Anglophone and Lusophone Africa
In November 2022, the government of Ethiopia and the Tigray People’s Liberation Front (TPLF) signed the Pretoria agreement, for Cessation of hostilities ending one of the deadliest civil wars of the 21st century. HD played an instrumental role by provided strategic advice, analysis and access to support former Nigerian president Olusegun Obasanjo, who was eventually appointed as the AU High Representative for the Horn of Africa and mediated the end to the conflict.
Ethiopia is currently facing a number of serious challenges. The Pretoria agreement is under great pressure, and there are ongoing armed conflicts in in Amhara and Oromia regions. HD actively supports mediation and dialogue efforts aimed at finding a peaceful resolution to the armed conflict in Oromia through a multi-track engagement strategy. We are working with international and local actors to create momentum for negotiations and explore opportunities for peace making in emerging conflict hotspots such as in the Amhara and Tigray regions.
Humanitarian conditions in South Sudan continue to deteriorate, amidst the recent escalation of conflict endangering the fragile revitalised peace agreement of 2018. HD facilitates high-level humanitarian dialogue process among government, opposition groups, armed groups and humanitarian organisations, providing a unique platform to engage key conflict actors on fostering a more secure humanitarian environment. HD also works closely with local partners to further community-level mediation efforts across the country.
In Somalia, decades of civil war stemming from clan rivalries, weak governance, and the influence of extremist groups is being compounded by regional tensions. HD discreetly strengthens the capacities of national and community leaders to manage conflict by equipping them with best practices in mediation, deeper insights into armed dynamics, and more inclusive dialogue spaces for women and youth. Through trusted, confidential facilitation and impartial access, HD helps Somali actors navigate complex disputes, reduce tensions, and prevent escalation. Through this work, we can unlock progress that can be difficult to achieve through formal channels—protecting fragile gains and enabling Somali-led initiatives that contribute to long-term peace and regional stability.
Multiple conflict issues, including rising communal violence, a surge in armed robberies and kidnappings, and the impact of climate change on food security, are destabilising Nigeria. Increased violence between herders and farmers is gradually spreading southwards from the Middle Belt. HD facilitates climate-sensitive resource-sharing agreements in Benue and Nasarawa States, leading to the 2023 signing of Konshisha–Oju and Awe-Azara Peace Agreements. These agreements have led to reduced violence, improved resource management, and strengthened traditional institutions. HD is facilitating the Benue-wide peace process among the region’s ten ethnic communities, the farmer-herder conflicts, and cross-border peace processes and cooperation among the stakeholders of the contiguous States of Benue, Nasarawa, Plateau, and Taraba to bolster regional conflict resolution.
HD also seeks to build bridges of peace through sustainable peace infrastructures in Plateau State, through capacity building, facilitating reconciliation, and multi-level dialogues and mediations to institutionalize sustainability commitments. Ongoing work also entails the promotion of inclusive and sustainable peace by de-escalating violent resource conflicts between farmers and cattle herders. In Plateau and Benue states, HD is facilitating the drafting and production of an Early Warning Early Response (EWER) Strategy, and Standard Operating Procedures (SoP) to mitigate the frequent occurrence of violent conflict.
Photo: Benue Paramount Rulers Signing the Konshisha and Oju Natural Resource Peace Agreement. © HD
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