevenfoughtforit.Soyes,weareinfavorofthisquota.WomeninBurundiarenowmuchmoreincludedinpeacenego=a=ons.

16

DuringthesesessionsthegoalwastofindouthowthediasporacancontributetothepeacebuildingprocessintheGreatLakesRegion.

Thesessionsbeganwitheveryindividualpain=ngordrawingonapieceofpaperhowheorsheviewstheregionwithin10years.

Oneofthepar=cipantsdrewabalance.Ononesideofthebalancetherewasasmallgroupofpeoplewhorepresentthegoverningelitesandtheonothersidethereisthelargepopula=onoftheGreatLakesRegion.Currently,thebalanceleansverymuchtothesideofthefew.Theidealthatweshouldworkonistohavethebalanceequalonbothsides.

Theideabehindthispain=ngwasthatitrevealstheimbalanceinthecountriesoftheGreatLakesregion.Popula=onsaretakenhostagebyasmallgroup,the"eliteclass"whoruleswithoutconsul=ngorinvolvingthegovernedintheprocess.Thepicturealsoshowssomeotherthings:

•Itrevealsthevirtualabsenceofamiddleclass,whichreinforcesthedictatorshipoftherulingelitesoverthelargepopula=on.

•Thesub-regionoftheGreatLakesissickofinsecurity,mistrustandexclusion,thisautudenega=velyimpactstheclimateofcohabita=on.

•Inequalitybetweenci=zens,someareconsidered‘moreci=zens’thanothers.Manypar=cipantsdrawpeoplesiungtogethertalking.Theyfounditimportanttostresstheneedforunity.Thebelowmessagehascapturedthea`en=onofthatfirstroundofthesession:

“Torefuseourdifferencesistoignoreourdiversity.Nocountrywilleverseethesunoftomorrowifwefailtoembraceourdiversity”

2.3 WORKING SESSIONS

17

Unconsciouslytheabovewasmen=onedaferitwasobviousthateachindividualpar=cipantviewstheregioninadifferentmanner.Eachpar=cipantdefinesthedrama=csitua=onthattheregionisgoingthoughdifferentlythantheother.Buttounderstandthecomplexityoftheregiononehastoputallthepiecestogether;it’sonlythenthatwecanstarttounderstandwhatreallyneedstobedoneintheregion.Someonesaid:“Weneedtospeakwithonevoiceinordertomakepeoplelistentous.Tobecomeonevoiceweneedtoorganize,byconferenceandmee=ngslikethis.Whatwehavedonethesetwodaysisthefirststep.Wehavetotrusteachother.Iknowthisisasensi=veissue,butwehavetobepa=ent.Whenwecanmakeonevoice,theDutchgovernmentandmaybealsoourowngovernmentscantakeusseriously.”

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CONCLUSIONS AND RECOMMENDATIONS

OF THE CONFERENCE

Conclusions

Attheendoftheconference,manypar=cipantswereconvincedofthepoten=aloftheDiaspora.Althoughmanyrootcausesofconflictwereaddressedandmanypossibili=esfortheDiasporatoworkonpeacewereproposed,therewasaclearwillingnessamongpar=cipantstocon=nuethediscussionsafertheconference.Ofcourseonlytwodaysofthisconferencearenotenoughforallaspectsofthiscomplexcontext.

Thereforethereisaneedtokeepseeingeachotherandtalkingtoeachotherregularly.Inthenearfutureitwillbeimportanttofocusonbecomingastronggroupandtothinkabouthowthevoiceofthediasporacanbeheard.Someofthea`endeesoftheconferencewerejournaliststhemselves,sothenext=mewecanthinkofhowourvoicecanbeheardinthemedia.Itisimportanttoshowotherimagesthanjustdestruc=on,itisalsoimportanttoshowandimageofhopeanmutualunderstanding.Weneedplacesandopportuni=eslikethisconferencewherepeoplecanfreelytalkandthink.

Thisbringsustotheissueoftrustbuilding.Trustwasmen=onedasoneofthemainobstaclesforbuildingupastrongdiasporagroup.Manydiasporagroupsarea`achedtovariouschurchesandmosquesandaredividedbyethnicityandtheirreligiousorpoli=calorienta=on,amaintoolformaintainingmistrustoftheotherethnicityorthe“enemy”.Individualstryingtoexplorethepossibilityofdialoguewiththeothersareafraidofbeingaccusedoftreasonandrejectedbytheirowngroup.

Thegeneralconclusionwasthatthisconferenceofferedauniqueopportunitytostartlowprofileandbaseitsobjec=vesontrustbuildingandopeningtothestoriesofothers.Weshouldlearnlisteningtoeachotherwithoutjudging.Thisapproachshouldbethefounda=onofallotherprojectsissuingfromthisconference.

Thediasporahastoworktogether,butpeacehastogrowanditneeds=me.Wehavehopeforpeopletotrusteachotheragain.Twodaysoftheconferencehaveshownusthatwecanhavearealconnec=on.StayinginEuropeisnotonlyatragedy,itisalsoonopportunitytolearn,haveeduca=onandusenewinsightstohelpourcountryasbestaswecan.

Recommenda6ons

Toacknowledgethesignificantimpactthatdiasporacanhaveoneconomicdevelopmentisanimportantsteptowardsunderstandinghowthediasporacanbecomeareliableactorforpeaceaswell.Tomakethiseffec=ve,partnerslikegovernments,privateandinterna=onalins=tu=onsmusthelpcreatethenecessaryframeworks,programs,andopportuni=estomaximizethepoten=al,capaci=esandabili=esofthediasporatobeac=velyinvolvedinthepeacebuildingprocess.Differentwaysofhowthediasporacancontributetothepeacebuildingprocesshavebeenoutlined.Thefollowingini=a=vesweremen=oned:

1.Iden=fyingandmappingthediasporaandtheirneedsandinten=onsfortheregion.

2.BringingtogetheronaregularbasisaworkinggroupofdedicatedmembersoftheGreatLakesDiaspora.ThisDiasporaWorkingGroupcouldconsistofdifferentorganiza=onsandindividualmembersoftheGreatLakesdiaspora.Itwouldbeagoodideatoinvolveyoungerpeopleinthesegroupmee=ngs.TheDiasporaWorkingGroupcould:

20

a.con=nuethetrustbuilding

b.designfutureprojectstogetherand

c.makethevoiceofthediasporaheardatmee=ngswithdecisionmakers andotherrelevantactors

Somemorespecificgoalsandobjec=vesofsuchagroupcouldbe:

•Obtainingcommitmentsfromindividualsandorganiza=onstofightforthesamecause.

•Makingandcoordina=ngpartnershipswithstakeholdersandpartnerslikeinterna=onalins=tu=ons,EU,MinistriesofForeignAffairs,embassiesandlocalgovernments.

•Bewillingtolookforinnova=vesolu=onstocommonproblems.Andsetspecificgoalsandobjec=ves(e.g.advoca=ngforthediaspora’srighttovote).

•Beingabletotakeappropriateac=onswhenthereareconflictsofinterest(individualorganiza=oninterestsvs.commondiasporainterests)andmakesurethatac=onsarerelevantandconstruc=ve.

•Provideaccesstoinforma=onondifferentlevels,tothediasporacommuni=es,thepeopleintheGreatLakesRegion,aprofessionalpublicintheNetherlandsandEuropeandtointerna=onalins=tu=ons.

3.Star=ngaconstruc=vedialoguebetweendifferentdiasporagroups.Diasporagroupsaretoofragmentedandlackasocialcohesioninordertoworktogetherandhavenetworkstohelpeachothertobuildonabe`erfuture.Theimportanceofworkingwithyoungpeoplewasmen=onedbecausetheywillbethegenera=onthatisgoingtobuildthefuture.Insuchawayagroupofpeoplecanbeselectedands=mulatedwithafreemind,whodonotimmediatelyjudgetheother.

4.Providingindependentinforma=ontodiasporagroups.Informa=onnowadaysismainlydistributedthroughcontrolledmediaoutlets.Locallythereishardlyanyindependentradioandpeopledonotdaretospeakfreely.PeopledousesocialmedialikeFacebookbutalsothesehavetheirweaknessesanddonotalwayscontributetodialogue.Peoplearescaredtobetoopoli=cal.Diasporacancontributetogivinginforma=onbycrea=ngonlineradioanddiscussionplaxormsandcooperatewithindependentjournalists.

5.Organizinggoodandrelevanteduca=on.Childrenlearnaboutethnicdiversityasanunchangeableandregre`ableaffair.Thisleadstodiversioninsteadofconnec=on.Childrenshouldbeeducatedaboutpeaceandcoopera=onandthebeautyofdiversity.Educa=ononvaluesisnecessarytorestoreasocietywherethereismoreequalityandrespectforhumanrights.Governancehastobebo`om-up,basedonthewillandconsentofawellinformedpopula=on.

6.Crea=ngpublicawarenessabouttheproblemsandsolu=onsfortheGreatLakesregionconflict.Thediasporacouldorganizepubliceventsinordertoa`ractpublica`en=onandbringacrossamessageofpeacetorelevantactors.WecouldinvolvejournalistsamongstthediasporatoworkwiththeDutchmediatomakethevoiceofthediasporaforpeaceheardbyalargerpublic.Inthiseffortwecaninvolveuniversi=es,schoolsandtheartworld.

7.Collec=velyadvoca=ngforpeaceintheGreatLakesRegion.Eventually,whenastrong,inclusivediasporaworkinggrouphasbeenestablished,thisgroupcouldworkonitsown,doingresearchandadvocacy,bothinEuropaandlocally.Auniteddiasporagroupisapowerfultooltoputpressureongovernmentstoimplementrelevantpoliciestowardspeace.Strengtheningtheskillsoftheac=vediasporamemberisinpeacebuilding,lobbyandadvocacywouldbeneededinordertobeheardbytheDutchGovernment,theEUandlocalgovernments. 21

APPENDICES

Ladiesandgentlemen,

OnbehalfofTheHaguePeaceProjects,TheAfricanDiasporaPolicyCentreandtheIns=tuteofSocialStudiesIwouldliketowelcomeyoualltothisconference:TheGreatLakesRegion:RootCausesofConflictandOpportuni=esforPeace.

Aspecialwelcomefirsttoallofourspeakerstoday,allofwhomhavecomeformBelgium:JagodaPaukovic,BenRutabanaandFilipReyntjens.Iamtrulygratefultothatyouwillsharewithusyourpointsofviewandyourexperiencessothatwecanhaveabasisfordiscussionintheafernoon.

Anotherspecialwelcometoallofthemembersofthediasporapresentheretoday.TheDiasporaofUganda,theDiasporaofRwanda,thediasporaofBurundiandthediasporaofDRofCongo.Iamverypleasedtoseethatwearetogetherwithsomanypeoplefromsomanydifferentbackgroundstodiscussaveryimportantma`er,namelypeaceintheGreatLakesRegionofAfrica.

Weverystronglybelievethatyouasadiasporahavealottoofferintermsofinforma=on,insiderknowledgeandcrea=vesolu=onstothecomplexproblemsthatwearefacingtoday.Thissignificantcontribu=onofthediasporaisnotalwaysrecognized.Ithinkitishigh=methatthediasporagetstheroleaspartnersandagentsofposi=vechange.

Wearehereinacitythatisknownworldwideforitspromo=onofpeaceandjus=ce.Withsomanycourtsofjus=ce,interna=onalorganiza=onsandngo’sthatworkonpeace,security,developmentandhumanrights,thecityofTheHagueisanexampletotherestoftheworld.Inmanyplacesthemeremen=oningofthenameofTheHagueevokeshopeintheheartsofthosewhodesireaworldwithoutwar,withoutfearandwithoutwant.Nottomen=onthatthenameofTheHaguealsostrikesfearintoeveryonewhoactsagainsttheinterestofhumanity.Itisthisvisionofpeaceandjus=cethatweasanorganiza=onfullysubscribetoanditisthereasonwhywecalledourorganiza=onTheHaguePeaceProjects.

Theworkforpeaceandendofthesewarsandviolentconflictsisthefocusofourorganiza=onbecauseweareconvincedthattruesocialandeconomicdevelopment,theexistenceofdemocracyandhumanrightsareimpossibleinasitua=onofwar.Inotherwords:youcannotseriouslytalkaboutthingslikehumanrightsanddevelopmentwhenbombsarefalling,whenpeoplearekillingeachotherorwhenonegroupwithinasocietyisviolentlyrepressingothergroups.

Asanorganiza=onTheHaguePeaceProjectsaimsinthefirstplacetoplayaroleintherela=onbetweeninforma=onandconflict.Asthesayinggoes:thefirstvic=minanywaristhetruth.Eachpartyinaconflicttriestopresentthefactsinawaythatisfavourabletoitsowninterests.Anditishardtofindanymediaoranypersonforthatma`erwhoisfullyimmunetosuchmanipula=ons.Butaswarsgoontruthgetsmoreandmorecloudedandthisisoneofthemainreasons,wethink,whyalsosolu=onsofenbecomemoreremote.Ifyoudon’tknowwhatisreallygoingon,whoisinvolvedandwhatinterestsareatstakeyouwillhaveahard=meeversolvingthisconflict.

TheHaguePeaceProjectswouldliketocontributetoclarifyingandiden=fyinginthefirstplacewhatcauseswars.Whichfactorsandwhichactorsplayarole?Onlythenareweabletogettothesourceoftheproblemandareweabletotalkaboutrealsolu=ons.

Informa=on,knowledgeandanalysisarethefirstandessen=alsteptowardspeacefulsolu=ons.Inthatrespectweareveryawareofthevalueofthediasporafromconflictandpost-conflictareas.WeEuropeansremainlargelyoutsiders,evenifweknowalot.Butyou,mostofyouwhoarehereareabletounderstandthemanypoli=cal,culturalandhistoricalviewsandsubtle=esthatofen

APPENDIX 1: Full opening speech by Jakob de Jonge

23

escapetheoutsidersview.Andexactlythisinforma=oncouldbecrucialintrulyunderstandingaconflictandcomingclosertoasolu=on.

Atthesame=me,whilepreparingthisconferenceIgotmoreandmoreawareofthedivisionsthatexistamongthedifferentDiasporagroups.OnecountrycanhavetwoormoredifferentDiasporagroupsthatneverreallytalktoeachother.

Ihopeandbelievethatweallcanmakeadifferenceifwearelistening,ifweareexpressingourpointsofview,ifweareques=oningourselvesandothersaboutestablishedtruthsandabouttherolewewanttoplayinordertobringafutureofpeaceforourselvesandourchildrencloser.

WethinkinorderfortheDiasporatofullybeingabletopar=cipateintheprocessofshapingthefutureofitsregionsoforigin,agoodbeginwouldbetostartdiscussingamongyourselves.Evenaskingthehardques=onssome=mes.Evensharingdifficultexperiencessome=mes.

ThereforeIwouldliketoencourageyoualltoworkhard,todoyourbestandtodevoteyourenergyanda`en=ontocomeupwithclearanalysesoftheconflictduringthediscussionstodayandcomeupwiththemostcleverandcrea=vesolu=onstomorrow.Thereisalotofworktobedone.Iwishyouallfruixuldiscussionsandhopeyou’llenjoytheconference.

24

a.IntroducDon

Warisaprofitablebusiness.Therearepresentlyabout300mul=na=onalcompaniesproducingarmselectronics,armsvehicles,missiles,shipsandgeneralmilitaryequipment.Andwehavethoseproducing,backpacksorothergear.

BoeingCompany,forinstance,ismanufacturerofAircraf-,Electronics-,MissilesandSpaceequipment.In2011itwasthesecondlargestUSgovernmentcontractor.This,withabout21billiondollars’worthofgoodscontracted.TheChicagobasedcompanymakesawiderangeofarmsincludingstrategicmissilesystems,laserandelectro-op=calsystems,GPSsystems,etc.46percentofthecompany’stotalsalesof68billiondollarsin2011camefromarms.EventhoughBoeingismainlyknownasthelargestairplanemanufacturerintheworldandforitsspacetechnology,almosthalfofitsincomecamefromarms.Thereareothersimilarcompanies,suchasLockheedMar=n,GeneralDynamics1,etc.

Whengovernments---whoarethemainclientsofthosecompanies---havetocutdowntheirspendingbudgets,thesecompanieshavetolookfurtherfornewclients,whichonecouldcharacterizeasclientsprofi=ngfromconflictsandwars.Thoserangefromlocalprivatemarkets,tointerna=onalinsurgentgroupsinvariousconflicts.

Ipickedthisillustra=onaboutthemagnitudeoftheweaponindustryasananecdotalentryintotheissueofthenumerousconflictstakingplaceintheworldatpresent.Todayandtomorrowwewilllookatthevariousaspectsofconflict,examinetherootcauses,discussthevariousapproachestoconflictresolu=on,and,eventually,attheendofthesecondday,comeupwithsugges=onsforstrategiesforsolu=onsforpeace-building.Maybewewillcomeupwithsomeveryoriginalideas.

b.DefiniDon

Therearemanydefini=onstacklingviolentconflict,butforthebeginning,Itooktheonefromapaperfrom1998byFrancesStewart2.Sheanalyzesthe‘root’causesofcomplexhumanitarianemergencies(CHEs)onthebasisofstudiesconductedinaUNUniversity/WIDERprojectonsocialandeconomiccausesofCHEs.DifferentUNAgencieshaveadoptedvariousdefini=ons,butmaybethefollowingone,from1994,veryper=nentlydefinesaconflictoracomplexhumanitarianemergency:

Ahumanitariancrisisinacountry,region,orsocietywherethereisatotalorconsiderablebreakdownofauthority,resul=ngfrominternalorexternalconflict,whichrequiresaninternaGonalresponsethatgoesbeyondthemandateorcapacityofanysingleagencyand/orongoingUNcountryprogram(47thSessionoftheGeneralAssembly,1994.ItalicsStewart’s)

c.Analysis

Mostofthe‘analysesofconflict’stressthemulD-dimensionalityofit,wheremanyaspectshavetobeconsidered3,suchlikethefollowing;

•MoDvaDonandmobilizaDonbehindtheconflict---economicmo=va=onbutalsopoli=calandculturalprocessestakingplaceatthatmoment;(weshouldnotforgetthestressonprocesses).1SamuelWeigley,24/7WallStcom’10CompaniesprofiGngthemostfromthewar’10March2013.2FrancesStewart,TheRootCausesofConflict:Someconclusions.WorkingPaperNumber16.QEHWorkingPapersQEHWPS16.QueenElizabethHouse,UniversityofOxford.44pages.3Ibidem

APPENDIX 2: Full keynote speech by Jagoda Paukovic

25

•Gendermainstreamingincludedingovernmentpoliciesaswellasintothepolicychanges;(anexamplefamiliartomeistheanalysisoftheDDR–Disarmament,Demobiliza=onandReintegra=onPrograminDRofCongowheregendermainstreamingshamefullyfailed4.Womensoldiersorsocalledbushwiveswerenotconsideredatallintheprogram,asconsequencetheyremainedbannedbytheircommuni=eswithoutanymeansforsurvivalandsexualviolenceintheregionincreased.Theprogramomi`edaprioranthropologicalandsociologicalanalysisofgender).

•GroupdifferenDaDon.Groupconstruc=onisadynamicandfluidprocess,changingwithcircumstances.Ethnicorreligiousiden=fica=oncanplayanimportantroleinvariousstagesoftheconflict.

•OrganizaDonofthegroupsinconflict,theinternalhierarchyofthegroupsaswellasthehierarchybetweengroups;andagaingenderrela=onswithineachgroup.

•IdenDtyconstrucDonbypoliDcalandreligiousleaders;

•GovernmentpoliciesandthesituaDonofthestate:e.ginvestmentineduca=on,accesstohealth,equality

•Theroleofresourcesintheconflict

•PoliDcalpowerandpoliDcaldynamicsamongthegroups

•ThepowerofthestateinsDtuDonsandthedynamicsofcivilsocietyorlackthereof

•PoliDcalparDcipaDonoritslacking;(whoisexcludingwhom)

•Thewaythestateisdealingwithpasthistoryofviolence(genocidesinRwandaorTurkeyforexample).

•Theresponseandtheabilityofthestatetomeetthebasichumanneeds.DegreeofAccessEqualitytoresourcesandmarketofdifferentgroups,especiallyin=mesofgovernmentpolicychanges(propertyrights,waterregula=ons,concessionsgiventoforeigncompaniesforlandorresourcesexploita=on,etc.);(exampleofEthiopiawherethestategaveconcessionstoforeigncompaniestoexploitagriculturallandandthepastoralistgroupshadtobepushedtothelesfer=lelands,whichintensifiedthetradi=onalca`leraidingandarmedconflictsbetweenthegroups,withheavyweaponryinfreecircula=on.OrIMFmeasuresandtheirimplementa=onforexampleinGuineaConakrywherethegovernmentbyimplemen=ngthestructuralmeasuresfirstcutdownonhealthandeduca=on.Asaconsequencetheyouthwasmassivelyrecruitedforchildsoldiers)

•ProcessoftheprivaDzaDonofthestateproperty:howdoesitaffectthepoor,whatisthegenderimpact?(ExamplefromKazakhstan:priva=za=onofthelargeSovietstatefarms(sovkhozes)intheregionofSemipala=nskwentintothehandsoftheexis=ngmanagement-allmen.Therestofthepeoplewhowereworkinginthesupportsectorlikeeduca=onandhealthcarerelatedtothesovkhozesendedunemployed,whichallresultedinmasspoverty,emigra=onandtotaldisrup=onofthesocialfabric).

Itisalsoimportanttolookat(i)theconflictsthatarestate-triggered,forexampleHai=,Myanmar(beforelastelec=ons),Rwandaor(ii)otheroneswheretheconflictistriggeredbygroupconflictwithintheStateand/oroutsideoftheState(formerYugoslavia).

Togetherwiththis,wealsohavetolookatthefinancingoftheconflict.E.g.Myanmar,wheretheconflictisstatefinanced,incontrasttoRDCongowheretheconflictisfinancedbyprivatesources.

4Jus==aetPaxNederland2010,Researcher:SaraPavan,BeyondMenandGuns,26

MaryKaldor5arguesthatthevariousmodels---developedforvariousconflictanalyses---failtoprovideacomprehensiveexplana=onofthegenuinecausesofconflict.Evenwhensomeanalystslookatresourcesasthemaincause,likeeginDRC,onehasatendencytoconsiderthesymptomsratherthanthecausesforconflict.Kaldorarguesinfavorof‘aninterdisciplinaryandmulD-causalapproach’tounderstandingandmanagingconflict.Icaniden=fywiththat,asIjustenumeratedaboveinan(un-exhaus=ve)listofelementstobeconsideredinananalysis.

IwillalsoquoteHerbertKelders’6defini=onofconflictbeing‘aprocessdrivenbycollecDveneedsandfears’ratherthanmo=vatedbyra=onalcalcula=onandna=onalinterests.Thisaspectshoulddefinitelynotbelefoutofconsidera=on,especiallybecausefearbeingmanipulatedbymedia,poli=calandreligiousleadersisplayingagreatroleinthedynamicsofspecificconflicts.Bosniaisanexample,butpresentlywecanalsolookattheeventsinEurope.

d.HumanSecurity

Lastbutnotleast,onehastoconsidertheapproachtoconflictfromtheperspec=veoftheconceptofHumansecurity.Hereisthedefini=ontakenfromtheUnitedNa=onsHumanSecurityUnit.Theystresstheneedforanewparadigmofsecuritywhichisassociatedwithtwosetsofdynamics:

First,humansecurityisneededinresponsetothecomplexityandtheinterrelatednessofbotholdandnewsecuritythreats–fromchronicandpersistentpovertytoethnicviolence,humantrafficking,climatechange,healthpandemics,interna=onalterrorism,andsuddeneconomicandfinancialdownturns.Suchthreatstendtoacquiretransna=onaldimensionsandmovebeyondtradi=onalno=onsofsecuritythatfocusonexternalmilitaryaggressionsalone.

Second,humansecurityisrequiredasacomprehensiveapproachthatu=lizesthewiderangeofnewopportuni=estotacklesuchthreatsinanintegratedmanner.Humansecuritythreatscannotbetackledthroughconven=onalmechanismsalone.Instead,theyrequireanewconsensusthatacknowledgesthelinkagesandtheinterdependenciesbetweendevelopment,humanrightsandna=onalsecurity.Humanrightsareofenoverlookedinthepolicies.

5MaryKaldor,NewandOldWars.OrganizedViolenceinaGlobalEra.SecondEdiGon.Stanford:StanfordUniversityPress.2007,1-14.6HerbertC.Kelman.ASocial-PsychologicalApproachtoConflictAnalysisandResoluGon.In:HandbookofConflictAnalysisandResoluGon,ed.DennisJ.D.Sandoleetal.(LondonandNewYork:Routledge,2009)171-183. 27

InitsfinalreportUN‘HumanSecurityNow’,defines7humansecurityas:

“…toprotectthevitalcoreofallhumanlivesinwaysthatenhancehumanfreedomsandhumanfulfillment.Humansecuritymeansprotec=ngfundamentalfreedoms–freedomsthataretheessenceoflife.Itmeansprotec=ngpeoplefromcri=cal(severe)andpervasive(widespread)threatsandsitua=ons.Itmeansusingprocessesthatbuildonpeople’sstrengthsandaspira=ons.Itmeanscrea=ngpoli=cal,social,environmental,economic,militaryandculturalsystemsthattogethergivepeoplethebuildingblocksofsurvival,livelihoodanddignity.”(CHS:2003:4)

Overall,thedefini=onproposedbytheCHSre-conceptualizessecurityinafundamentalwayby

1.movingawayfromtradi=onal,state-centricconcep=onsofsecuritythatfocusedprimarilyonthesafetyofstatesfrommilitaryaggression,toonethatconcentratesonthesecurityoftheindividuals,theirprotec=onandempowerment;2.drawinga`en=ontoamul=tudeofthreatsthatcutacrossdifferentaspectsofhumanlifeandthushighligh=ngtheinterfacebetweensecurity,developmentandhumanrights;and3.promo=nganewintegrated,coordinatedandpeople-centeredapproachtoadvancingpeace,securityanddevelopmentwithinandacrossna=ons.

WhatthenarethemainfeaturesofHumanSecurity?Humansecuritybringstogetherthe‘humanelements’ofsecurity,rightsanddevelopment.Assuch,itisaninter-disciplinaryconceptthatdisplaysthefollowingcharacteris=cs:

•people-centered

•mul=-sectored

•comprehensive

•context-specific

•preven=on-oriented

e.Conclusion

Thisisonlymen=oningafewapproachestoconflict.Conflicttheoriesaremanyandtherearealwaysnewonescomingup,buttheonlyconclusiontomyspeechtodayisthatoneshouldbeasmuchaspossibleawarethattheholis=capproachisveryimportantwhenlookingatconflictprocesses.Itisalsoimportanttobearinmindthattherootcauseschangethroughoutthedura=onoftheconflict.

7UnitedNaGonsTrustFundforHumanSecurity.HumanSecurityinTheoryandPracGce.Page6and7;ApplicaGonoftheHumanSecurityConceptandtheUnitedNaGonsTrustFundforHumanSecurity.79pages 28

Soldier,musicianandauthorBenRutabanatalkedabouthispersonalexperienceandhowhecametounderstandthatlife,freedomandequalityareinalienablerights.BenisaTutsifromRwandawhoescapedthegenocide.HeusedtobeasoldierfortheRwandanPatrio=cFront(RPF)andisanoutspokencri=cofthecurrentpresidentofRwanda,PaulKagame.

Sincehisveryearlyyouth,Benexperiencedalotofdiscrimina=onasamemberoftheTutsicommunitylivinginRwanda.Heremembersthatwhenhewasachildhesome=meshadtohidewithhisfamilyinthebush,becausetheywerechasedbypeoplewhowantedtokillthem.Rutabanaissome=mesamazedbythegameshischildrenplay,whichareusuallyaboutplayingsuper-heroes.Thegamesheusedtoplayhimselfwithhisfriendswhenhewasyoungweretotallydifferent.Acommongamewastoplayhideandseekfrompoten=alkillers.Discrimina=onwassomuchpartofthefabricofsocietythatchildrenconsidereditalmostnormal,whichiswhytheywereabletoplayitlikeagame.Bytheageof7heheardforthefirst=methetermcockroachappliedtohim.

RutabanawasbornduringtheKayibandaregime.Whenthisregimefinallyended,heremembershewashappyandreallybelievedinhissuccessorHabyarimanacouldactuallychangethecountry.Eventuallythesitua=ondidnotchangehowever.DuringtheHabyarimanaperiodtheconceptof‘Hutupower’didnotdiminish,andthingsjustgotworseinstead.Inhistwen=esRutabanawasimprisonedandchargedbecauseofhispoli=calthoughtsandac=vi=es.Whenhelefprisonhe‘walkedintothebush’tojointhetheRwandanPatrio=cFront(RPF),apredominantlyTutsiarmythatwasorganizedandtrainedinUganda.Heserved3threeyearsintheRPF.Throughoutthisperiodhewaswitnessofmanyhorrificcrimesfromalldifferentsides.HecouldrecallthattheRPF,atmul=pleoccasions,killedtheirownchildsoldierswhotriedtoescapeinordertodiscourageanyonefromfollowingtheirexample.

WhenfinallytheRPFrebelstookoverthepowerinRwandaRutabanaagainbelievedinafreshstartforhiscountry,withoutthepastdiscrimina=onsandoppression.However,alsothisdreamsoonfadedassoonasherealizedthetrueinten=onsofthenewregime.AccordingtoRutabanatheregimeonlyservesitsself-interest,nottheinterestofthepeopleofRwanda.Althoughthegovernmentiseffec=velydevelopingthecountryeconomically,thisdevelopmentdoesnotreallyimprovethelivesoftheordinarypeople.Alsomanyhumanrightsabusesarecommonprac=ce,likethedeten=onofhomelesschildrenwithinstateprisons.

Oneofthemostvisiblesignsoftheself-servingcharacterofthecurrentregimeisthefactthatitusesthehorrorsofthegenocideinordertotakethewholesocietyhostageandeventoblackmailtheinterna=onalcommunity.Insteadofburyingthemanyvic=msofthegenocide,theircorpsesarebeingexposedtothepublicinthena=onalgenocidememorial.Skullsarestackedonhighpilesandbringfeartoeveryvisitor.Thisisaverystrangeprac=ceinrela=ontoRwandancultureortoanyAfricancultureforthatma`er.Thereisawidespreadbeliefthatthesoulsofpeoplewhoarenotburiedaferdeathcanneverfindrestandwillstayasspiritsamongthelivingtocausetrouble.Soinsteadofagenuineplaceofrespectforthegenocidevic=msthismemorialisinthefirstplaceamostimper=nentdisgracetothesevic=msandtheirrela=ves.Inthesecondplacethesamememorialfunc=onsasaswordofDamoclestoalloftheHutu’sinthecountry,becauseitimplicitlybutclearlyputstheblameontheen=reHutupopula=oningeneral.Inthethirdplacethegenocidememorialisusedbytheregimetoputpressureontheinterna=onalcommunity,indirectlyblamingthemfornotprotec=ngtheTutsi’sduringthegenocide.TheRwandanregimeisusingtheresul=ngfeelingofguiltintheinterna=onalcommunitybyplayingthedefenselessvic=mwhoneedsprotec=on,noma`erwhatcrimesitiscommiungitself.

APPENDIX 3: Full keynote speech by Ben Rutabana

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AferthewarRutabanaimmediatelyquitthearmy.Seeingthecorrup=onandabuseofpowerofthenewleaders,hedecidedtocon=nuehisstrugglefortruepeaceanddemocracybymakingmusic.InhissongsBenofencri=cizesthecurrentGovernment.Thiswasthereasonthathewasconvictedandputinprisonin2000.

Rutabanadoesn’tbelievethattherealcausesofwararetobefoundinthepeoplethemselves,notintheirethnicityortribalculture.Tutsi’sandHutu’saren’teachothersarch-enemies.Thefactthattensionsbetweenthemescalatedaretobefoundmainlyinexternalinfluences,star=ngfromtheBelgiancolonial=mes.Mythsarebeingtoldabouteachothersculturesandiden==es,inordertomakeeachgroupafraidoftheother.

Howeverthesestoriesareuntrue.ItisclearbynowthatthecurrentgovernmentispredominantlyTutsi,andTutsiarealsoamongitsfirstvic=ms.ThegovernmentkilledmanyofthemalongwithHutudiasporaintellectualsthroughouttheyearswhowereseenasthreattothegovernment.ThishasbroughtBentoaconclusion:‘Powerhasnorace,theproblemsarepoli=cal,peoplethemselvesarenottheproblem’.This,togetherwiththefactthatthereisnospaceforcorrecthistoricalanalysisofthegenocide,andthefactthatyoungHutusinschoolsarebeingforcedtoapologizeforwhatsomeoftheirrela=vesdidbeforetheywereevenborn,contributestotheinstabilityofthecountryanditsinabilitytocompletelyhealfrompastwounds.

30

FilipReyntjensisProfessorofLawandPoli=csattheIns=tuteofDevelopmentPolicyandManagement,oftheUniversityofAntwerp.Reyntjensfocusedonthefollowing‘rootcauses’oftheconflictintheGreatLakesRegion:

a.WeaknessoftheCongoleseState

TheweaknessesoftheCongoleseStateislargelyvisibleinitweakperformancesinma`ersofsovereignty:thelackofafullarmyorpolicecontrolovertheareaswithinitsownborders.Thisallowsthecrea=onofnon-Statemili=aandprivateinterests,andtheintrusionofforeignState(proxy)armies,orrebelgroupsunderforeignstatecontrol.Thisendsupfurthererodingthealreadyreducedphysicalfunc=onsoftheState.

b.Territorialextensionofcivilwar

TerritorialexpansionofacivilwarinoneofthecountriesoftheGreatLakesRegioncaneasilyunderminethestabilityofanyofthesurroundingStates.Becauseofpoorlycontrolled,porousborderareas,civilwarscaneasilybeexported.Ifthehos=ngStateisalreadyweak,asinthecaseoftheoverflowingoftheRwandanconflictintoCongo,thiscouldleadtoitscompletecollapse,whichisexactlywhathappenedtoDRCongo.

c.ShiIingalliances

ReyntjensmoredeeplyexploresoneaspectoftheGreatLakesconflictwhichisofenoverlooked:theconstantlyshifingandverytemporaryalliancesbetweenagreatrangeofna=onsandarmedrebelgroupsallacrosscentralandeasternAfrica.Afriendoftodaycanbeyourenemytomorrow.Ofenreasoningaccordingtotheprinciple“theenemyofmyenemyismyfriend”,manyadhoccoali=ons,ba`leplansandconspiraciesaremade.Thisstateofaffairsanddealingsbyelitegroupswithinarmiesandpoli=csbyconstantlyintroducingnewdissentamongpeople,furtherundermineStatehoodandmakeanytrulydemocra=creformsincreasinglyremote.

d.Profitabilityofwar

Morethaninanyotherconflict,warintheGreatLakesregionmeansbusinessformanystakeholdersinvolved.Thismilitarycommercializa=onisalsoknownasentrepreneurshipofinstability.Oneveryenlighteningexampleisrecentresearchcalculatedthatin1999,thetotalvalueaddedofdiamond,goldandcoltanplunderedbyRwandaintheDRC,amountedto6.1%ofRwanda’sGDPandto146%ofitsofficialmilitaryexpenditure.Manyotherbusinesseswouldbejealousatsuchahighratereturnoninvestment.ThisallclearlyshowstheprofitabilityofwarintheGreatLakesregion.Aslongaswarcreatessomuchwealthforthoseresponsible,atroci=es,massacresandplunderwillmostlikelycon=nueintheregionanditwillbereallyhardtostopit.

e.Localandcross-bordersdynamics

AnotherpointFilipexposesarethedynamicsthatconstantlynewfluxesofrebelsandrefugeescreate.Wheneverlargegroupsofrefugeesarrivesomewhere,thisofenundermineslocaltradi=onalleadershipandauthoritypa`erns,createsproblemsofland-useandignitesnew,localconflicts.

APPENDIX 4: Full keynote speech by Filip Reyntjens

31

f.Impunity

ThelastpointReyntjenstreatedwasaboutimpunity.ThisproblemiswidespreadintheGreatLakesRegionashardlyanyoneresponsibleforeitherStatecrimes,masskillingsornon-stateviolenceiseverbroughttojus=ce.Nooneonpowerineitherofthefourcountries,Uganda,Rwanda,BurundiorCongohasagenuineinterestinpersecu=ngwarcriminals,asanyresearchmightleadtothediscoveryofeventsorinterestsinwhichtheythemselveswereinvolved.Manypeopleaccusedofgravehumanrightsviola=onsandevenmassacresholdhighposi=onsingovernment.

32

Dirk-JanKochstartedhispresenta=onwithaskingtheaudiencewhothinksthatnaturalresourcesarethemainsourceofconflictinDRCongo.Halfoftheaudienceraisedtheirhand.Thenheshowedashortvideoofhis=meworkinginKinshasa,bothattheDutchembassyandasateacheratauniversity.

Kochshoweddataaboutnaturalresources,basedongraphicsfromTheInterna=onalPeaceInforma=onService(IPIS)(h`p://ipisresearch.be/).IPISisaBelgianindependentresearchins=tuteprovidingtailoredinforma=on,analysisandcapacityenhancementtosupportthoseactorswhowanttorealizeavisionofdurablepeace,sustainabledevelopmentandthefulfilmentofhumanrights.

Anoverwhelmingpartofthegoldminesareregulatedbyarmedgroups,boththeCongolesearmyandforeignarmedgroups.In2010,theInterna=onalConferenceontheGreatLakesRegion,signedtheLusakaDeclara=on,declaringtofightillegalexploita=ontogether.AlsotheUnitedStatesofAmericahavemadeeffortstoreducetradeofconflictminerals,forinstancetheUSDoddFrankAct,Sec=on1502.Interna=onally,theconflictfreeTinini=a=vewasraisedfrom2012to2014.Thisprogramtookcarethatthebagsofmineralsweresealedandincludedadigitalfingerprint,inordertotracethemsocompaniescouldbesurethattheremineralsweremadeinconflict-freemines.TheEuropeanUnionisconsideringwhethertheyshouldalsotakestepsforminimizingillegaltradebutun=lnowtheEUhasnolegisla=on.

Forcoltanand=nthedigitalfingerprintsworkwell,partlybecauseitiseasytoindicatefromthematerialitselfwhereitiscomingfrom.Forgoldthisismuchmoredifficult.Thisisevenmoreproblema=c,sincefromallmines,goldminesproducethelargestincomeinDRCongo.ThelatestreportfromIPIS,fromOctober2013,showsthat“Outofanes=mated221,500ar=sanalminersac=veintheminingsitesvisitedintheframeworkofthisresearch(1088intotal),1350werediggingfortungsten(wolframite),morethan7000fortantalum(coltan),about32,000for=n(cassiterite)andnolessthan176,000forgold.”98%ofthegoldissmuggledoutofthecountry,thisisbetween8000and12000kg.

Someonefromtheaudienceremarksthatnotonlytheresourcesitselfareproblema=c,butalsotheillegaluseofwaterandwood.Dirk-JanKochacknowledgedthis,butexplainshisfocusonmineralsbecauseoftheinterna=onaltradeandtheassociatedinterna=onalresponsibility.

Kochendshispresenta=onbysta=ngsomefinalconclusions:

•Statebuildingisessen=alforstability

•Worktowardsafairandeffec=vetaxsystem

•Weneedmorepolicyrelevantresearch

APPENDIX 5: Full keynote speech by Dirk-Jan Koch

33

Congoisanenormouscountry,soIwillfocusonthelocalconflictinIturi.Thisconflictfrom1998to2001wasintercommunityrelatedbetweenHemaandLendu.Thereares=ll150.000internallydisplacedpersonswhocan’tgobacktotheirhomevillage.Theselandproblemsandthemistrustaretwoofthebiggestproblems,peopledidnotyetdealwiththehistory.Thishasmany=mesjeopardizethepeacebuildingprocess.

Thisconflicttookplaceinacontextwherethegovernmentdidnotenjoyahighrateoflegi=macy.Thechiefsofthedifferentcommuni=eshadatripleloyalty;towardstheirfamily,tothepeopleinhisregionandtothestate.Thisloyaltyissueisaproblemup=llnow,forexampleforthecourtswhoaredealingwiththelandproper=es.Resultsfromaques=onnaireshowedthatlocalwomengradedtheworkoftheofficialcourtswitha1,5andthelocalcourtwitha6,5.Stateofficialsjudgedtheofficialcourtasa5,5andthelocalcourtswitha7.5(both1outof10).Theseresultsshowusthatpeopledonothavemuchfaithintheauthori=estohelpthem.

Ituriisanruralareaandbecauseoftheconflictpopula=onsandsocialstructureshavemuchchanged.Thetollthatthisproblemistakingonthelivelihoodistremendous.Theproblemwithlandrightshasmany=mesjeopardizethepeacebuildingprocesstobringpeopleclosertogether.Becausethelawdidnotchangesincethe=meofMobutuandthereisnojuridicalframework.Thewholesitua=onmakesnewelec=onsalsoproblema=c,becauseyouhavetodefinetheareaandyouhavetoknowthepeoplelivinginit.Bothcriteriaares=lluncertain.

Theconflictandthecomplexesofsuperiorityandinferiorityofcommuni=eshaveresultedinafragmentedsociety,whichmakesithardtomobilizeforchange.Fromacivilperspec=veIhaveafewsugges=onsforabe`erfuture:

•Interven=ononlocallife.Bringpeopletogethertobuildonastrongercivilsociety,socivilsocietycangainlegi=macy.Inmyopinion,civilsocietyisthegreatesthopeforDRCongo.

•Securityissues.Safetyandstabilityiscrucialforpeace.Thearmyandpoliceshouldcooperateasastrongcoali=onagainst(foreign)rebelgroups.Chiefsandotherlocalactorsshouldgiveprioritytosafetyissuestoo.

•Solvinglandproblems.AsIsaidbeforethereiscurrentlynoactorwhohasbothlegalityaslegi=macyandthereisnolegalframework.Thishastochangeinordertobringjus=ceandtogainafundamentforsustainablepeace.

•Strongerstate.Thegovernmentneedstoreformitself.Also,theinterna=onalcommunityhastokeepadvoca=ngforgoodgovernance,tomakeDRCongoastrongerandbe`erstate.

APPENDIX 6: Full keynote speech by Joost van Puijenbroek

34

OpportuniDesforsustainablepeaceintheGreatLakesRegion.OverviewofiniDaDvesforpeaceandoutlineofnewmethodstobeimplementedintheregion.

a.IntroducDon

Thea`en=onofmyinterven=ontodayistolookforsomeofpossibleareasofsocio-economicareasthatcanbereinforcedundercoopera=onbetweenRwanda,Burundi,andtheDemocra=cRepublicofCongo(DRC)forsustainablepeace.Ithasbeenrevealedthatalthoughdifferentconflictsthathavecharacterizedthesecountries,thereareyetrichopportuni=esthatcanjointlybeu=lizedtowardssustainablepeaceanddevelopmentoftheregion.

Iwilltrytoshowthat,foranysustainablepeaceini=a=ve,thereisawell-recognizedneedforpeacemakersor“peaceholders”toplayrightlytheirrolestoallowingpoten=alpeacemakerstocommittheirintelligenceandtheircapitalstoinvestmentintheregion.Amongtheseincludetheroleoflocalleadersandlocalpopula=on(followers),theInterna=onalCommunity,thecivilsocietyandthemedia.

Finally,Iwillconcludemyreflec=onwithhopethatonceini=a=vesaretakeninpreven=ngconflictsanditsrelatedconsequences,peaceagentsarelikelytosignificantlyplaytheirrolestowardssustainableharmonyintheregion.

b.TheGreatLakesRegion

Asyouknow,theGreatLakesRegionconsistsofcountriesineastandcentralAfrica,formingacomplexnetworkofpoli=calandeconomicinterac=onswithimplica=onsforpeaceissues,securityandgovernance.Today,thetermreferstoaregionwithmul=pleconflictsandcommonfundamentalproblemsthatemanatefrompost-colonialchallengestostate-andna=on-building.

Thefocusonregionalapproacheshasofenignoredthepowerofbuildingrela=onshipsandinvolvinglocalactorstoaddresstherootcausesofconflict.Similarly,aregionalapproachinclinestooverlookissuesthatareuniquetoindividualcountriesyethaveanpredominantinfluenceintheregion.

Althoughinterna=onalorganiza=onsandgovernmentsareac=veinpeaceini=a=vesintheGreatLakesregion,issuesofgovernance,landownership,ethnicity,andreconcilia=onafergenocide,extremepoverty,andunderrepresenta=onneedtocombinebo`om-upmethodsandtop-downapproachestopeacebuilding.

c.TheGreatLakesRegionConflict:ActorsandFactors

Aregionalconflictisnotlimitedtopar=culargeographicorpoli=calen==es.Itinvolvessocialnetworksofarmedrebelgroupsthatmaybeconnectedbycommoneconomicinterestsorideologiesthatareregion-wideandgathersupportfromoutsiders.IntheGreatLakesregion,Rwandawasinconflictintheearly1990s,butinthe2000s,theconflicthasmovedtotheDRC,wherefigh=ngisongoing;Uganda’sLord’sResistanceArmy(LRA)isalsobelievedtobeopera=nginremoteareasonthebordersofUgandaandCongo.

WhilecountriesinvolvedintheGreatLakesregionpartlydifferintermsoftheirhistory,extentofwarandlevelsofdevelopment,therearealsosomesimilari=esthatcharacterizetheGreatLakesregion.First,countrieswithintheregionhavefailedtoestablishinclusivepoli=calins=tu=ons:

APPENDIX 7: Full keynote speech by Stéphanie Mbanzendore

35

Thishasresultedinunequalrepresenta=onindecisionmakingandaccesstoresources.Thespecificsitua=oninBurundi,wherebadgovernanceandinstableins=tu=onshavefailedallrules,fromacorruptedMagistratetoalazypopula=on.

Secondly,ethnicityisregionalizedandmanifestedinpoli=calviolence:TheRwandangenocidehasincreasedcross-borderethnicaffilia=onsbetweenRwanda,BurundiandCongoandregionalethicbasedrebelgroups.

Thirdly,theavailabilityofmineralresourcesintheDRCcausesenormouseconomicinterestsforneighboringcountrieswhobenefitfromtheillegaltradeofmineralsduringcivilwars.Similarly,massivedisplacementsandmassivehumanmobility-refugeeflowsacrossallbordersalsomaketheeffectsoftheconflictspreadwithintheneighboringcountries.

InBurundi,whilewarsandotheractseruptedinDRCandRwanda,tensionsbetweencommuni=esweresohighthatthecountrywasalsoontheborderofconfronta=on.Inthatcountry,behalfashortperiodintheyears70,thecountrywasall=melivinginbadgovernance,corrup=on,fearofmassacresbecauseofhegemonyofoneethnicgrouponthewhole.

TheGreatLakesconflictreflectstheinterna=onalnatureofcontemporaryconflict,inwhichtheconsequencesofconflictinonecountryaffectneighboringcountriesthroughrefugeeflowsandtheregionalizedrebelgroupsthatoperatewithintheconflic=ngzones.Researchonpeacekeepingandarmedconflictindicatethatwhenconflictsspreadacrossborders,theeffectofcontagioncanbesoseverethatitbecomesdifficulttoconsidereachconflictinisola=on.Manyinternalconflictsarenotsimplyinternalconflictsbecausesomeoftheircausesandeffectsnormallytransgressna=onalborders.

Inthisregard,understandingandengagingthemul=pleactors,factors,andagenciesispartofthewiderangeofapproachestocrea=velong-termsolu=ons.Theseactorsaredomes=c,regional,andinterna=onal,thustheconflictcanbeconsideredbothinternalandregionallyinternalized.

d.RegionalPeacebuildingEffortsintheGreatLakesRegion

Peacebuildingisafullvarietyofini=a=ves,strategiesandac=vi=esthatprevent,reduceandtransformconflictsanddevelopins=tu=ons,autudesandrela=onshipsthatleadtoajustandsustainableharmonioushumanenvironment.Peacebuildingac=vi=esdonotonlyaimtoendviolence,butalsocreatestructuresthatcontributetoajustandsustainablepeace,resul=ngfromhealthyrela=onships.

Mucha`en=onhasfocusedonaregionalapproachtopeacebuildingintheGreatLakesregionsincethe1960s.Thishasbeenthroughthreemajorapproaches.First,regionalconferencestoenhanceregionalcoopera=onandpeacewithsupportoftheUN-SpecialRepresenta=ves.Secondly,diploma=cmissionsbytheUN,EuropeanUnion(EU),establishedinterna=onaldevelopmentorganiza=ons,anddonoragencies.Third,throughUNpeacekeepingmissions.

Regionalandinterna=onalorganiza=ons,mainlytheAfricanUnionandtheUnitedNa=ons,havebeenonthefrontlinesinrespondingtothecycleofconflictintheGreatLakesregion.Regionalpeacekeepingstrategieshaveincludedpolicyformula=onbypar=cipa=ngna=onsandheadsofstatemee=ngtosupportstability,controlofsmallarms,refugeeflowsandeconomicdevelopment.Suchstrategieshavebeenpartlyuseful,especiallyaferthe2004DaresSalaammee=ng,inwhichheadsofstatescommi`edtopromotepeaceintheregion.

e.ChallengesofRegionalPeacebuildingintheGreatLakesRegion

Mostfailuresofpeacenego=a=onsintheGreatLakesregionhavebeena`ributedtoalackofpoli=calwillandtheexistenceofspoilerswithintheregion.Spoilersbenefiteconomicallyandpoli=callyfromcon=nuouscycleofconflictandwoulddowhateverittakestokeepthe 36

conflictheated8.

Thepeacebuildingapproachhasofentakenauniversalframeworkbeginningwithaceasefireagreement,transi=onalgovernments,demilitariza=on,na=onalsecurityreform,repatria=onofrefugeesandcons=tu=onalreformandelectorallydemocra=cprocess.Thisframeworkfocusesonpowersharingandpoli=calagreementswithrebelgroups,whileignoringthefundamentalroleoflocalactors,vic=msofwarandcivilianssuchasthewomengroups,youths,religiousactors,localnon-governmentalorganiza=ons,andadvocacygroups.Yet,suchactorsareinstrumentalinthepeacebuildingprocess.

Similarly,poli=calse`lementsandpowersharinghasproveninadequatetoaddresshistoricalinjus=cessuchasethnicmarginaliza=onandlandownershipforthereturnedrefugees.Inotherwords,representa=oninpeacenego=a=onsandpeacebuildingaferaconflicthasofenbeenleftopoli=cians,thestateandtherebelgroups.

Peacebuildershavetoaddresstherootcausesoftheconflictstoguaranteesustainablepeace.InthecaseoftheGreatLakesregion,peacebuildingapproachesshouldalsofocusontherepara=onforthevic=msandrese`lementsoftherefugeesandformula=ngandeffec=nglandpolicies.Peacebuildingini=a=vesarelikelytohaveahigherchanceofsuccessand/orlong-termimpactifagreatersec=onofthecivilsocietyisincludedinthedecisionmakingprocess.

Theseapproachesshouldbecomplementarytoregionalandinterna=onaldiploma=cini=a=vesthattakecareofthechallengeofmineralresourcesmanagement,poorgovernance,andlandownership—whichformcoreobjec=onintheGreatLakesregionconflict.Strengtheningthelegalandpoli=calprocesstobe`eraddressissuesofrefugeesanddemocra=celectoralpar=cipa=onareessen=alinstrengtheninglong-termpeace.

f.Summary,RecommendaDons,andConclusion

Inthispresenta=on,Iiden=fiedthreemainchallengesfacingregionalpeacebuildingintheGreatLakesregion.Theseare:

•Inadequatepar=cipa=onoflocalactorsandcivilsocietyinthepeaceprocess

•Failuretoaddresshistoricalinjus=ces,issuesoflandandnega=veethnicity

•Lackofcommitmenttotheimplementa=onofpeaceagreementsandins=tu=onalreforms

TheRwandanArushaPeaceAccordofAugust1993isoneexampleofafailedpeaceagreement.TheaimoftheaccordwastoendthewarbetweentheTutsiledRwandanPatrio=cFrontandtheHutuledregime.ThisAccordhadproposedrepara=onofTutsirefugees,andanincreasetheirpar=cipa=oningovernment.However,amajorityoftheHutuelitesinthegovernmentwerereluctanttoimplementtheArushaPeaceAccordthatlatercontributedtotheRwandanGenocidein1994.Similarly,theLusakaPeaceAccordof1999wasonlyaceasefireagreementwithoutapeaceagreement,thusitdidnot-stoptheviolencenorresultinlas=ngpeace.Ithinkandsuggestthatcrea=ngcondi=onsforlas=ngpeaceintheGreatLakesregionwillemanatefromthefollowingfourkeyrecommenda=ons:

•Involvingthecivilsocietyandlocalinterestgroupsintheconflicttransforma=onprocesses

•Addressingtheorigincausesoftheconflict,mainlyissuesofland,historicalinjus=ces,andrese`lementofrefugees

•Strengtheninglegalandpoli=calins=tu=onstoenhancegoodgovernance

•Focusonhealingandreconcilia=ontorestoreharmoniousrela=onshipswithinthecommuni=es.

8hlp://www.beyondintractability.org/casestudy/sikenyi-great-lakes-_nn24 37

PeacebuildingapproachesintheGreatLakesregionhasfocusedmoreonregionalcoopera=onandintegra=on9.

Giventheexis=ngfissurebetweenthetop-downandbo`om-uppeacebuildingapproachesintheGreatLakesregions,weadvocateforacomprehensivepeacebuildingapproachthatsynthesizesbothpeacebuilding,atthepolicylevelinvolvinggovernments,andgrassrootsini=a=vestoaddresshistoricalinjus=cesandotherconsequencesofthecivilwarintheGreatLakesregion.

Theaboveini=a=vescanaddresshos=lity,insecurityandincreasefairpoli=caltransi=ons,rese`lementofinternallydisplacedpersonsandrefugees,repara=onforvic=msofcivilwar,andfocusontrauma,healingandreconcilia=onresul=nginhealthyrela=onshipsandajustpeace.

9hlp://www.beyondintractability.org/casestudy/sikenyi-great-lakes-_nn32 38