October 8-10, 2008

Democracy, Coexistence and Conflict in West Africa

From October 8-10, 2008 over 30 participants representing civil society, international organizations and funding agencies working in the fields of coexistence, democratization, and peacebuilding gathered in Accra, Ghana to take part in a three day workshop on “Democracy, Conflict and Coexistence in West Africa”.   The participants, who came from Nigeria, Cameroon, Cote d’Ivoire, Liberia, Ghana, and Sierra Leone, were invited to contribute to the workshop in recognition of their leadership roles and commitment to inclusive and participatory governance. The workshop was sponsored by Coexistence International in partnership with the Center for Democratic Development – Ghana (CDD) and the West African Network for Peacebuilding (WANEP). The Alan B. Slifka Foundation and The Compton Foundation provided financial support for the event.

Workshop participants Kalie Sillah and Linda Darkwa

The goals of the workshop included learning about the work that is necessary to ensure that groups live together peacefully and productively by sharing field experiences, perspectives and perceived challenges facing democracy-building in the region.  Through collaborative learning participants reflected on the ways that a coexistence lens can support democratic governance, with the aim to develop concrete strategies and to identify policy needs regarding coexistence-sensitive democratization and governance programs.  The workshop also sought to promote strategic networking among actors at intergovernmental and non-governmental institutions that are positioned to design, fund, and promote participatory and inclusive democracy and governance policies in divided societies.

Attendees shared with each other the successes and challenges they have faced in their democratization and peacebuilding work by meeting in small groups, plenary sessions, and informal discussions.  These efforts were enriched by Coexistence International Advisory Board Chairperson Mari Fitzduff leading participants in coexistence exercises, and by a luncheon presentation by CI Board Member Howard Wolpe on the challenges faced by group leaders in divided societies and how these challenges can be constructively addressed through building their ‘collaborative capacity’.

Workshop participants discussed how in a post-conflict environment there is a need to move the society from being one in which differences are viewed as a problem and resolved violently, to one in which differences are respected and in which conflicts are resolved peacefully through democratic norms. 

In this light, CI supports a complementary approach to democratization work, which recognizes the importance of linking the efforts of related fields (such as coexistence, governance, and transitional justice et al.) such that each sector pursues their aims with an active awareness of the others’ activities and goals.  A complementary approach strengthens and reinforces each sectors’ work while also improving the sustainability and legitimacy of democratization efforts. 

Using a coexistence lens in democracy-building is a critical component in successfully transitioning post-conflict societies from a war-mentality to one which can and will nurture a durable peace.  A complementary approach that includes mainstreaming coexistence sensitivity into democratization efforts can underpin the possibility for long-term peace in divided societies. For example, participants noted that West African governments’ militarized responses to some issues (such as disputes over natural resource rights in the Niger Delta of Nigeria) weaken those nations’ democratic identities when they fail to see and address these issues as a coexistence question; and in nations such as Cameroon, participants have sought to end the government policy of printing official documents in only one language.  This practice is viewed as marginalizing to those communities who live in the nation but do not share the official language as their own preferred language and thus erodes their sense of democratic representation.

While a meeting report is forthcoming, a preliminary review suggests the workshop yielded valuable results.  Among the key points participants identified were recognizing democracy as being much more than structures such as elections, constitutions, and public offices, but as also including strong and committed leaders and the real representation of all national groups at all levels of government; noting the impact language can have when used by governments to unite or divide groups; highlighting the need for sustained donor commitment to democratization efforts; and raising concerns about the large gap that often exists between the democratic norms established by West African governments and the corresponding legislation and implementation of those norms.

The workshop concluded with particpants identifying specific actions their organizations can undertake to address the challenges facing coexistence and governance in their respective countries and to build upon their past successes.

For more information on the workshop, please contact Coexistence International at coexistenceintl@brandeis.edu