Peace and Reconciliation in the Making: The Case of Colombia and Lessons for Existing Armed Conflicts in Africa (and Beyond)

Abstract

Colombia can be regarded as the longest running civil war in the world. However, the country can also be seen as an example of successful peace initiatives and failed peace attempts; a series of lessons have been learned in regards to peace building and reconciliation. The current peace process with the Fuerzas Armadas Revolucionarias de Colombia, FARC-EP, and the prospects for a final peace agreement with this organization do not emerge in a vacuum: it is the outcome of several initiatives for peace since the mid 1980’s, and of a state infrastructure geared in that direction for more than three decades. The current prospects for making peace a reality in Colombia are informed by previous peace processes, failures and experiences that have helped to consolidate the institutions and practices that enhance the possibilities of success in the current peace process. I argue that the learning from the failures of the past three decades of peace building initiatives in Colombia can serve as a referent to inform future peace initiatives in African countries.