Interface of formal and informal peacebuilding mechanisms in the South of the Sahara

Abstract

Contemporary peacebuilding is dominated by the liberal peace model, which assumes that democratic governance, rule of law, and market-based reforms universally promote peace. However, the liberal peace has not fared well in the global South, where colonial legacies influence the interaction of normative orders. Scholarly attention has thus turned to indigenous mechanisms, which work well within their own socio-cultural settings through their promotion of dialogue, compromise and group welfare. However, literature is thin on the interface of formal and informal mechanisms of peacebuilding in the south of the Sahara, especially their standardizing influence. Drawing on key informant interviews in Nigeria, South Africa and Somaliland, this article analyses these mechanisms, arguing that indigenous processes have come under the shadow of neoliberal human rights. It finds that poor management of legal pluralism hinders policy engagement with informal mechanisms and suggests a theoretical platform for harmonizing informal mechanisms with institutionalized frameworks.