WARN
Policy Brief - Liberia
June
4, 2003
The
Last Straw for Peace or Total Anarchy
Stakeholders Analysis
Stakeholders
in conflict are those with direct or indirect interest in the conflict. They may
either directly benefit or suffer the consequences of the conflict. National,
regional, international stakeholders are said to be behind the civil war in Liberia.
As negotiations continue this week WARN finds it necessary to shed light on the
current stakeholders in the Liberian conflict, their power bases, interests, and
alliances. The primary stakeholders are the government, rebel factions, political
parties, and civil society organizations.
Civil
Society
The
Liberian civil society represented by the Inter-religious Council of Liberia,
Civil Society Movement of Liberia, and the Liberian Women Mass Action for Peace
organized by the Women in Peacebuilding Program of the West Africa Network for
Peacebuilding have effectively mobilized for peace. The Women Mass Action for
Peace has sustained a protest for 14 weeks now. They have been holding vigils,
lobbying, sit-ins both in Monrovia and at the peace talks in Ghana.
The
role of the civil society has become visible. This group wants peace to rebuild
their shattered lives. Their only source of power is their collective action and
moral force and for the first time in this 14-year war they are exploiting this
resource thanks to the mobilizing capacity of the WANEP Women in Peacebuilding
Network and the Civil Society Movement. It seems that the courage borne out of
frustration that has taken young people to the streets of Monrovia to demand that
Charles Taylor steps down amidst his ruthless militias may never be quenched.
Liberia's civil society may never take the back seat again in the affairs of their
country.
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