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By Gloria Ikibah
Deputy Speaker of Nigeria’s House of Representatives, Rt. Hon. Benjamin Okezie Kalu, has urged the global community to give greater attention to structured recovery efforts in nations emerging from conflict.
Kalu emphasized that comprehensive post-conflict strategies are not only necessary from a humanitarian standpoint but are also vital for ensuring sustainable peace and regional stability.He stressed that true global progress depends on the ability to learn from past conflicts and to build systems that support lasting peace and resilience in affected areas.
The Deputy Speaker presented these views in a proposal titled: “The Imperative for Strengthened Post-War Management”, during the 150th General Assembly of the Inter-Parliamentary Union (IPU) currently underway in Tashkent, Uzbekistan.
In his capacity as a co-rapporteur of the IPU’s Standing Committee on Peace and International Security, Kalu is collaborating with A. Al-Zu’bi of Jordan and Ms. F. Belhirch of the Netherlands to examine how parliaments can contribute to effective post-conflict management and promote enduring peace.Referencing ongoing crises in countries like Sudan and the Democratic Republic of Congo, he highlighted the urgent need for structured recovery systems to mitigate the long-term impact of war on communities.
He said “Despite multiple peace agreements, sporadic violence persists due to inadequate post-conflict reconstruction and weak governance structures.
“The failure to establish a resilient peacekeeping and reconstruction
framework has left Sudan vulnerable to renewed conflict. Economic marginalization and weak institutions have further impeded sustainable peace, demonstrating the need for stronger mechanisms in post-war
management.
“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.
“The international community’s inability to enforce comprehensive peace
agreements has contributed to an environment where recurring violence is
the norm.
“The historical trajectory from World War I to regional conflicts in Sudan and
the DRC reveals a persistent pattern: the failure to establish strong post-war management mechanisms results in recurring cycles of violence and instability. To break this cycle, the international community, in collaboration with national governments, must prioritize the development and implementation of robust frameworks for post-war recovery.”
Kalu, who also spearheads the Peace in South East Project (PISE-P), an initiative focused on restoring peace in Nigeria’s South East region through dialogue and non-violent approaches, noted that the situations in Sudan, the Democratic Republic of Congo, and other conflict-affected areas show that ending active hostilities is merely the beginning of the journey toward peace.
He stressed that for peace to truly take root, there must be a strong focus on building institutions, rebuilding the economy, fostering social healing through reconciliation and integration, and ensuring sustained international backing.
“Develop resilient governance structures capable of managing conflict aftermath and fostering inclusive political processes; implement comprehensive economic recovery plans that prioritize rebuilding infrastructure, creating jobs, and reducing inequalities; facilitate dialogue among warring factions and communities to heal historical grievances and promote national unity; establish systems that incorporate previously vanquished groups into the political architecture.
“By creating policies that guarantee their participation in government, societies can mitigate ill-feelings and engender national unity. Such integration not only honors principles of justice but also transforms former grievances into opportunities for inclusive governance and leverage global institutions to provide ongoing support, monitoring, and accountability to ensure that peace agreements are fully implemented”, Kalu said.
