Improving West African Capacities in Mediation and Peace Processes Project Organised a ‘Learning and Experience Sharing Workshop'
Improving West African Capacities in Mediation and Peace Processes Project Organised a ‘Learning and Experience Sharing Workshop on Mediation and Peace Processes in West Africa at the Kofi Annan International Peacekeeping Training Centre, Accra, October 19th and 20th
Crisis Management Initiative (CMI) in partnership with the Kofi Annan International Peacekeeping Training Centre (KAIPTC) and in collaboration with the Economic Community for West African States (ECOWAS) organized a learning and experience sharing workshop on mediation and peace processes in Accra on the 19th and 20th of October. Made up largely of actors who have played a role in mediating conflicts in West Africa at track 1 and track 2 levels, participants came from Sierra Leone, Liberia, Senegal, Benin, Togo, Nigeria, Ghana, Guinea, Ivory Coast, Gambia, Niger, Finland, and Norway. Discussions and presentations provided opportunities for sharing and exchange of views and experiences on mediation and peace processes in West Africa.
As part of its objective of contributing to the development and strengthening of indigenous, sustainable resources for conflict prevention and resolution, preventive diplomacy and peace processes in West Africa the joint initiative of the Crisis Management Initiative (CMI) and the Kofi Anan International Peacekeeping Training Centre (KAIPTC), the ‘Improving West-African Capacities in Mediation and Peace Processes Project (2011-2013)’, organized a learning and experience sharing workshop on mediation and peace processes in West Africa at KAIPTC in Accra on the 19th and 20th of October.
Made up largely of actors who have played a key role in mediating conflicts in West Africa at track 1 and track 2 levels, the 40 participants came farom Sierra Leone, Liberia, Senegal, Benin, Togo, Nigeria, Ghana, Guinea, Ivory Coast, Gambia, Niger, Finland, and Norway. Discussions and presentations provided opportunities for sharing and exchange of views and experiences on mediation and peace processes in West Africa.
Welcome and introductory statements by Brigadier-General Martin Owusu-Ababio, Deputy Commandant of KAIPTC and Tuija Talvitie, Executive Director of Crisis Management Initiative were followed by key note speeches by H E Ambassador Victor Gbeho, president of the ECOWAS Commission (represented by Dr. Aderemi Ajibewa)and H. E. Alhaji Mohammed Mumuni, Foreign Minister, Republic of Ghana. H E Gbeho’s speech contextualised mediation in the region highlighting the role of ECOWAS including some challenges and successes. H E Mumuni focused on the critical role of mediation as a tool for the prevention, resolution and management and gave special attention to enhancing the mediation and peacemaking processes in West Africa.
The highly experienced participants were key resources as they had played critical roles in mediation and peace processes in the region. Through a combination of presentations of case studies and group work real understanding and insights came through the discussions between participants. Key issues, challenges and successes as well as factors to consider when developing effective training were deliberated. The issue of the role of mediation by religious and traditional leaders as well as case studies of the following countries were the base for discussions; Ghana, Niger, Senegal, Liberia, Guinea, Sierra Leone, Ivory Coast and Senegal (Casamance region). Group sessions focused on topics such as; the role of traditional and religious leaders in mediation, the role of women in mediation, enhancing regional capacities, and the value of multi-track mediation. The experiences, comments and suggestions of participants over the two days will feed directly into the development of modules for the training course in conflict analysis and mediation being developed by CMI and KAIPTC, in efforts to ensure that this is relevant, practical and responds to real needs.