Partage de pouvoir et gouvernements de transition: le rôle de la médiation, by Katia Papagianni
6 November 2009

Les initiatives de rétablissement et de construction de la paix prévoient souvent un partage du pouvoir au sein de gouvernements de transition. Le partage du pouvoir garantit la participation de représentants de groupes importants aux décisions politiques, non seulement au sein du pouvoir exécutif mais également dans les domaines législatif, judiciaire, militaire et policier. Pendant une période de transition, le partage du pouvoir entre groupes rivaux limite le risque de prépondérance d'un parti au détriment de la sécurité de tous les autres. Le Liberia, le Burundi, la République démocratique du Congo, le Kenya, le Népal, l'Iraq et l'Afghanistan, par exemple, se sont tous dotés de tels gouvernements, à qui sont confiés des processus délicats : démobilisation et réintégration de combattants, organisation du retour de personnes déplacées, tenue d'élections et de négociations autour de nouvelles constitutions.

Negotiating natural resources for peace: ownership, control and wealth-sharing, by Nicholas Haysom, Sean Kane
3 November 2009

Natural-resources can be a major cause of internal strife if mismanaged or shared unfairly. This is especially the case in divided societies where the uneven geographic distribution of natural resources corresponds to ethnic or religious divides.

In an increasing number of countries, natural-resources have become a focus of efforts to end civil wars and establish new national compacts. In this context, the challenge is to balance the tensions that arise between strong local feelings of ownership over "their resources" against the overall importance of natural resources to national development.

In "Negotiating Natural Resources for Peace: Ownership, Control and Wealth-Sharing" Nicholas Haysom and Sean Kane argue that this trend makes it important to broaden knowledge and understanding of governing arrangements for natural-resources, a subject which has not traditionally received extensive treatment in constitutions and peace agreements. According to Mr. Haysom:

"Natural-resource bargaining may not be the most glamorous or sexy subject, but if the parties get it wrong it can be fatal to a social compact, constitution or peace treaty."

Rapport annuel 2008, by HD Centre
14 August 2009
Ce rapport annuel présente les activités entreprises par le HD Centre en 2008.

Why should mediators consider the economic dimensions of conflicts?, by Mike Davis
23 July 2009
In this paper, the author looks at the reasons why mediators should be giving more attention to the economic dimensions of conflicts, in particular when natural resources are at stake, and some of the ways in which they might achieve this.

Oslo forum 2009 - Meeting report, by HD Centre
22 July 2009

The Oslo forum 2009 took place against the background of a new optimism, largely heralded by the new US administration and its emphasis on civility in international relations. After a period of confrontation marked by the ‘war on terror' and weakening of mediation efforts, there is now a renewed demand in many areas for diplomacy and negotiation. Yet, recent developments in Sri Lanka, Iran, Afghanistan and Pakistan demonstrate the concurrent strand of scepticism about the usefulness of dialogue in resolving some of today's conflicts.

Mediating election-related conflicts, by Chris Fomunyoh
14 July 2009

Beyond major conflicts in Africa over the territorial integrity of states such as Sudan and Somalia, many recent conflicts on the continent are ignited by grievances over bad governance and exclusionary political practices. In many cases, flawed or failed elections have either precipitated political disputes or aggravated simmering tensions into an outburst of conflict.

The challenge of building sustainable peace in the DRC, by Tatiana Carayannis
3 July 2009
Over the last ten years, the Democratic Republic of Congo has witnessed an extraordinary number of attempts by both regional and international actors to solve what is considered Africa's largest conflict. As we are about to celebrate the tenth anniversary of the Lusaka Ceasefire Agreement which ended the second Congo war, the author reviews the key lessons to be drawn from past efforts and looks at missed opportunities for a durable peace in the DRC.

Annual Report 2008, by HD Centre
23 June 2009
The Annual Report presents a summary of activities undertaken by the HD Centre in 2008.

Meeting Report - African Mediators' Retreat 2009, by HD Centre
21 April 2009

This publication is a meeting report on the African Mediators' Retreat 2009,  which took place on 24-27 March in Zanzibar. The retreat was co-hosted by the HD Centre and the Mwalimu Nyerere Foundation.

Addressing explosive ordnance in peace processes, by Emile LeBrun & Suzanne Damman
30 March 2009
All modern armed conflicts result in explosive ordnance contamination. Before and after the cessation of hostilities, the presence of unexploded and abandoned explosive ordnance—landmines, cluster munitions,bombs and warheads, and a range of other explosive devices—presents immediate and long-term threats and challenges for local populations, returnees and governments. The lives that these weapons claim, the horrific injuries and disabilities that they inflict, and the ongoing strains that they impose on war-ravaged economies and depleted health and social welfare systems all justify the attention of those around the peace negotiation table.