w Two years after the signing of a peace agreement in Algiers, and fi ve years after the beginnin... more w Two years after the signing of a peace agreement in Algiers, and fi ve years after the beginning of the latest security crisis in Mali, the factors of insecurity in Mali keep evolving. The responses of national and international actors have to adapt to these changing realities as well as take into account the wide range of expectations of the Malian population— expectations which are diverse, sometimes competing, and aff ected in diff erent ways by insecurity. This SIPRI Insights Paper presents the preliminary fi ndings of a research project, conducted by SIPRI and the Malian National Coalition of Civil Society for Peace and the Fight Against the Proliferation of Light Weapons (CONASCIPAL), on the perceptions of insecurity of 105 Malian civil society actors. It is based on the responses provided by these actors to questionnaires disseminated in October 2016 on human security in Mali. The paper describes how Malian civil society actors defi ne security and looks at their perception...
w Since 2015 Mali’s central regions of Mopti and Ségou have become insecure hotspots at the confl... more w Since 2015 Mali’s central regions of Mopti and Ségou have become insecure hotspots at the confluence of interconnected challenges in terms of governance, development and security. Although international interventions involving a full range of actors and sectors are being increasingly reoriented towards these regions, the sustainability of the responses depends on their ability to draw on the needs and priorities of local communities. This SIPRI Insights is based on a study that combines both quantitative and qualitative data to provide an evidencebased analysis of local perspectives in Mopti and Ségou. It highlights how the people there understand and respond to the governance, development and security challenges they face. THE CHALLENGES OF GOVERNANCE, DEVELOPMENT AND SECURITY IN THE CENTRAL REGIONS OF MALI
w Initially, the 2012 crisis affecting Mali was understood to be primarily focused the northern r... more w Initially, the 2012 crisis affecting Mali was understood to be primarily focused the northern regions of the country, as were the previous rebellions errupting at regular intervals since independence. However, since 2015, the central region of Mopti has called for attention, as it experienced a dramatic increase in the occurrence of violent acts targeting security forces, elected or traditional officials, market places or even schools. This change in the geographic centre of the violence has led national and international security actors to re-assess their analysis on the root causes of the conflict affecting Mali. Central Mali revealed conflict dynamics that do not correspond to the usual grid of analysis applied to Mali’s conflicts. The emergence of Malian jihadist actors, the intra and inter community conflict dynamics, the connection of governance, development and security concern make the design of a response extremely complex. Based on key informants interviews, a literature...
STATE SERVICES IN AN INSECURE ENVIRONMENT: PERCEPTIONS AMONG CIVIL SOCIETY IN MALI, 2018
The 2012 crisis in Mali saw
the collapse of the state and
disruption of the provision of
basic se... more The 2012 crisis in Mali saw the collapse of the state and disruption of the provision of basic services to the population in large parts of the country. Six years on, the focus of the Malian Government and of its international partners is still firmly on the restoration of state services and the return of state administration to the entire territory of Mali. In a questionnaire in March 2017, respondents showed that the Malian state is perceived by large parts of the Malian population as being the most legitimate actor to deliver essential services to the population. However, the state is also perceived as not being able to provide these services to a satisfactory level. Non-state actors—foreign organizations and Malian civil society—have partly taken its place. The respondents also demonstrate the capacity of Malians to find resources themselves. When communities realize that the state may not be able to provide the services that they require, they either turn to other service providers or create their own mechanisms to respond to their most pressing demands.
CENTRAL MALI: VIOLENCE, LOCAL PERSPECTIVES AND DIVERGING NARRATIVES, 2017
Initially, the 2012 crisis
affecting Mali was understood
to be primarily focused the
northern re... more Initially, the 2012 crisis affecting Mali was understood to be primarily focused the northern regions of the country, as were the previous rebellions errupting at regular intervals since independence. However, since 2015, the central region of Mopti has called for attention, as it experienced a dramatic increase in the occurrence of violent acts targeting security forces, elected or traditional officials, market places or even schools. This change in the geographic centre of the violence has led national and international security actors to re-assess their analysis on the root causes of the conflict affecting Mali. Central Mali revealed conflict dynamics that do not correspond to the usual grid of analysis applied to Mali’s conflicts. The emergence of Malian jihadist actors, the intra and inter community conflict dynamics, the connection of governance, development and security concern make the design of a response extremely complex. Based on key informants interviews, a literature review and original documentation, this paper confronts the diverging narratives on the origins and drivers of the conflict in central Mali, as well as the interactions between them.
THE CHALLENGES OF GOVERNANCE, DEVELOPMENT AND SECURITY IN THE CENTRAL REGIONS OF MALI , 2020
Since 2015 Mali's central regions of Mopti and Ségou have become insecure hotspots at the conflue... more Since 2015 Mali's central regions of Mopti and Ségou have become insecure hotspots at the confluence of interconnected challenges in terms of governance, development and security. Although international interventions involving a full range of actors and sectors are being increasingly reoriented towards these regions, the sustainability of the responses depends on their ability to draw on the needs and priorities of local communities. This SIPRI Insights is based on a study that combines both quantitative and qualitative data to provide an evidence-based analysis of local perspectives in Mopti and Ségou. It highlights how the people there understand and respond to the governance, development and security challenges they face.
THE IMPACT OF ARMED GROUPS ON THE POPULATIONS OF CENTRAL AND NORTHERN MALI, 2019
Since 2012, Mali has seen many armed groups operate on its territory. International interventions... more Since 2012, Mali has seen many armed groups operate on its territory. International interventions, as well as national reconciliation and stabilization efforts, have led to a categorization of these groups along lines of conflict relevant to the national and international levels. Groups can be classified according to their opposition to or alliance with the Malian Government and the official forces; their ideological agenda; or their association with criminal activities. However, these categories do not necessarily reflect the internal identity of these groups and the many facets of their interactions with the communities with which they coexist.
This study attempts to describe these interactions and to explain the positioning of communities in the presence of these groups. The coexistence of communities and armed groups on the same territory generates renegotiations of the security, economic or social relations between the actors involved. These social changes must be taken into account in the responses adopted by the Malian Government and its partners to the presence of armed groups on the territory of Mali
IMPACTS DES GROUPES ARMÉS SUR LES POPULATIONS AU NORD ET AU CENTRE DU MALI, 2019
Depuis 2012, le Mali a vu de nombreux groupes armés opérer sur son territoire. Les interventions ... more Depuis 2012, le Mali a vu de nombreux groupes armés opérer sur son territoire. Les interventions internationales, ainsi que les efforts nationaux de réconciliation et de stabilisation ont mené à une catégorisation de ces groupes selon des lignes de conflits opérantes au niveaux nationaux et internationaux. Les groupes peuvent être classés selon leur opposition ou alliances avec le gouvernement du Mali et les forces officielles, selon leur agenda idéologique ou leur association avec des activités criminelles. Cependant, ces catégories ne reflètent pas nécessairement l’identité interne de ces groupes et les multiples facettes de leurs interactions avec les communautés qu’ils côtoient.
Cette étude tente de décrire ces interactions, et d’expliquer le positionnement des communautés en présence de ces groupes. La coexistence de communautés et de groupes armes sur un même territoire engendre des renégociations des rapports sécuritaires, économiques, ou sociaux entre les acteurs en présence. Ces changements sociaux doivent être pris en compte dans les réponses adoptées par l’État et ses partenaires à la présence de groupes armés sur le territoire du Mali.
SUMMARY La crise malienne de 2012 a d'abord semblé circonscrite aux régions du nord du pays. Mais... more SUMMARY La crise malienne de 2012 a d'abord semblé circonscrite aux régions du nord du pays. Mais il est dorénavant admis que le centre du Mali est lui aussi touché par la violence. Cet élargissement de la zone de crise a conduit les acteurs sécuritaires nationaux et internationaux à réévaluer progressivement leurs stratégies d'interventions mais également à revoir les analyses portant sur les facteurs profonds du conflit malien. Celui-ci révèle en effet des dynamiques qui ne correspondent pas aux grilles de lectures utilisées habituellement. L'immixtion d'acteurs djihadistes à l'intérieur de conflits intra et inter communautaires rend la compréhension de la situation au Centre Mali et les réponses à y apporter en termes de développement et de sécurité, compliquées. Basé sur des entretiens, une revue documentaire et des documents originaux, cette étude compare les différentes perspectives utilisées pour analyser le conflit en cours au centre du Mali et ses évolutions depuis la crise de 2012.
(version française) SUMMARY w Deux ans après la signature du traité de paix d'Alger et cinq ans a... more (version française) SUMMARY w Deux ans après la signature du traité de paix d'Alger et cinq ans après le début de la dernière crise sécuritaire au Mali, les facteurs d'insécurité ne cessent d'évoluer dans ce pays. Les réponses des acteurs nationaux et internationaux doivent s'adapter à ces réalités en mutation. Elles doivent aussi prendre en compte les nombreuses attentes de la population malienne, diverses, parfois en concurrence, mais aff ectées à maints égards par l'insécurité. La présente étude du SIPRI expose les conclusions préliminaires du projet, conduit par le SIPRI et la Coalition nationale de la société civile pour la paix et la lutte contre la prolifération des armes légères (CONASCIPAL), sur les perceptions de l'insécurité chez 105 acteurs maliens. Elle se fonde sur les réponses fournies, par ces acteurs, aux questionnaires distribués en octobre 2016 sur la sécurité humaine au Mali. L'étude décrit la manière dont les acteurs de la société civile malienne défi nissent la sécurité et dont ils perçoivent les diff érentes réponses— locales, nationales et internationales—en la matière à ce jour.
Two years after the signing of a peace agreement in Algiers, and five years after the beginning o... more Two years after the signing of a peace agreement in Algiers, and five years after the beginning of the latest security crisis in Mali, the factors of insecurity in Mali keep evolving. The responses of national and international actors have to adapt to these changing realities as well as take into account the wide range of expectations of the Malian population—expectations which are diverse, sometimes competing, and affected in different ways by insecurity.
This SIPRI Insights Paper presents the preliminary findings of a research project, conducted by the Stockholm International Peace Research Institute (SIPRI) and the Malian National Coalition of Civil Society for Peace and the Fight Against the Proliferation of Light Weapons (CONASCIPAL), on the perceptions of insecurity of 105 Malian civil society actors. It is based on the responses provided by these actors to questionnaires disseminated in October 2016 on human security in Mali.
The paper describes how Malian civil society actors define security and looks at their perceptions of the range of responses to date—local, national and international.
Contents I. Introduction
II. Methodology
III. Perceptions of security among civil society in Mali
IV. Security actors and their responses to insecurity
Lessons learnt from local mediation efforts and its relevance for international actors. This pape... more Lessons learnt from local mediation efforts and its relevance for international actors. This paper was published under the Initiative for Peacebuilding project.
It concludes that the role of international organisations in supporting local mediation efforts should be:
- Act as Interlocutors and Advocates at the Political Level
- Utilise Locally Derived Analysis
- Understand the Risks of Undermining Local Mediation Efforts
- Support Local Mediation Efforts Linked to Broad Peacebuilding Strategies
- Build Strategic Relationships from the Grassroots to National Levels
- Provide Predictable Long-term Support to Local Organisations
- Help with Evaluation and the Learning of Lessons
The rebuilding of Rwanda after the 1994 genocide has demanded considerable effort. Eighteen years... more The rebuilding of Rwanda after the 1994 genocide has demanded considerable effort. Eighteen years later, it is time to learn the lessons of reconciliation and reintegration activities in the country and envisage a way forward for agencies currently involved in this work. Alert’s reconciliation and reintegration project is original in Rwanda; it brings together four groups affected by the genocide – survivors, ex-prisoners, former combatants, youth – in joint activities, and it works simultaneously on their psychological, dialogue and economic needs. These approaches are successful and could be adopted more widely in Rwanda. Greater coordination of reintegration efforts would be facilitated by developing a national platform and reintegration strategy; meanwhile, continued donor support for reconciliation and reintegration work is needed
Ce manuel de formation compile les leçons d'une coopération fructueuse sur le thème de la formati... more Ce manuel de formation compile les leçons d'une coopération fructueuse sur le thème de la formation entre International Alert et un réseau congolais de consolidation de la paix, Haki na Amani. Pour capitaliser sur les expériences des acteurs engagés dans la poursuite de la paix en Ituri, le district du Congo où opère Haki na Amani, il est essentiel de pouvoir mettre en œuvre des techniques et approches de formation efficaces. Ce manuel reprend les enseignements de la réflexion menée par l'équipe de formation de International Alert, et de sa coopération avec Haki na Amani dans le contexte de l'Ituri.
Land conflicts in Eastern DRC are rife, and local communities are organising themselves in order ... more Land conflicts in Eastern DRC are rife, and local communities are organising themselves in order to tackle the numerous and complex issues linked to the land question in the region. While land is an essential economic asset for the population in this mostly rural part of the world, much more is at stakes for the communities concerned.
Land provides people with a sense of belonging; it forms a part of their identity, and constitutes a strong link for each to their ethnic community. Moreover, it is a coveted prize when one considers the important mining and agriculture resources linked to the ownership of the land. Moreover, the displacement of population and the recent violence that affected the region render land ownership much more complex than it ever was.
This complexity, combined with the inability of the state structures to mitigate these conflicts, underlines the need to support local organisations which try to address land conflicts at the local level. Réseau Haki na Amani, through local committees called Initiatives Locales de Paix (local peace initiatives), is engaged in a number of programmes to try and prevent or solve land conflicts before they spill over into violent confrontations between communities in Ituri.
The manual (in French) helps spread basic understandings of why these conflicts appear, what are the legal dispositions that do or should apply to these situations, and how local peace initiatives could interact to mitigate these conflicts.
in Fragilité et résilience. Les nouvelles frontières de la mondialisation. Sous la direction de Jean Marc Chaitaigner. Editions Karthala, May 5, 2014
L'émergence du concept de résilience comme approche de développement est une addition nouvelle à ... more L'émergence du concept de résilience comme approche de développement est une addition nouvelle à la boite à outil de la communauté internationale. Cet article contribue à la réflexion sur la valeur ajoutée de cette nouvelle approche. L'émergence de ce concept (encore à définir plus avant) est symptomatique de la recherche de piste de solution des acteurs de développement, comme l'ont été les tentatives précédentes d'amélioration ou de réforme de l'aide internationale. S'il est important, et même essentiel, de s'interroger sur les paradigmes du développement, le débat sur la résilience doit nécessairement se focaliser sur les éléments nouveaux par rapports aux pratiques existantes, ou il risque de s'essouffler quand un nouveau concept apparaitra.
Cette contribution propose trois avancées offertes par la résilience dans le domaine de l'aide internationale au développement. Tout d'abord, la résilience existe 'en soi'. Elle n'est pas créée par l'intervention extérieure. Une approche basée sur la résilience doit donc se focaliser sur les communautés ciblées par l'aide au développement, plutôt que sur l'intervention proposée. Cela pourrait encourager un nouveau discours sur le développement, qui placerait les communautés 'bénéficiaires' au centre de leur propres développement, et en encourageant les approches visant à renforcer les capacités et potentiels existants.
La qualification de la résilience implique aussi une meilleure définition, nécessairement politique, de ce qui constitue cette capacité à rebondir aux chocs de façon 'positive'. Pour qu'une communauté soit qualifiée de 'résiliente', elle doit faire preuve d'une capacité à mettre en œuvre des stratégies 'positives', 'désirables' face à ces chocs. Les agences internationales de développement doivent donc définir ce qu'elles considèrent comme 'positif', et donc clarifier leur théorie du changement pour le développement.
Enfin, le concept de résilience a été importé d'autres domaines que celui du développement international pourrait 'normaliser' l'introduction de nouvelles approches. Cela pourrait amorcer une importation plus fréquente des leçons apprises dans d'autres domaines, et aider les acteurs de développement à s'inspirer d'autres concepts utiles à leurs efforts.
w Two years after the signing of a peace agreement in Algiers, and fi ve years after the beginnin... more w Two years after the signing of a peace agreement in Algiers, and fi ve years after the beginning of the latest security crisis in Mali, the factors of insecurity in Mali keep evolving. The responses of national and international actors have to adapt to these changing realities as well as take into account the wide range of expectations of the Malian population— expectations which are diverse, sometimes competing, and aff ected in diff erent ways by insecurity. This SIPRI Insights Paper presents the preliminary fi ndings of a research project, conducted by SIPRI and the Malian National Coalition of Civil Society for Peace and the Fight Against the Proliferation of Light Weapons (CONASCIPAL), on the perceptions of insecurity of 105 Malian civil society actors. It is based on the responses provided by these actors to questionnaires disseminated in October 2016 on human security in Mali. The paper describes how Malian civil society actors defi ne security and looks at their perception...
w Since 2015 Mali’s central regions of Mopti and Ségou have become insecure hotspots at the confl... more w Since 2015 Mali’s central regions of Mopti and Ségou have become insecure hotspots at the confluence of interconnected challenges in terms of governance, development and security. Although international interventions involving a full range of actors and sectors are being increasingly reoriented towards these regions, the sustainability of the responses depends on their ability to draw on the needs and priorities of local communities. This SIPRI Insights is based on a study that combines both quantitative and qualitative data to provide an evidencebased analysis of local perspectives in Mopti and Ségou. It highlights how the people there understand and respond to the governance, development and security challenges they face. THE CHALLENGES OF GOVERNANCE, DEVELOPMENT AND SECURITY IN THE CENTRAL REGIONS OF MALI
w Initially, the 2012 crisis affecting Mali was understood to be primarily focused the northern r... more w Initially, the 2012 crisis affecting Mali was understood to be primarily focused the northern regions of the country, as were the previous rebellions errupting at regular intervals since independence. However, since 2015, the central region of Mopti has called for attention, as it experienced a dramatic increase in the occurrence of violent acts targeting security forces, elected or traditional officials, market places or even schools. This change in the geographic centre of the violence has led national and international security actors to re-assess their analysis on the root causes of the conflict affecting Mali. Central Mali revealed conflict dynamics that do not correspond to the usual grid of analysis applied to Mali’s conflicts. The emergence of Malian jihadist actors, the intra and inter community conflict dynamics, the connection of governance, development and security concern make the design of a response extremely complex. Based on key informants interviews, a literature...
STATE SERVICES IN AN INSECURE ENVIRONMENT: PERCEPTIONS AMONG CIVIL SOCIETY IN MALI, 2018
The 2012 crisis in Mali saw
the collapse of the state and
disruption of the provision of
basic se... more The 2012 crisis in Mali saw the collapse of the state and disruption of the provision of basic services to the population in large parts of the country. Six years on, the focus of the Malian Government and of its international partners is still firmly on the restoration of state services and the return of state administration to the entire territory of Mali. In a questionnaire in March 2017, respondents showed that the Malian state is perceived by large parts of the Malian population as being the most legitimate actor to deliver essential services to the population. However, the state is also perceived as not being able to provide these services to a satisfactory level. Non-state actors—foreign organizations and Malian civil society—have partly taken its place. The respondents also demonstrate the capacity of Malians to find resources themselves. When communities realize that the state may not be able to provide the services that they require, they either turn to other service providers or create their own mechanisms to respond to their most pressing demands.
CENTRAL MALI: VIOLENCE, LOCAL PERSPECTIVES AND DIVERGING NARRATIVES, 2017
Initially, the 2012 crisis
affecting Mali was understood
to be primarily focused the
northern re... more Initially, the 2012 crisis affecting Mali was understood to be primarily focused the northern regions of the country, as were the previous rebellions errupting at regular intervals since independence. However, since 2015, the central region of Mopti has called for attention, as it experienced a dramatic increase in the occurrence of violent acts targeting security forces, elected or traditional officials, market places or even schools. This change in the geographic centre of the violence has led national and international security actors to re-assess their analysis on the root causes of the conflict affecting Mali. Central Mali revealed conflict dynamics that do not correspond to the usual grid of analysis applied to Mali’s conflicts. The emergence of Malian jihadist actors, the intra and inter community conflict dynamics, the connection of governance, development and security concern make the design of a response extremely complex. Based on key informants interviews, a literature review and original documentation, this paper confronts the diverging narratives on the origins and drivers of the conflict in central Mali, as well as the interactions between them.
THE CHALLENGES OF GOVERNANCE, DEVELOPMENT AND SECURITY IN THE CENTRAL REGIONS OF MALI , 2020
Since 2015 Mali's central regions of Mopti and Ségou have become insecure hotspots at the conflue... more Since 2015 Mali's central regions of Mopti and Ségou have become insecure hotspots at the confluence of interconnected challenges in terms of governance, development and security. Although international interventions involving a full range of actors and sectors are being increasingly reoriented towards these regions, the sustainability of the responses depends on their ability to draw on the needs and priorities of local communities. This SIPRI Insights is based on a study that combines both quantitative and qualitative data to provide an evidence-based analysis of local perspectives in Mopti and Ségou. It highlights how the people there understand and respond to the governance, development and security challenges they face.
THE IMPACT OF ARMED GROUPS ON THE POPULATIONS OF CENTRAL AND NORTHERN MALI, 2019
Since 2012, Mali has seen many armed groups operate on its territory. International interventions... more Since 2012, Mali has seen many armed groups operate on its territory. International interventions, as well as national reconciliation and stabilization efforts, have led to a categorization of these groups along lines of conflict relevant to the national and international levels. Groups can be classified according to their opposition to or alliance with the Malian Government and the official forces; their ideological agenda; or their association with criminal activities. However, these categories do not necessarily reflect the internal identity of these groups and the many facets of their interactions with the communities with which they coexist.
This study attempts to describe these interactions and to explain the positioning of communities in the presence of these groups. The coexistence of communities and armed groups on the same territory generates renegotiations of the security, economic or social relations between the actors involved. These social changes must be taken into account in the responses adopted by the Malian Government and its partners to the presence of armed groups on the territory of Mali
IMPACTS DES GROUPES ARMÉS SUR LES POPULATIONS AU NORD ET AU CENTRE DU MALI, 2019
Depuis 2012, le Mali a vu de nombreux groupes armés opérer sur son territoire. Les interventions ... more Depuis 2012, le Mali a vu de nombreux groupes armés opérer sur son territoire. Les interventions internationales, ainsi que les efforts nationaux de réconciliation et de stabilisation ont mené à une catégorisation de ces groupes selon des lignes de conflits opérantes au niveaux nationaux et internationaux. Les groupes peuvent être classés selon leur opposition ou alliances avec le gouvernement du Mali et les forces officielles, selon leur agenda idéologique ou leur association avec des activités criminelles. Cependant, ces catégories ne reflètent pas nécessairement l’identité interne de ces groupes et les multiples facettes de leurs interactions avec les communautés qu’ils côtoient.
Cette étude tente de décrire ces interactions, et d’expliquer le positionnement des communautés en présence de ces groupes. La coexistence de communautés et de groupes armes sur un même territoire engendre des renégociations des rapports sécuritaires, économiques, ou sociaux entre les acteurs en présence. Ces changements sociaux doivent être pris en compte dans les réponses adoptées par l’État et ses partenaires à la présence de groupes armés sur le territoire du Mali.
SUMMARY La crise malienne de 2012 a d'abord semblé circonscrite aux régions du nord du pays. Mais... more SUMMARY La crise malienne de 2012 a d'abord semblé circonscrite aux régions du nord du pays. Mais il est dorénavant admis que le centre du Mali est lui aussi touché par la violence. Cet élargissement de la zone de crise a conduit les acteurs sécuritaires nationaux et internationaux à réévaluer progressivement leurs stratégies d'interventions mais également à revoir les analyses portant sur les facteurs profonds du conflit malien. Celui-ci révèle en effet des dynamiques qui ne correspondent pas aux grilles de lectures utilisées habituellement. L'immixtion d'acteurs djihadistes à l'intérieur de conflits intra et inter communautaires rend la compréhension de la situation au Centre Mali et les réponses à y apporter en termes de développement et de sécurité, compliquées. Basé sur des entretiens, une revue documentaire et des documents originaux, cette étude compare les différentes perspectives utilisées pour analyser le conflit en cours au centre du Mali et ses évolutions depuis la crise de 2012.
(version française) SUMMARY w Deux ans après la signature du traité de paix d'Alger et cinq ans a... more (version française) SUMMARY w Deux ans après la signature du traité de paix d'Alger et cinq ans après le début de la dernière crise sécuritaire au Mali, les facteurs d'insécurité ne cessent d'évoluer dans ce pays. Les réponses des acteurs nationaux et internationaux doivent s'adapter à ces réalités en mutation. Elles doivent aussi prendre en compte les nombreuses attentes de la population malienne, diverses, parfois en concurrence, mais aff ectées à maints égards par l'insécurité. La présente étude du SIPRI expose les conclusions préliminaires du projet, conduit par le SIPRI et la Coalition nationale de la société civile pour la paix et la lutte contre la prolifération des armes légères (CONASCIPAL), sur les perceptions de l'insécurité chez 105 acteurs maliens. Elle se fonde sur les réponses fournies, par ces acteurs, aux questionnaires distribués en octobre 2016 sur la sécurité humaine au Mali. L'étude décrit la manière dont les acteurs de la société civile malienne défi nissent la sécurité et dont ils perçoivent les diff érentes réponses— locales, nationales et internationales—en la matière à ce jour.
Two years after the signing of a peace agreement in Algiers, and five years after the beginning o... more Two years after the signing of a peace agreement in Algiers, and five years after the beginning of the latest security crisis in Mali, the factors of insecurity in Mali keep evolving. The responses of national and international actors have to adapt to these changing realities as well as take into account the wide range of expectations of the Malian population—expectations which are diverse, sometimes competing, and affected in different ways by insecurity.
This SIPRI Insights Paper presents the preliminary findings of a research project, conducted by the Stockholm International Peace Research Institute (SIPRI) and the Malian National Coalition of Civil Society for Peace and the Fight Against the Proliferation of Light Weapons (CONASCIPAL), on the perceptions of insecurity of 105 Malian civil society actors. It is based on the responses provided by these actors to questionnaires disseminated in October 2016 on human security in Mali.
The paper describes how Malian civil society actors define security and looks at their perceptions of the range of responses to date—local, national and international.
Contents I. Introduction
II. Methodology
III. Perceptions of security among civil society in Mali
IV. Security actors and their responses to insecurity
Lessons learnt from local mediation efforts and its relevance for international actors. This pape... more Lessons learnt from local mediation efforts and its relevance for international actors. This paper was published under the Initiative for Peacebuilding project.
It concludes that the role of international organisations in supporting local mediation efforts should be:
- Act as Interlocutors and Advocates at the Political Level
- Utilise Locally Derived Analysis
- Understand the Risks of Undermining Local Mediation Efforts
- Support Local Mediation Efforts Linked to Broad Peacebuilding Strategies
- Build Strategic Relationships from the Grassroots to National Levels
- Provide Predictable Long-term Support to Local Organisations
- Help with Evaluation and the Learning of Lessons
The rebuilding of Rwanda after the 1994 genocide has demanded considerable effort. Eighteen years... more The rebuilding of Rwanda after the 1994 genocide has demanded considerable effort. Eighteen years later, it is time to learn the lessons of reconciliation and reintegration activities in the country and envisage a way forward for agencies currently involved in this work. Alert’s reconciliation and reintegration project is original in Rwanda; it brings together four groups affected by the genocide – survivors, ex-prisoners, former combatants, youth – in joint activities, and it works simultaneously on their psychological, dialogue and economic needs. These approaches are successful and could be adopted more widely in Rwanda. Greater coordination of reintegration efforts would be facilitated by developing a national platform and reintegration strategy; meanwhile, continued donor support for reconciliation and reintegration work is needed
Ce manuel de formation compile les leçons d'une coopération fructueuse sur le thème de la formati... more Ce manuel de formation compile les leçons d'une coopération fructueuse sur le thème de la formation entre International Alert et un réseau congolais de consolidation de la paix, Haki na Amani. Pour capitaliser sur les expériences des acteurs engagés dans la poursuite de la paix en Ituri, le district du Congo où opère Haki na Amani, il est essentiel de pouvoir mettre en œuvre des techniques et approches de formation efficaces. Ce manuel reprend les enseignements de la réflexion menée par l'équipe de formation de International Alert, et de sa coopération avec Haki na Amani dans le contexte de l'Ituri.
Land conflicts in Eastern DRC are rife, and local communities are organising themselves in order ... more Land conflicts in Eastern DRC are rife, and local communities are organising themselves in order to tackle the numerous and complex issues linked to the land question in the region. While land is an essential economic asset for the population in this mostly rural part of the world, much more is at stakes for the communities concerned.
Land provides people with a sense of belonging; it forms a part of their identity, and constitutes a strong link for each to their ethnic community. Moreover, it is a coveted prize when one considers the important mining and agriculture resources linked to the ownership of the land. Moreover, the displacement of population and the recent violence that affected the region render land ownership much more complex than it ever was.
This complexity, combined with the inability of the state structures to mitigate these conflicts, underlines the need to support local organisations which try to address land conflicts at the local level. Réseau Haki na Amani, through local committees called Initiatives Locales de Paix (local peace initiatives), is engaged in a number of programmes to try and prevent or solve land conflicts before they spill over into violent confrontations between communities in Ituri.
The manual (in French) helps spread basic understandings of why these conflicts appear, what are the legal dispositions that do or should apply to these situations, and how local peace initiatives could interact to mitigate these conflicts.
in Fragilité et résilience. Les nouvelles frontières de la mondialisation. Sous la direction de Jean Marc Chaitaigner. Editions Karthala, May 5, 2014
L'émergence du concept de résilience comme approche de développement est une addition nouvelle à ... more L'émergence du concept de résilience comme approche de développement est une addition nouvelle à la boite à outil de la communauté internationale. Cet article contribue à la réflexion sur la valeur ajoutée de cette nouvelle approche. L'émergence de ce concept (encore à définir plus avant) est symptomatique de la recherche de piste de solution des acteurs de développement, comme l'ont été les tentatives précédentes d'amélioration ou de réforme de l'aide internationale. S'il est important, et même essentiel, de s'interroger sur les paradigmes du développement, le débat sur la résilience doit nécessairement se focaliser sur les éléments nouveaux par rapports aux pratiques existantes, ou il risque de s'essouffler quand un nouveau concept apparaitra.
Cette contribution propose trois avancées offertes par la résilience dans le domaine de l'aide internationale au développement. Tout d'abord, la résilience existe 'en soi'. Elle n'est pas créée par l'intervention extérieure. Une approche basée sur la résilience doit donc se focaliser sur les communautés ciblées par l'aide au développement, plutôt que sur l'intervention proposée. Cela pourrait encourager un nouveau discours sur le développement, qui placerait les communautés 'bénéficiaires' au centre de leur propres développement, et en encourageant les approches visant à renforcer les capacités et potentiels existants.
La qualification de la résilience implique aussi une meilleure définition, nécessairement politique, de ce qui constitue cette capacité à rebondir aux chocs de façon 'positive'. Pour qu'une communauté soit qualifiée de 'résiliente', elle doit faire preuve d'une capacité à mettre en œuvre des stratégies 'positives', 'désirables' face à ces chocs. Les agences internationales de développement doivent donc définir ce qu'elles considèrent comme 'positif', et donc clarifier leur théorie du changement pour le développement.
Enfin, le concept de résilience a été importé d'autres domaines que celui du développement international pourrait 'normaliser' l'introduction de nouvelles approches. Cela pourrait amorcer une importation plus fréquente des leçons apprises dans d'autres domaines, et aider les acteurs de développement à s'inspirer d'autres concepts utiles à leurs efforts.
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the collapse of the state and
disruption of the provision of
basic services to the population
in large parts of the country.
Six years on, the focus of the
Malian Government and of its
international partners is still
firmly on the restoration of
state services and the return of
state administration to the
entire territory of Mali.
In a questionnaire in March
2017, respondents showed that
the Malian state is perceived by
large parts of the Malian
population as being the most
legitimate actor to deliver
essential services to the
population. However, the state
is also perceived as not being
able to provide these services to
a satisfactory level. Non-state
actors—foreign organizations
and Malian civil society—have
partly taken its place. The
respondents also demonstrate
the capacity of Malians to find
resources themselves. When
communities realize that the
state may not be able to provide
the services that they require,
they either turn to other service
providers or create their own
mechanisms to respond to their
most pressing demands.
affecting Mali was understood
to be primarily focused the
northern regions of the
country, as were the previous
rebellions errupting at regular
intervals since independence.
However, since 2015, the central
region of Mopti has called for
attention, as it experienced a
dramatic increase in the
occurrence of violent acts
targeting security forces,
elected or traditional officials,
market places or even schools.
This change in the geographic
centre of the violence has led
national and international
security actors to re-assess
their analysis on the root causes
of the conflict affecting Mali.
Central Mali revealed conflict
dynamics that do not
correspond to the usual grid of
analysis applied to Mali’s
conflicts. The emergence of
Malian jihadist actors, the intra
and inter community conflict
dynamics, the connection of
governance, development and
security concern make the
design of a response extremely
complex.
Based on key informants
interviews, a literature review
and original documentation,
this paper confronts the
diverging narratives on the
origins and drivers of the
conflict in central Mali, as well
as the interactions between
them.
This study attempts to describe these interactions and to explain the positioning of communities in the presence of these groups. The coexistence of communities and armed groups on the same territory generates renegotiations of the security, economic or social relations between the actors involved. These social changes must be taken into account in the responses adopted by the Malian Government and its partners to the presence of armed groups on the territory of Mali
Cette étude tente de décrire ces interactions, et d’expliquer le positionnement des communautés en présence de ces groupes. La coexistence de communautés et de groupes armes sur un même territoire engendre des renégociations des rapports sécuritaires, économiques, ou sociaux entre les acteurs en présence. Ces changements sociaux doivent être pris en compte dans les réponses adoptées par l’État et ses partenaires à la présence de groupes armés sur le territoire du Mali.
Cet élargissement de la zone de crise a conduit les acteurs sécuritaires nationaux et internationaux à réévaluer progressivement leurs stratégies d'interventions mais également à revoir les analyses portant sur les facteurs profonds du conflit malien. Celui-ci révèle en effet des dynamiques qui ne correspondent pas aux grilles de lectures utilisées habituellement.
L'immixtion d'acteurs djihadistes à l'intérieur de conflits intra et inter communautaires rend la compréhension de la situation au Centre Mali et les réponses à y apporter en termes de développement et de sécurité, compliquées.
Basé sur des entretiens, une revue documentaire et des documents originaux, cette étude compare les différentes perspectives utilisées pour analyser le conflit en cours au centre du Mali et ses évolutions depuis la crise de 2012.
This SIPRI Insights Paper presents the preliminary findings of a research project, conducted by the Stockholm International Peace Research Institute (SIPRI) and the Malian National Coalition of Civil Society for Peace and the Fight Against the Proliferation of Light Weapons (CONASCIPAL), on the perceptions of insecurity of 105 Malian civil society actors. It is based on the responses provided by these actors to questionnaires disseminated in October 2016 on human security in Mali.
The paper describes how Malian civil society actors define security and looks at their perceptions of the range of responses to date—local, national and international.
Contents
I. Introduction
II. Methodology
III. Perceptions of security among civil society in Mali
IV. Security actors and their responses to insecurity
V. Lessons from these initial findings
Abbreviations
It concludes that the role of international organisations in supporting local mediation efforts should be:
- Act as Interlocutors and Advocates at the Political Level
- Utilise Locally Derived Analysis
- Understand the Risks of Undermining Local Mediation Efforts
- Support Local Mediation Efforts Linked to Broad Peacebuilding Strategies
- Build Strategic Relationships from the Grassroots to National Levels
- Provide Predictable Long-term Support to Local Organisations
- Help with Evaluation and the Learning of Lessons
Land provides people with a sense of belonging; it forms a part of their identity, and constitutes a strong link for each to their ethnic community. Moreover, it is a coveted prize when one considers the important mining and agriculture resources linked to the ownership of the land. Moreover, the displacement of population and the recent violence that affected the region render land ownership much more complex than it ever was.
This complexity, combined with the inability of the state structures to mitigate these conflicts, underlines the need to support local organisations which try to address land conflicts at the local level. Réseau Haki na Amani, through local committees called Initiatives Locales de Paix (local peace initiatives), is engaged in a number of programmes to try and prevent or solve land conflicts before they spill over into violent confrontations between communities in Ituri.
The manual (in French) helps spread basic understandings of why these conflicts appear, what are the legal dispositions that do or should apply to these situations, and how local peace initiatives could interact to mitigate these conflicts.
Cette contribution propose trois avancées offertes par la résilience dans le domaine de l'aide internationale au développement. Tout d'abord, la résilience existe 'en soi'. Elle n'est pas créée par l'intervention extérieure. Une approche basée sur la résilience doit donc se focaliser sur les communautés ciblées par l'aide au développement, plutôt que sur l'intervention proposée. Cela pourrait encourager un nouveau discours sur le développement, qui placerait les communautés 'bénéficiaires' au centre de leur propres développement, et en encourageant les approches visant à renforcer les capacités et potentiels existants.
La qualification de la résilience implique aussi une meilleure définition, nécessairement politique, de ce qui constitue cette capacité à rebondir aux chocs de façon 'positive'. Pour qu'une communauté soit qualifiée de 'résiliente', elle doit faire preuve d'une capacité à mettre en œuvre des stratégies 'positives', 'désirables' face à ces chocs. Les agences internationales de développement doivent donc définir ce qu'elles considèrent comme 'positif', et donc clarifier leur théorie du changement pour le développement.
Enfin, le concept de résilience a été importé d'autres domaines que celui du développement international pourrait 'normaliser' l'introduction de nouvelles approches. Cela pourrait amorcer une importation plus fréquente des leçons apprises dans d'autres domaines, et aider les acteurs de développement à s'inspirer d'autres concepts utiles à leurs efforts.
the collapse of the state and
disruption of the provision of
basic services to the population
in large parts of the country.
Six years on, the focus of the
Malian Government and of its
international partners is still
firmly on the restoration of
state services and the return of
state administration to the
entire territory of Mali.
In a questionnaire in March
2017, respondents showed that
the Malian state is perceived by
large parts of the Malian
population as being the most
legitimate actor to deliver
essential services to the
population. However, the state
is also perceived as not being
able to provide these services to
a satisfactory level. Non-state
actors—foreign organizations
and Malian civil society—have
partly taken its place. The
respondents also demonstrate
the capacity of Malians to find
resources themselves. When
communities realize that the
state may not be able to provide
the services that they require,
they either turn to other service
providers or create their own
mechanisms to respond to their
most pressing demands.
affecting Mali was understood
to be primarily focused the
northern regions of the
country, as were the previous
rebellions errupting at regular
intervals since independence.
However, since 2015, the central
region of Mopti has called for
attention, as it experienced a
dramatic increase in the
occurrence of violent acts
targeting security forces,
elected or traditional officials,
market places or even schools.
This change in the geographic
centre of the violence has led
national and international
security actors to re-assess
their analysis on the root causes
of the conflict affecting Mali.
Central Mali revealed conflict
dynamics that do not
correspond to the usual grid of
analysis applied to Mali’s
conflicts. The emergence of
Malian jihadist actors, the intra
and inter community conflict
dynamics, the connection of
governance, development and
security concern make the
design of a response extremely
complex.
Based on key informants
interviews, a literature review
and original documentation,
this paper confronts the
diverging narratives on the
origins and drivers of the
conflict in central Mali, as well
as the interactions between
them.
This study attempts to describe these interactions and to explain the positioning of communities in the presence of these groups. The coexistence of communities and armed groups on the same territory generates renegotiations of the security, economic or social relations between the actors involved. These social changes must be taken into account in the responses adopted by the Malian Government and its partners to the presence of armed groups on the territory of Mali
Cette étude tente de décrire ces interactions, et d’expliquer le positionnement des communautés en présence de ces groupes. La coexistence de communautés et de groupes armes sur un même territoire engendre des renégociations des rapports sécuritaires, économiques, ou sociaux entre les acteurs en présence. Ces changements sociaux doivent être pris en compte dans les réponses adoptées par l’État et ses partenaires à la présence de groupes armés sur le territoire du Mali.
Cet élargissement de la zone de crise a conduit les acteurs sécuritaires nationaux et internationaux à réévaluer progressivement leurs stratégies d'interventions mais également à revoir les analyses portant sur les facteurs profonds du conflit malien. Celui-ci révèle en effet des dynamiques qui ne correspondent pas aux grilles de lectures utilisées habituellement.
L'immixtion d'acteurs djihadistes à l'intérieur de conflits intra et inter communautaires rend la compréhension de la situation au Centre Mali et les réponses à y apporter en termes de développement et de sécurité, compliquées.
Basé sur des entretiens, une revue documentaire et des documents originaux, cette étude compare les différentes perspectives utilisées pour analyser le conflit en cours au centre du Mali et ses évolutions depuis la crise de 2012.
This SIPRI Insights Paper presents the preliminary findings of a research project, conducted by the Stockholm International Peace Research Institute (SIPRI) and the Malian National Coalition of Civil Society for Peace and the Fight Against the Proliferation of Light Weapons (CONASCIPAL), on the perceptions of insecurity of 105 Malian civil society actors. It is based on the responses provided by these actors to questionnaires disseminated in October 2016 on human security in Mali.
The paper describes how Malian civil society actors define security and looks at their perceptions of the range of responses to date—local, national and international.
Contents
I. Introduction
II. Methodology
III. Perceptions of security among civil society in Mali
IV. Security actors and their responses to insecurity
V. Lessons from these initial findings
Abbreviations
It concludes that the role of international organisations in supporting local mediation efforts should be:
- Act as Interlocutors and Advocates at the Political Level
- Utilise Locally Derived Analysis
- Understand the Risks of Undermining Local Mediation Efforts
- Support Local Mediation Efforts Linked to Broad Peacebuilding Strategies
- Build Strategic Relationships from the Grassroots to National Levels
- Provide Predictable Long-term Support to Local Organisations
- Help with Evaluation and the Learning of Lessons
Land provides people with a sense of belonging; it forms a part of their identity, and constitutes a strong link for each to their ethnic community. Moreover, it is a coveted prize when one considers the important mining and agriculture resources linked to the ownership of the land. Moreover, the displacement of population and the recent violence that affected the region render land ownership much more complex than it ever was.
This complexity, combined with the inability of the state structures to mitigate these conflicts, underlines the need to support local organisations which try to address land conflicts at the local level. Réseau Haki na Amani, through local committees called Initiatives Locales de Paix (local peace initiatives), is engaged in a number of programmes to try and prevent or solve land conflicts before they spill over into violent confrontations between communities in Ituri.
The manual (in French) helps spread basic understandings of why these conflicts appear, what are the legal dispositions that do or should apply to these situations, and how local peace initiatives could interact to mitigate these conflicts.
Cette contribution propose trois avancées offertes par la résilience dans le domaine de l'aide internationale au développement. Tout d'abord, la résilience existe 'en soi'. Elle n'est pas créée par l'intervention extérieure. Une approche basée sur la résilience doit donc se focaliser sur les communautés ciblées par l'aide au développement, plutôt que sur l'intervention proposée. Cela pourrait encourager un nouveau discours sur le développement, qui placerait les communautés 'bénéficiaires' au centre de leur propres développement, et en encourageant les approches visant à renforcer les capacités et potentiels existants.
La qualification de la résilience implique aussi une meilleure définition, nécessairement politique, de ce qui constitue cette capacité à rebondir aux chocs de façon 'positive'. Pour qu'une communauté soit qualifiée de 'résiliente', elle doit faire preuve d'une capacité à mettre en œuvre des stratégies 'positives', 'désirables' face à ces chocs. Les agences internationales de développement doivent donc définir ce qu'elles considèrent comme 'positif', et donc clarifier leur théorie du changement pour le développement.
Enfin, le concept de résilience a été importé d'autres domaines que celui du développement international pourrait 'normaliser' l'introduction de nouvelles approches. Cela pourrait amorcer une importation plus fréquente des leçons apprises dans d'autres domaines, et aider les acteurs de développement à s'inspirer d'autres concepts utiles à leurs efforts.