Mediation Practice Series: Engaging Criminal Armed Groups
Criminal armed groups (CAGs) drive instability and violence, fill governance vacuums, and can both undermine and be integral to peace processes. Yet many peacemakers remain hesitant to engage with them, constrained by stigma, legal risks, and the perceived binary between so-called “political” and “criminal” armed actors. This can lead to missed peacemaking opportunities.
This publication challenges that binary by exploring how established peacemaking practices can be adapted to address organised criminal violence. It draws on HD’s operational experience, established case studies, and interviews with practitioners, including former members of CAGs. It provides practical insights on whether, when, and how to engage, and shows that engagement can – under the right circumstances – complement security and justice approaches. In doing so, it broadens the peacemaker’s toolkit for addressing today’s conflicts, where the lines between war, politics, and organised crime are frequently blurred.
Key Insights for Practitioners:
Look beyond labels: Binary distinctions between “political” and “criminal” flatten complexity. Practitioners who move past the stereotype of greed when working with CAGs often uncover motivations such as identity, protection, community leadership, and survival strategies.
Navigate legal challenges and public sentiment: Engagement often unfolds in charged contexts where legal frameworks, public attitudes, and political pressures define what is possible. Peacemakers who continually reassess risks, prepare communication strategies, and strengthen community engagement are better able to protect the credibility and legitimacy of the process.
Use flexible, trust-based engagement models: Patience, informal channels, and credible intermediaries (such as community leaders, religious figures, or former CAG members) can be critical for engaging with CAGs. Prisons and community-level initiatives can offer valuable entry points.
Explore pathways to transformational agreements: Although most engagements with CAGs have centred on short-term truces and harm reduction, dialogue can pave the way for political or transformational settlements that permanently alter group behaviour, identity, and purpose.
Support structural transformation where possible: Lasting change rarely comes from deals with armed groups alone. Systemic governance failures, social exclusion, and the political economies of crime typically need to be addressed if progress is to endure. Peacemakers can help states and societies recognise and explore the deeper changes required.
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