Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives, Hon. Benjamin Kalu, has called on countries worldwide to prioritise developing and implementing robust frameworks for post-war recovery.
He said the approach was a moral and strategic necessity to secure lasting peace and stability in conflict-scarred regions.
Kalu also said that it’s only when this objective is achieved that the world can hope to transform the lessons of the past into a resilient foundation for a peaceful future.
The deputy speaker called in a proposal titled “The Imperative for Strengthened Post-War Management,” which he submitted at the ongoing 150th General Assembly of the Inter-Parliamentary Union (IPU) in Tashkent, Uzbekistan.
Kalu who was named a co-rapporteur to the IPU’s Standing Committee on Peace and International Security to speak on “The role of parliaments in establishing robust post-conflict management mechanisms and restoring a just and lasting peace” alongside A. Al-Zu’bi of Jordan and Ms. F. Belhirch of Netherlands noted the devastating effects of conflicts and wars in Sudan and Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC).
He said, “Despite multiple peace agreements, sporadic violence persists due to inadequate post-conflict reconstruction and weak governance structures.
The failure to establish a resilient peacekeeping and reconstruction Framework has left Sudan vulnerable to renewed conflict. Economic marginalisation and weak institutions have further impeded peace sustainability, demonstrating the need for stronger mechanisms in post-war management.
“The DRC has been plagued by conflict since the 1990s, including the First and Second Congo Wars, which have been termed “Africa’s World War” due to their scale and the involvement of multiple neighbouring countries. The wars have resulted in over 5 million deaths, primarily due to disease, Starvation, and violence. The region continues to experience sporadic conflict, which has undermined decades of fragile peace efforts.
“Weak post-war governance, pervasive corruption, and insufficient integration of conflict resolution strategies have prevented lasting stability. The international community’s inability to enforce comprehensive peace agreements has contributed to an environment where recurring violence is the norm.
“The historical trajectory from World War I to regional conflicts in Sudan and the DRC reveals a persistent pattern: the failure to establish strong post-war management mechanisms results in recurring cycles of violence and instability. To break this cycle, the international community, in collaboration with national governments, must prioritise developing and implementing robust frameworks for post-war recovery.”
Kalu, who is also the convener of the Peace in South East Project (PISE-P), which aimed to restore peace in the South Eastern part of Nigeria through non-kinetic means, further stated that the experiences of both Sudan, the DRC and, indeed, other war-torn places in the world demonstrated that victory in conflict is only the first step in peace initiatives.
Therefore, Kalu demanded institutional strengthening, economic reconstruction, social reconciliation, integration as a healing mechanism, and international support to achieve sustainable peace.
“Develop resilient governance structures capable of managing conflict aftermath and fostering inclusive political processes; implement comprehensive economic recovery plans that prioritise rebuilding infrastructure, creating jobs, and reducing inequalities; facilitate dialogue among warring factions and communities to heal historical grievances and promote national unity; establish systems that incorporate previously vanquished groups into the political architecture.
“By creating policies that guarantee their participation in government, societies can mitigate ill feelings and engender national unity. Such integration not only honours principles of justice but also transforms former grievances into opportunities for inclusive governance and leverages global institutions to provide ongoing support, monitoring, and accountability to ensure that peace agreements are fully implemented”, he said.
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