The crises that are on the horizon for the Zimbabwean people seem much more urgent than any planned electoral process, and it is hard to see how the country can keep functioning until 2018 when the next election is scheduled. The death of Mugabe or a popular uprising seem more likely catalysts for a change in government – we can only hope that either of those pass with minimal violence and usher in a more democratic and responsible successor.
In August, at least 42 civilians were hacked to death with machetes in Beni, Eastern DR Congo. It was not the first time such violence has taken place, and it may not be the last. So how can the killing be stopped? Peace Direct has released a briefing on the situation in Congo.
As a child Benjamin lost his family in the Burundian civil war. He grew up with anger and hatred, and at 12 years old joined a rebellion as a child soldier. At the beginning of this year, Benjamin attended a local campaign promoting tolerance and reconciliation. He sat in a room with those he called enemies, something he never thought possible. Now Benjamin wants to work to make Burundi a peaceful country, with opportunities for young people to thrive.
A crisis lasting more than one year in Burundi has seen violence and alarming human right violations across the country. Some estimate that over 800 people have been killed, and more than a quarter of a million have fled the country. In a conflict that has torn communities apart and destroyed social relations, building trust among young people is crucial for Burundi’s future.
Tom Gillhespy, Head of International Programmes at Peace Direct, recently visited Zimbabwe and our partner working on the ground, Envision. He reflects on his trip, the increasing state of flux in the country, and why supporting local organisations working on the ground is ever more crucial.
Burundi’s people have shown before their resilience and ability to recover after the most tragic periods of violence, and the country can still pull back from the current crisis. If it does, it will be down to the work of brave Burundians who find ways to continue to work for peace in the most difficult of circumstances.
For many living in war-torn DR Congo, access to fast and effective justice is rare. Local disputes over land, farming or marriage can quickly escalate to wider violence that feeds into complex local conflicts. This leaves people without ways of resolving their conflicts peacefully and can entrench dangerous cycles of violence. Here, FOCHI’s Peace Courts are having a big impact for people on the ground.
During a recent visit to DR Congo, Claire May (Head of Programme Funding) interviewed 30-year-old Blaise, a former combatant who now works for our partner Centre Résolution Conflits (CRC) rescuing and reintegrating soldiers from the bush. Here is his story.
Since protests began one year ago, the situation in Burundi has steadily deteriorated. Kevin McCann reports on the work of our partner – a group of local activists who monitor election violence and tackle hate speech.
March 2016 marks the fifth anniversary of the war in Syria. After years of devastating conflict, the economy has been destroyed, countless lives have been taken and the population is exhausted. There is no easy answer as to how to begin to combat the difficult situation that Syrians find themselves in now – or in the near future. But the power of local organisations to determine and build that future is strong and must be given more attention, as a recent panel discussion hosted by the Overseas Development Institute highlighted.