A strategic conflict analysis for the Great Lakes region

• The purpose of this study is to give some input to the preparation process of a new regional strategy for Swedish international development co- operation in the Great Lakes region. The report draws on a number of field visits carried out from May to November 2003. Extensive reviews of secondary material were also conducted. The report is organised in a three sections: the first section with an intro- duction and theoretical point of departure and an overview of the major sources of conflicts on the regional level, a chapter on regional conflict resolu- tions mechanisms and lastly a chapter outlining crosscutting issues from the country analyses; the second section consists of a chapter on scenarios and a chapter on policy recommendations; the third section consists of country analyses of Rwanda, Burundi, DRC, Uganda and Kenya. In the country analyses, we show the major structural, proxy and triggering factors behind the current conflict configuration. The country analyses constitute the stepping- stone for the crosscutting issues and regional analysis in section two. The overall conclusion of our work is that the peace process has taken some very important steps forward during 2003. Both the governments of the region, and the international donors display a commitment to peace and development. Despite certain local outbreaks of violence in more than one of the countries, the generalised violence has come to a halt. However, this situation cannot be taken for granted, and there are still risks for reversals. It is this perspective the future role of the international community must be seen. Among the concepts included in our theoretical points of departure are the well-known distinction between direct violence and structural violence. The present military situation, with fading expres- sions of violence, means that direct violence in the region is fading, while there are still no signs of any coherent strategy for what we have chosen to call structural violence reduction. Thus, first and foremost, the international donors should at all costs promote a development strategy which is based the immediate need to direct all efforts to reduce the structural violence in the region. Basically, this is about dealing with people’s basic needs satisfaction. Without this, huge amounts of people, not least young people, in the region will continue to be vulnerable and receptive for any kind of mobilisation to renewed direct violence.

Ämnesord

SAMHÄLLSVETENSKAP  -- Annan samhällsvetenskap -- Tvärvetenskapliga studier inom samhällsvetenskap (hsv//swe)

SOCIAL SCIENCES  -- Other Social Sciences -- Social Sciences Interdisciplinary (hsv//eng)

Nyckelord

Great Lakes region

peace studies

conflict prevention

conflict analysis

Publikations- och innehållstyp

vet (ämneskategori)

rap (ämneskategori)