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The document is a workshop report detailing the regional dimensions of conflict in the Great Lakes Region of Africa. It examines how the proliferation of small arms and light weapons (SALW), the illegal exploitation of natural resources, and forced displacement create a cycle of instability. The report analyzes the role of regional bodies like the International Conference on the Great Lakes Region (ICGLR) and the East African Community (EAC) in promoting sustainable peace, while highlighting systemic challenges such as weak governance, impunity for human rights violations, and a dependence on external funding.

The document argues that rule of law (RoL) development in Africa is primarily a political rather than a technical exercise, criticizing the traditional 'institutional capacity development' model used by donors. It advocates for a shift toward service-delivery and problem-solving approaches that recognize legal pluralism, engage legitimate local justice providers, and address the political interests of domestic elites who may oppose RoL reforms. The report highlights specific challenges such as extreme pre-trial detention rates, gender-based violence, and the complexities of international criminal justice via the ICC, while suggesting that sustainability is best achieved through community-driven projects and the integration of international human rights law into national domestic legislation.

The document details a workshop on the regional dimensions of conflict in the Great Lakes Region, analyzing how factors like the proliferation of small arms and light weapons (SALW), illegal exploitation of lootable natural resources, and forced displacement create a self-perpetuating cycle of instability. It examines the role of regional bodies like the ICGLR and EAC in promoting peace and highlights the critical need for good governance, human rights protections, and coordinated regional strategies to address the root causes of violence.

The document presents results from a pilot study of 177 armed conflict actors in 20 African countries. It finds that sexual violence is often indiscriminate, frequently committed by state armies, and can persist in post-conflict periods or years with low killing rates. The study emphasizes that sexual violence is not an inevitable part of war, as many actors do not engage in it, and recommends improved reporting mechanisms and targeted interventions to reduce its occurrence.

The document analyzes the African Standby Force (ASF) as a critical component of the African Peace and Security Architecture (APSA). It argues that while the ASF is designed to provide a rapid, multidimensional response to African crises—including the right to intervene in cases of war crimes, genocide, and crimes against humanity—its effectiveness is severely hindered by gaps in funding, logistics, administrative capacity, and political will. The author concludes that the ASF is unlikely to meet its projected 2010 operational capabilities and will likely have a modest impact on complex conflicts in the short to medium term.

The document examines the 'double incarnation' of Libyan foreign policy under Muammar Qaddafi. From 1970 to the mid-1990s, Libya focused on pan-Arabism and frequently destabilized African nations by supporting rebel groups in Chad, Sudan, Liberia, and Sierra Leone. Since the late 1990s, Tripoli shifted toward pan-Africanism, playing a central role in the establishment of the African Union (AU) and the Community of Sahel and Saharan States (CEN-SAD). The paper details Libya's efforts to act as a peace broker, specifically in the Chad-Sudan conflict, and its use of 'chequebook diplomacy' through development aid and capital investments via companies like LAAICO and LAFICO.

The document examines the technical and political challenges of integrating REDD into global climate policy, focusing on the scope of activities (from REDD to REDD++), financing mechanisms, measurement, reporting and verification (MRV) standards, and institutional governance. It highlights the diversity of national circumstances, particularly in Africa, and the need for a phased implementation approach that balances equity with efficiency.

The report examines the technical, financial, and institutional challenges of implementing REDD, focusing on the definitions of 'forest', funding mechanisms, and measurement, reporting, and verification (MRV) systems.

The document examines how human rights are integrated into African international relations, noting a gap between formal commitments to regional and international treaties and the practical application of these norms. It highlights how national interests, historical colonial ties, and the emergence of non-conditional economic partnerships—particularly with China—often supersede human rights considerations. The author analyzes specific cases, such as the African Union's response to the ICC warrant for Omar Al-Bashir and South Africa's diplomatic balancing act, to argue that human rights often remain a "variable concern" rather than a central pillar of foreign policy.

The report assesses the ICC's operations in the DRC, highlighting a gap between the government's political support and its actual technical capacity to cooperate. It examines specific cases, such as those of Thomas Lubanga and Jean-Pierre Bemba, and analyzes how domestic politics and the pursuit of peace in the Kivus create tensions with the ICC's mandate. The author finds that while the ICC is viewed as a crucial tool against impunity, victims and civil society express frustration over limited outreach, perceived selectivity in prosecutions, and the Court's low public profile.

The document analyzes the intractable political crisis in Chad, arguing that international efforts have often prioritized regime stability over long-term peace and democratic institutional building. It examines the roles of President Idriss Déby, armed rebel groups, and external powers like France, the US, and Sudan. The report evaluates specific initiatives, including the 13 August 2007 political accord and the Dakar Agreement, concluding that implementation has been piecemeal and hampered by a lack of political will and coordinated mechanisms.

The paper analyzes the legal precedents established by the ICC's pursuit of President Bashir, including the first summons of a sitting Head of State and the use of a UN Security Council referral under Resolution 1593. It explores the tension between state sovereignty and international justice, the potential for the Security Council to defer prosecutions under Article 16 of the Rome Statute, and the humanitarian crisis resulting from the Sudanese government's expulsion of aid agencies. The author argues that regional bodies like the African Union and the Arab League should prioritize human rights and the fight against impunity over defensive views of sovereignty.

The briefing argues that Andry Rajoelina's ascent to power in Madagascar in March 2009 was an "unconstitutional change of government" because it bypassed electoral processes and violated constitutional age requirements and succession rules. It notes that the military's role in declaring Rajoelina president overrode President Marc Ravalomanana's suggestion of a military directorate. The document suggests that Rajoelina may have been inspired by Ravalomanana's own 2002 seizure of power. It attributes the failure of mediation to a lack of coordination among numerous international and local actors, including the AU, SADC, and IOC, and warns that the political instability has adversely affected Madagascar's tourism sector.

The Juba peace process between the government of Uganda (GOU) and the Lord’s Resistance Army (LRA) has stalled, primarily due to Joseph Kony's refusal to sign the Final Peace Agreement (FPA) over concerns regarding International Criminal Court (ICC) indictments. The conflict has expanded beyond northern Uganda into southern Sudan, the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), and the Central African Republic (CAR), effectively becoming a regional conflict system. While the Juba talks are described as the most comprehensive effort to date, they lack sufficient leverage to coerce parties into an agreement. Consequently, regional military cooperation between Uganda, the DRC, and southern Sudan has increased, including a joint offensive in Garamba (DRC) in December 2008. The document argues that a purely military solution is unlikely to succeed and that a sustainable end-game requires a multi-pronged approach addressing regional rivalries and the tension between peace and international justice.

The briefing examines how the global banking crisis and falling commodity prices threaten African budgets and social expenditure, while analyzing ongoing political instability in countries like the DRC, Sudan, and Somalia, and the prospects for democratic consolidation across the continent.

The document examines the transition of French-African relations from the Gaullist 'Françafrique' model—characterized by personalized ties with authoritarian leaders—toward a more transparent, multilateral approach. It highlights the failures of the 'Baule doctrine' to enforce democratization and the shift in military strategy toward reinforcing African peacekeeping capacities (RECAMP). Economically, it notes a trend of disengagement, with France moving from a primary donor to an intermediary for international financial institutions and introducing conditionality via the 'Abidjan doctrine'. Under Nicolas Sarkozy, the document identifies a contradictory mix of provocative rhetoric and new promises of transparency in defense agreements and co-development funds, while noting that traditional practices of supporting authoritarian regimes persist.

The document details the perspectives of General Martin Luther Agwai on the implementation of the UNAMID mandate in Darfur. It outlines the socio-economic and political origins of the Darfur conflict, the transition from the African Union Mission in Sudan (AMIS) to the hybrid UNAMID operation, and the significant logistical and political hurdles facing the mission. General Agwai argues that while UNAMID has achieved success in civilian protection and humanitarian support, it is severely hampered by a lack of equipment, insufficient troop levels, and a complex security environment where no stable peace exists to be kept.

The Pan-African Parliament (PAP), inaugurated in 2004, currently operates as a consultative and advisory body without legislative, supervisory, or budgetary powers. The document argues that the PAP's institutional weakness stems from the decision by African leaders in 1999 to accelerate its establishment, bypassing the gradual six-stage integration process outlined in the 1991 Abuja Treaty. This premature launch left the PAP without necessary foundations, resulting in a 'disconnection between reality and the expectation' of its contribution to the African Union (AU). Key challenges include poor interaction with other AU organs, a lack of control over its own budget, and a membership system based on nomination from national legislatures rather than direct election by citizens. While the PAP has conducted observer missions to regions such as Darfur, Mauritania, the DRC, and the Central African Republic, many of its resolutions are ignored by the AU executive. The author suggests that the PAP must exploit existing protocol provisions to enhance its visibility and engagement with AU organs to become a relevant institution.

The document analyzes two legal pathways for prosecuting Robert Mugabe: the principle of universal jurisdiction and the International Criminal Court (ICC). While legal grounds exist for crimes committed after July 2002—such as 'Operation Murambatsvina' and election violence—the author concludes that prosecution is 'extremely unlikely' due to political obstacles. These include Zimbabwe's lack of ratification of the ICC statute and the likelihood that immunity from prosecution will be a key negotiation point to secure Mugabe's removal from power.

The document outlines how civil society organizations (CSOs) can move beyond the perception of parliaments as rubber-stamp bodies to actively influence policy. It emphasizes the importance of understanding electoral systems—noting that single-member districts often produce more independent legislators—and the necessity of providing non-partisan, evidence-based information to resource-constrained parliamentarians. The author advocates for building long-term relationships with 'champions' within the ruling party, maintaining organizational transparency to ensure credibility, and using media and public pressure to support legislative goals.