By Damian Ajayi Esq.

Effective reconciliation is the pivot upon which peacebuilding revolves in every society because it is when conflicting parties have truly reconciled that peacebuilding can adequately commence in a post-conflict environment or situation. Reconciliation entails conflicting parties putting behind enmity, distrust, hatred and developing a line of communication to see the opportunities that can be achieved through the growth of peace and justice in the society.

For peacebuilding to evolve, conflicting parties need to make efforts towards reconciliation and indeed reconcile regardless of the differences and rising issues towards achieving a peaceful society.

Scholars have identified various means of reconciliation and we shall briefly look at three(3) namely
1) The contact theory/hypothesis
2) The Separation theory/ hypothesis.
3)The advocacy for the pursuit of justice theory. This is further divided into:-
a) The truth and reconciliation process
b) The collective amnesia/ forgive and forget
c) The extreme pursuit of justice and advocacy for its administration in condign fashion.

1) The contact theory:- Scholars of this theory opine that conflicting parties stay in touch and maintain communication which in return help obliterate their past experiences. It’s their position that the gradual and continued communication between conflicting parties will help attain a neutral urge and willingness to forge ahead towards the achievement of peaceful goals and ideals. While this is quite practical, a major challenge with this, is the implementation in a post-conflict environment that is intensely enmeshed in distrust, bitterness, anger and agitations hence creating a breakdown of communication and cooperation between conflicting parties.

2) The Separation theory:- This can be described as a gradual approach wherein the conflicting parties are separated from one another for a while and subsequently reconciled after most tensions have doused down. This is to help conflicting parties heal from the horrible experiences, wounds and anger that have been created in time past. It is pivotal that conflicting parties heal before being reconciled and reintegrated.

3a) The Truth-and reconciliation process as promoted by African nationalist Desmond Tutu. According to him, reconciliation process should see to a panel being set up for an in-depth and comprehensive investigation of all material facts and surrounding issues in dispute to identify the truth before genuine reconciliation can be achieved. This was successfully carried out in South Africa, Sri Lanka, Chile and Nigeria(Justice Oputa panel in 1998)

3b) The Collective Amnesia theory which is also described as the “forgive and forget theory” can be explained in the post-civil war conflict strategy and mantra of “No victor No vanquished” adopted by the Federal Government in Nigeria after the end of the civil war in 1970. This theory submits that conflicting parties should forgive and forget incidents that have happened in time past and work towards peacebuilding to achieve genuine reconciliation with strong commitments and efforts to reintegrate and cohabitate like nothing ever happened. This theory was confronted with challenges in Nuremberg, Germany in 1945 where conflicting parties were killed and punished in the pursuit of justice.

3c) The extreme pursuit of justice and advocacy for its administration in a condign fashion theory submits that conflicting parties should be prosecuted and punished in line with laid down law. This theory believes that there can’t be true peace or reconciliation without justice or consequences for criminality or actions by parties being held accountable. It submits that parties involved in violence and breaking down of law and order should face the full wrath of the law as this is just in a civil and lawful society.

A major challenge is prosecuting and punishing a conflicting party that has large follower-ship and supporters. In this case, there is a high tendency that the state may experience a relapse into violence – A case study is Liberia. Building sustainable peace is a complex and intricate activity that is beset with difficulties no doubt. For every conflict, there are humans involved directly or indirectly with diverse interests and conflicting objectives which are particularly difficult to manage sometimes. The causal factor of a conflict determines the reconciliation method to be implemented which on the other hand identifies challenges to be experienced. Considering the intricate nature of peacebuilding, challenges experienced can be classified as stated below:

1)  Environmental challenges- This is where conflict takes place and can be further classified into:-
a)Post-conflict environment and its nature
b) Disputants in the post-conflict environment
c) inadequate resources.

2) Challenges with the peacebuilders themselves which is further classified into:-a)Entrenched interests of the peacebuilders.
b)Difficulties in managing the 3(three) C’s namely Communication, Communication and Coordination
c )Inexperience

Going further I will attempt a brief analysis of these challenges highlighted above.

1a) Nature of the Post/Conflict Environment:- Often the post-conflict environment is quite tensed and chaotic brewing tyrant and war-mongers from different angles. This makes it difficult for peacebuilding activities and agreements to be implemented

1b) Disputants in the post-conflict environment:- It can be safely assumed that when the oppressed and oppressors remain in the tensed space after conflict, hostilities will continue to grow between both parties causing deep hatred and distrust. This hatred and distrust are likely to impede efforts exhibited towards peacebuilding and justice

1c) Inadequate Resources:- Even in cases where belligerent parties are willing to co-habitat in the post-conflict environment, inadequate resources for the funding of demobilization, disarmament, resettlement, reintegration and repatriation becomes mounting challenges. Non-state parties, mediators and International Non-Governmental organizations play significant roles in addressing most of these challenges because of the perceived neutrality and objectivity in the conflict.

2a)Entrenched interest of peacebuilders:- The ulterior interests of peacebuilders may disrupt the peaceful completion of the peacebuilding process. As a result of inordinate desires such as greed or personal interest detrimental to the process, most peacebuilders may truncate the workable solutions proffered and in the alternative proffer or attempt to effect other solutions that may advance those personal interests and desires

2b) Inexperienced Peacebuilders:- This is vital in peacebuilding and experience is pivotal in ensuring that solutions are homegrown and effective in ensuring lasting peace solutions

2c) Difficulty in managing the 3c’s:- Communication, Cooperation and Coordination are very necessary for peacebuilding. Communication is vital and if peacebuilders are not able to coordinate themselves, cooperation and communication will be ineffective thereby hampering peacebuilding successes.

Hence for sustainable peace to be built and maintained effectively and successfully, participants of the peacebuilding process must identify possible challenges and obstacles as highlighted. Once identified and analysed, the entire peace process becomes attainable in the achievement of lasting peace solutions.