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Under the Palaver Tree: A Moratorium on the Importation, Exportation, andManufacturing of Light Weapons
Author(s) -
Murray Andrew
Publication year - 2000
Publication title -
peace and change
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
eISSN - 1468-0130
pISSN - 0149-0508
DOI - 10.1111/0149-0508.00155
Subject(s) - exportation , indigenous , peacemaking , political science , declaration , negotiation , inclusion (mineral) , civil society , sociology , law , political economy , social science , ecology , geometry , mathematics , politics , biology
Sixteen nations belonging to the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) have signed a declaration of moratorium for three years on the “importation, exportation and manufacture” of light weapons. It is a document that grows out of an extraordinary history of participation amongdiverse actors. The process has not only involved the states belonging to ECOWAS but also seen unique cooperation among UN agencies, civil society groups, and nongovernmental organizations. The development of the moratorium has been guided by a deep respect for traditional African methods of peacemaking: open debate, cooperation, decentralized leadership, and inclusion of participants from all levels of society. This article attempts to high‐light the more indigenous aspects of African conflict resolution and to make explicit the contribution ofthat tradition to the peace‐building process in West Africa.