African leaders are concerned about peace, security, and reconciliation on the continent. The document discusses the challenges facing Africa, including globalization, political instability, poverty, climate change, war, and health emergencies. It argues that cultural diplomacy can help build bridges for peace and reconciliation by bringing different groups together, identifying cultural practices that promote reconciliation, and engaging communities in respectful debate to present complex ideas. Cultural diplomacy provides knowledge about the relationship between culture, diplomacy, and peacebuilding in Africa.

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institute for cultural diplomacy
Building Bridges of Peace and Reconciliation in Times of Greater Global Insecurity
Peace and reconciliation in our times in Africa and the Contribution of cultural diplomacy to build the bridge
10-13 December 2015
Berlin
Rui Duarte Barros
Former Prime Minister of Guinea-Bissau
African leaders are concerning about peace, security and reconciliation in the continent.

2.  Globalization and Security concern
today in Africa
 Democracy, political instability (peace,
reconciliation vs changing the
constitution). Should I stay or Should I
go?
 Contribution of cultural diplomacy in
the process in Africa
icd
institute for cultural diplomacy
Peace and reconciliation in our times in Africa and the Contribution of cultural diplomacy
to build the bridge

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institute for cultural diplomacy
Peace and reconciliation in our times in Africa and the Contribution of cultural diplomacy
to build the bridge
Trade
Commerce
The world become
more integrated
Insecurity
Conflict (ethnic, land,
regions, territory),
trafics (people, arms),
wars, terrorismo, ..
The world today is very complex with a lot of differences
Poverty
Exclusion, poverty,
Envoronment
destruction, heath,
Education, …
Globli
zation
 Globalization and security concern today in Africa
Africa today becomes therefore according to the World Bank, a key factor in the growth of the two economies among the most powerful
and the most populous but also for the other great and médium-sized Powers. It must be admited that Africa is driving the world economic
groth in these difficult times.

4. icd
institute for cultural diplomacy
Peace and reconciliation in our times in Africa and the Contribution of cultural diplomacy
to build the bridge
 Globalization and security concern today in Africa (cont)
Poverty trap
People living in poverty cannot afford nutritious food for themselves and their families. In developing countries,
farmers often cannot afford seeds, so they cannot plant the crops others have no land or water or education.
Too many developing countries lack key agricultural infrastructure, such as enough roads, warehouses and
irrigation. All conspire to limit agricultural yields and access to food.
Climate and weather
Natural disasters such as floods, tropical storms and long periods of drought are on the increase -- with
calamitous consequences for the hungry poor in Africa. more people are living in places with a higher climatic risk.
In many countries in Africa increasingly, the world's fertile farmland is under threat from erosion, salination and
desertification. Deforestation by human hands accelerates the erosion of land which could be used for growing
food.

5. icd
institute for cultural diplomacy
Peace and reconciliation in our times in Africa and the Contribution of cultural diplomacy
to build the bridge
 Globalization and security concern today in
Africa (cont)
War and displacement
Across Africa, conflicts consistently disrupt farming and food
production. Fighting also forces millions of people to flee their
homes, leading to hunger emergencies as the displaced find
themselves without the means to feed themselves. The conflict in
Nigeria, Niger, Central Africa, Somalia, RDC, a recent example.
In war, food sometimes becomes a weapon. Soldiers will starve
opponents into submission by seizing or destroying food and
livestock and systematically wrecking local markets. Fields are
often mined and water wells contaminated, forcing farmers to
abandon their land.
With conflict ther are more traffic (people, arms, drugs, ..) and terrorism
Health Emergency
Ebola in West Africa (more than three million people have received WFP
food assistance in Guinea, Liberia and Sierra Leone). Transmissible disease like
HIV, TB etc.

6.  Democracy, political instability
(peace, reconciliation vs
changing the constitution .
Should I stay or Should I go?
• Democracy in 90s. In some regions of Africa no
term limits: the leaders have ignored, tried to, or
are about to change the laws.
• Violations of the rights to freedom of expression,
association and peaceful assembly,
• Protests with dead or injured (demonstrators block
roads mainly in the rural village). Movements come
out.
• The violence (mass killings, ..) would not only end
the peace and reconciliation process
progressively restored in some countries, it would
also have destabilizing consequences in the
region.
icd
institute for cultural diplomacy
Peace and reconciliation in our times in Africa and the Contribution of cultural diplomacy
to build the bridge
Libya
Madagascar
Cote
D’Ivoire
Algeria
Botsw
ana
Keny
a
Sierra Leone-
Mali
Democratic
Republic
of the Congo
Somali
a
Guinea-Bissau-
Ghana
Uganda
Mozambique
Mauritan
ia
Angola
Niger
Zambia
Ethiopia
West
ern
Saha
ra
Chad
Guin
ea
Nigeria
Tunisia
Namibia
South
Africa
Egypt
Tanzani
a
Equatorial Guinea
-Lesotho
-Burundi
Djibouti
Rep. of the Congo-
Rwanda-
Senegal
Togo
Gabon
-Malawi
Morocco
Liberia
Central
African
Republic
Zimbabwe
Benin
Eritr
ea
-Swaziland
The Gambia-
Cape
Verde
Comoros
Mauritius
Sao Tome
& Principe Seychelles
Burki
na
Faso
South Sudan
Sudan

7.  The Contribution of cultural diplomacy in the process in Africa (building the bridge)
• Cultural diplomacy is an method of diplomacy involving unofficial dialogue between people and communities
based on some principles it plays an important role in the modern world today and it got unique quality in
approaching people.
• Understand cultural diplomacy philosophy it can bring togheter key forces, processes, institutions,
associations, involved in peacebuilding and reconciliation. For example, today in Africa, thru cultural
diplomacy the discussion of environmental issues can be an effective platform for enhancing dialogue,
building confidence, exploiting shared interest and broadering cooperation between groups as well
between states and contribute to build a bridge for peace and reconciliation.
• Dentify particular cultural practices or styles of negotiation which is most importante for Africa for
reconciliation and to prevent new conflict,
• Cultural diplomacy can engage in debate and present complex ideas and sustained arguments, in a
clear and fluent form respecting the differences of the communities and cultures,
• With cultural diplomacy approach it can provide systematic and in-depth knowledge of the study of
the relationship between cultural diplomacy and international security and peace-building in Africa,
icd
institute for cultural diplomacy
Peace and reconciliation in our times in Africa and the Contribution of cultural diplomacy to build
the bridge

8. icd
institute for cultural diplomacy
Building Bridges of Peace and Reconciliation in Times of Greater Global Insecurity
Peace and reconciliation in our times in Africa and the Contribution of cultural diplomacy to build the bridge

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institute for cultural diplomacy
Thanks for your attention