African movements against civil war

During the 1980s, many African countries were affected by the so-called debt crisis. That is, the loans they had taken out at a low dollar rate and low interest rates had to be repaid at a much higher dollar rate and with a much higher interest rate, which the countries could not afford.

As the IMF and other North-controlled bodies insisted that they still pay, the misery and desperation spread.

In Sierra Leone and Liberia, young people with no prospects began to resort to violence. Many of them had started in peaceful movements against cuts, but when this did not lead anywhere, only mafia activities, i.e robbing and selling protection, remained in order to survive.

Against this, the ”customers” mobilized first. In Sierra Leone, it was women market vendors who took the initiative for the peace movement, and received support from other professions. However, it was not until the commitment of religious leaders -– Christians and Muslims – who had their prestige from running schools and welfare institutions, that the movement became effective. In Liberia, it was they who had the initiative from the beginning.

Gradually, they received help from neighboring states who were afraid that the violence would spread. Together with the clerics, and proffered by mass demonstrations when peace talks stalled, they reassured the mafia bosses that they would be recognized as legal if they stopped the violence – much like Europe's counterparts 1000 years ago.

Reading
Monique Mekenkamp et al (ed): Searching for Peace in Africa, European Platform for Conflict Prevention and Transformation, 1999; Accord 1-1996 and 9-2000.