It is on the occasion of the eighth edition of the PCNS APSACO at the Mohammed VI Polytechnic University of Rabat.
During the opening, Monday June 10 in Rabat, of the 8th edition of the annual conference on peace and security in Africa (APSACO) organized by the Policy Center for the New South (PCNS), the former Prime Minister of Guinea (2008-2010), Kabiné Komara, stressed the importance of finding African solutions to the continent’s conflicts.
During the first panel dedicated to “Mechanisms and approaches to mediation in internal conflicts”, Komara shared her experiences and those of African leaders in conflict resolution, highlighting the crucial role of traditional and cultural methods. “ When there was a conflict in the neighborhood, he was listened to “, he said, referring to former Guinean President Sékou Touré, recognized for his role as a respected mediator in West Africa.
Komara illustrated the importance of cultural mediation with an anecdote from 1975, where a conflict between Burkina Faso and Mali was resolved thanks to the intervention of a Guinean singer during a cultural evening. “ He gave the floor to this singer, who addressed each of the two heads of state saying to them: we cannot understand that you, who descend from people of great reputation, of peace and understanding , may you wage war and shed the blood of your compatriots “, he said.
The former prime minister also highlighted the instrumental role of women in resolving Liberia’s civil war. He described how the Mano River Women’s Union, made up of women of different ages and backgrounds, succeeded where formal negotiations had failed for almost eight years. “ It was the women of the three countries who created an organization called the Mano River Women’s Union. They studied the psychological profile of each of the three heads of state and used their influence to bring them to the negotiating table “, he explained.
Komara also criticized certain methods used by the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) to manage political crises. “You cannot sanction a country and quarantine the head of state by refusing to speak to him. You need to open discussions,” he said, adding that ECOWAS should “send mediators who understand the context very well, who understand the dynamics, who understand the interests.”
Jean-Hervé Jezequel, director of the Sahel project at the International Crisis Group, examined the persistent instability in the Sahel, highlighting the reasons for the failure to contain the violence despite the means mobilized to stabilize the region. He attributed this to an over-reliance on military responses and insufficient political dialogue. Jezequel highlighted the need for locally driven solutions, emphasizing the role of women, traditional and religious leaders in revitalizing peacebuilding efforts.
Ajay Sethi, Senior Advisor at the United Nations Mediation Support Unit, focused on the challenges of capacity building at the local, national and regional levels. He highlighted the importance of financial sustainability for peace processes and advocated for a tailored approach that respects the unique cultural and political contexts of each region.
For her part, Lassina Zerbo, former Prime Minister of Burkina Faso (2021-2022), insisted on the important, but often neglected, contributions of women to peace and security efforts. He called for a symbiosis of traditional and modern mediation methods, respecting cultural frameworks while integrating contemporary practices. Zerbo stressed the need for coherent and inclusive mediation approaches to ensure lasting peace in Africa.
Kabiné Komara called for a reassessment of mediation and sanction approaches in West Africa, emphasizing the need to adapt methods to current realities. “I am convinced that if we revisit our history, our tradition, there are ways to respond to certain negotiations, to certain conflicts,” he concluded.
This annual conference, organized by the PCNS, brings together experts, leaders and academics to discuss the challenges and opportunities for peace and security in Africa, highlighting solutions rooted in the local realities of the continent.
AC/min/APA
