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Participants after the workshop. Photo: EDNA SALVO-KOTEY
Research conducted by the West African Peacebuilding Network (WANEP) has identified the lack of appropriate political and institutional governance as a major threat to responses to the peace and security challenges that have plagued the Sahel region.
The report found that political and security actors, particularly in Mali, Niger and Burkina Faso, lacked leadership and crisis management skills, which contributed to the failures of many peace and security interventions in the regions. respective countries.
Beyond this, the report also finds that the lack of technical and financial resources of national actors is another key factor militating against peace efforts.
He observed that most of the time, governments budgeted for counterterrorism operations, but rarely did the same for peacebuilding in conflict-affected areas “and therefore you always have problems with lack of money. funding, technical and logistical support for initiatives. that are implemented in the region. “
Research report
The report was entitled “The Limits and Pitfalls of Regional and National Multilateral Responses to the Challenges of Peace and Security in the Sahel Region and Côte d’Ivoire”.
Using the case study approach, the researchers, over a period of three months, collected data from citizens of all countries and subjected them to content and thematic analysis.
Other results
Particularly in Niger, research has revealed that the risk of politicization of civil society organizations (CSOs) and attacks by political actors has also crippled contributions to the promotion of peace and security.
“Most CSO interventions focus on the national context, and few have a region-wide approach,” he said, adding that “short-term funding programs and CSO intervention project cycles do not deliver lasting impact or change. ”
Most interventions are not monitored due to insecurity issues and lack of funding from state actors in areas where these interventions take place.
Recommendation
The report called for a multifaceted approach, strong political commitment and the perseverance of national and external actors to address the challenges of peace and security in the region.
He further recommended the establishment of a strong comprehensive integrated framework of initiatives to ensure coherence and targeted responses and also promote a bottom-up approach to peacebuilding by investing more in indigenous actors and initiatives to promote peace, security, development and justice.
“The United Nations (UNOWAS) as the lead multilateral institution may consider developing a knowledge management platform to improve synergy between international partners,” suggests the report.
Warning
Regional Coordinator, Research and Capacity Building, WANEP, Dr Festus Aubyn, warned Ghana to be on the lookout as it was not immune to challenges.
“I am almost sure you are all aware of the threats of terrorism and violent extremism from the Ivorian border into Ghana. The results must therefore be a lesson for Ghana to put in place measures to deal with the threats that have led to conflicts in these countries and to avoid any future challenges related to what we are living in these countries ”, he said. -he declares.
For his part, the Executive Director of WANEP, Dr Chukwemeka Eze, observed that there was a gap between interlocutors and national actors and “therefore part of what we see on the ground is that sometimes because that peace and security are not part of the development agenda of States. The emphasis is more on absolute security rather than the well-being of citizens. “
“And, therefore, what it does is that rather than approaching the issue of security from a human security perspective, we tend to protect the state more than the citizens.
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