Editors: Sunday Okello and Mesfin Gebremichael
Preface
This publication is a product of the African-Centred Solutions in peace and security (AfSol) workshop held 6 – 7 March 2015, and the preceding ones in 2013 and 2011. This is the first effort on the continent to establish the scholarship around how Africa can develop systemic and synthesized models for addressing peace and security issues and challenges. This book sets a theoretical foundation for exploring and investigating the AfSol concept. It also offers examples and applications of AfSol practices aimed at addressing peace and security challenges using peaceful, coordinated and integrated processes of peace operations and peacebuilding.
The workshops and the initial stage of the publication of this book were funded by GIZ. The preparation of the 2015 workshop, the rigorous review process, selection and printing were made possible by the efforts and robust commitment of the leadership of the Institute for Peace and Security Studies (IPSS) and its Research and Policy dialogue team. The support of other departments in the Institute, especially, the IPSS management, communications and finance and operations, was crucial to the success of this publication process.
We at IPSS hope that this book will set a foundation for developing a significant body of scholarship and knowledge on the topic. This book already set the stage for establishing two sister mechanisms for a continuous investigation and synthesis of AfSol as a scholarly and practical process of peacebuilding in Africa: The AfSol Journal and the AfSol Network. Together, we hope that these mechanisms will entice scholars and practitioners of peace and security in Africa to pursue the notion of AfSol with the deserved rigour and vigour.
Amr Abdalla
Senior Advisor on Policy Analysis and Research
Institute for Peace and Security Studies