Transitional justice policy making and processes in Africa need to address the economic consequences of conflict and violence, particularly for youth, in order to prevent their recurrence, writes Steven Rebello.
Impunity Watch and the Centre for the Study of Violence and Reconciliation recently concluded research with 132 young people from Burundi, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Mali and South Sudan. Our findings highlighted that transitional justice policy making and processes in Africa need to address the economic consequences of conflict and violence, particularly for youth, in order to prevent their recurrence.
Whilst the link between economic opportunities for youth and conflict is often viewed as a given, it is important to note that it has been difficult to prove or quantify this association. This difficulty may stem from a lack of agreement around how to measure these factors and a lack of reliable data collection at the national or regional levels, especially in countries affected by prolonged conflict and instability.
This relationship is also complicated by the way that employment is understood. While most Africans are employed or economically active, they constitute a large percentage of the working poor, who, despite their economic efforts, remain trapped in chronic poverty. Linked to our dialogue and research project with young people, countries that have experienced high levels of conflict, such as Burundi, the Democratic Republic of Congo and Mali, also have among the highest levels of extreme working poverty in the world – with Burundi ranking first at 79%.
The relationship between economic opportunities and conflict is also complicated by the fact that conflict is not the primary or exclusive product or manifestation of this and other underlying stressors. A lack of employment opportunities and other stressors may manifest in forms of violence(s) such as state violence, collective violence, gender-based violence and internalised violence (such as substance abuse and self-harm).
For the young people we worked with in Burundi, the Democratic Republic of Congo, Mali and South Sudan, it is clear that lack of economic opportunities paves a path to violence, and its recurrence in cases where peace and transitional justice processes have been implemented. Whilst the rigour or generalisability of qualitative research is often questioned, the lived experiences of hundreds or thousands of people, who have remained in or fled high-conflict or fragile contexts, can provide important insights into the precursors and consequences of conflict.
Transitional justice policy makers, civil society and other stakeholders need to invest more in this type of research to arrive at clear evidence of the relationship between economic opportunities and conflict in Africa, in order to determine adequate responses.
In addition, the young people we worked with affirmed the need for more participatory and inclusive transitional justice policies and processes in their countries. Shifting away from pathologising and patronising views of youth, a more inclusive approach recognises and prioritises young Africans’ most pressing interests, one of which includes the availability of decent, reliable economic opportunities.
Whilst some stakeholders might see this as outside the scope of transitional justice, the reality is that conflict cannot be prevented when young people cannot meet their most basic needs. To avoid victim blaming, there can be no lasting peace when states and other actors do not ensure that young people’s most basic rights, including the right to decent work, are not protected.
Steven Rebello
Steven Rebello is the Research Manager at Afrika Tikkun South Africa and a former Senior Researcher with the Centre for the Study of Violence and Reconciliation.