By Disun Amosun
Deputy Speaker, Nigeria’s House of Representatives, Rt. Hon. Benjamin Okezie Kalu has made a strong case for the development and implementation of a framework for robust post-war recovery in war scarred regions, especially Africa.
He told the International forum that the approach was not only a panacea for lasting peace but also a moral imperative and strategy necessary to secure lasting peace and stability in the affected regions of the world.
Kalu also said that it’s only when this objective is achieved that the world can hope to transform the lessons of the past into a resilient foundation for a peaceful future.
The Deputy Speaker made the call in a proposal titled “The Imperative for Strengthened Post-War Management” which he submitted at the ongoing 150th General Assembly of the Inter-Parliamentary Union (IPU) at Tashkent, Uzbekistan.
The Deputy Speaker who was named a co-rapporteur to the IPU’s Standing Committee on Peace and International Security on “The role of parliaments in establishing robust post-conflict management mechanisms and restoring a just and lasting peace” alongside A. Al-Zu’bi of Jordan and Ms. F. Belhirch of Netherlands, noted the devastating effects of conflicts and wars in Sudan and Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC).
He noted that despite multiple peace agreements, sporadic violence persists due to inadequate post-conflict reconstruction and weak governance structures.
“The DRC has been plagued by conflict since the 1990s, including the First and Second Congo Wars, which have been termed “Africa’s World War” due to their scale and the involvement of multiple neighboring countries.
“The wars have resulted in over 5 million deaths, primarily due to disease, starvation, and violence. The region continues to experience sporadic conflict, undermining decades of fragile peace efforts.
“Weak post-war governance, pervasive corruption, and insufficient integration of conflict resolution strategies have prevented lasting stability”, he added.
