Post-war reintegration and reconciliation: learning from Sierra Leone

Abstract

The rule of law in Sierra Leone is still not firmly established after the war (1991-2002). While the Sierra Leone Special Court only treated the war crimes of top leaders, the Truth and Reconciliation Commission (TRC) strove for an amnesty of a large number of mid-range commanders, who had exposed their deeds in public and asked for forgiveness. As a lesson for peace processes elsewhere, international agencies should assist in transparent cooperation between TRCs and Special Courts and support post-war governments in designing the two institutions as building blocks for the establishment of the rule of law to ensure that impunity does not become entrenched in politics in the long term. Sixteen years after the end of the war, only very few victims received compensation whereas ex-combatants were provided with vocational training and startup capital. As a lesson for future engagement of international agencies after wars, any bias towards perpetrators should be avoided by providing all-encompassing support - for reparations and compensations of war victims equally with DDR programmes, reintegration of displaced people and returning refugees as well as reconstruction of the economy. In rural Sierra Leone, local chiefs organised collective agricultural work, which facilitated interaction and exchange between IDPs and refugees, victims, ex-combatants and perpetrators of war crimes. Combined with ceremonial reconciliation, this led to reintegration and community cohesion. No external intervention was needed. International agencies should learn for such post-war engagement to let local reconciliation and reconstruction happen where it works well and avoid interference. However, indiscriminate projects that bring the different groups of youth together are crucial and need support to foster reintegration. The general attitude and behaviour of large population groups in Sierra Leone are still shaped by aid dependence, often resulting in their refusal to take responsibility for community projects or start their own initiatives for the benefit of communities. As a lesson, humanitarian and development agencies should define a clear exit strategy, communicate it to the receiving groups from the outset and stick to the strategy without making exceptions. This also requires a clear strategy of transferring responsibility to domestic authorities and societal agencies.