Practical pathways to peace

This report by the Institute for Security Studies compares peacebuilding and inclusivity efforts in Liberia and South Sudan to provide practical recommendations for the United Nations and other international actors on sustaining peace.

• Liberia's mediation process successfully utilized a power-sharing model that included warring factions, political parties, and civil society. To prevent these actors from dominating future politics, appointees in the National Transitional Government of Liberia (NTGL) were prohibited from contesting the 2005 elections.
• In contrast to Liberia, South Sudan's mediation efforts were overly focused on the two primary conflict parties and failed to address the incentives of these actors. This narrow focus, combined with a lack of resources and a failure to include other armed groups in the Comprehensive Peace Agreement (CPA), contributed to political fragmentation and a relapse into conflict.
• Liberia's Disarmament, Demobilisation and Reintegration (DDR) process was comprehensive, resulting in the complete disbanding of the Armed Forces of Liberia (AFL) and the demobilisation of over 101,000 people between December 2003 and October 2004, including 22,300 women and 11,700 children. However, high unemployment (approximately 75%) hindered long-term reintegration.
• South Sudan's DDR and Security Sector Reform (SSR) processes were largely ineffective. Only 13% of combatants entered the DDR programme, and the South Sudan People's Liberation Army (SPLA) continued to grow due to amnesty packages for militias and recruitment driven by fears of border conflict with Sudan.
• State-building in South Sudan was hampered by a technical approach that prioritised central state institutions in Juba and failed to distinguish between the SPLM ruling party and state institutions. In Liberia, while inclusive national frameworks like 'Liberia Rising 2030' were established, the country still struggles with finalizing constitutional reform.
• The effectiveness of regional organisations depends on their internal unity. ECOWAS eventually provided a unified response to Liberia's conflict by institutionalising frameworks for democracy and good governance. Conversely, IGAD's efforts in South Sudan were undermined by the competing interests of member states, including Ethiopia, Uganda, Sudan, Egypt, and Kenya.

APA

Lucey, A., & Kumalo, L. (2018). Practical pathways to peace. Institute for Security Studies. https://issafrica.s3.amazonaws.com/site/uploads/ar-10.pdf

Chicago

Lucey, Amanda, and Liezelle Kumalo. Practical pathways to peace. Institute for Security Studies, 2018. https://issafrica.s3.amazonaws.com/site/uploads/ar-10.pdf.

Wikipedia

{{cite report |last1=Lucey |first1=Amanda |last2=Kumalo |first2=Liezelle |title=Practical pathways to peace |publisher=Institute for Security Studies |date=June 2018 |url=https://issafrica.s3.amazonaws.com/site/uploads/ar-10.pdf |access-date=17 August 2026 |via=Climate Insights Directory}}

BibTeX

@techreport{lucey2018practical, author = {Lucey, Amanda and Kumalo, Liezelle}, title = {{Practical pathways to peace}}, institution = {Institute for Security Studies}, year = {2018}, month = jun, url = {https://issafrica.s3.amazonaws.com/site/uploads/ar-10.pdf}, urldate = {2026-08-17}, note = {Indexed by Climate Insights Directory} }