Why peacebuilding still matters – Babatunde Afolabi

By Nehru Odeh

Dr. Babatunde Tolu Afolabi, Director of Political Affairs at the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) Commission, has stressed the enduring relevance of peacebuilding in preventing and resolving conflicts, insisting that sustainable solutions to wars and crises must be rooted in local communities and driven by the people most affected.

Afolabi, who was the Africa Director at the Center for Humanitarian Dialogue (HD), made this known recently in a chat with Alan Boswell, the Horn of Africa Director of the International Crisis Group.

The focus of the chat was on the future of peace processes amid growing global skepticism about the effectiveness of negotiations and peace agreements,

Afolabi said his work continues to be inspired by an unwavering belief in humanity’s capacity to resolve conflicts through peaceful means.

“It all stems from my firm belief in the capacity of human beings to deal with their problems through peaceful means,” he said.

According to the seasoned peace and security expert, the devastation and human suffering associated with conflicts often create the impression that humanity is incapable of resolving its differences without violence. However, he maintained that experience has shown that solutions ultimately lie within people themselves.

“We know that a lot of the time, the devastation, the human suffering, the carnage, and the destruction point to an almost fatalistic conclusion that humanity cannot save itself. But I have also seen in several instances that the solution lies within us,” he said.

Afolabi noted that peacebuilding requires not only the use of existing conflict-resolution mechanisms but also innovation and creativity in developing new structures and methods of engagement suited to changing realities.

He argued that one of the greatest shortcomings of many peace initiatives has been the tendency to underestimate the role of ordinary people who bear the heaviest burden of conflicts.

“A lot of the time we feel that it is only in capitals and reserved spaces that the solutions lie,” he said. “But we need the humility and presence of mind to ask everyday people, religious leaders, traditional authorities, community actors, youth groups, and women what is important to them and how these conflicts can be addressed in the long term.”

The ECOWAS official emphasized that inclusive dialogue processes have consistently proven more effective in sustaining peace. According to him, studies have shown that broad participation in peace negotiations reduces the likelihood of societies relapsing into conflict, while locally driven solutions often endure long after external interventions have ended.

He highlighted the importance of community-led peace efforts, saying societies across the world have developed unique mechanisms for resolving disputes and fostering coexistence.

“Every society has developed one unique way or another of dealing with its problems,” Afolabi said. “As much as the world has evolved into a global space where everything is accessible and reachable, we must still respect local homegrown methods and approaches.”

He urged policymakers and international actors to engage directly with communities and seek their perspectives on how conflicts should be prevented and resolved.

“We have to ask the people who are most affected. We have to seek their advice on what they think should be the way forward in preventing and dealing with the conflicts that they encounter every day,” he said.

While acknowledging that some traditional methods may appear outdated to outsiders, Afolabi argued that communities often possess valuable knowledge acquired over generations of managing social tensions and disputes.

“We may think their methods are archaic or too traditional, but usually societies have, over time, come to find solutions within their own traditional understanding of these issues,” he said.

Rather than imposing external solutions, he said international organizations and development partners should focus on supporting local initiatives by sharing lessons and experiences from other regions that can strengthen existing community-based approaches.

“Perhaps what we should do as international actors is help communities draw lessons and examples from other places and use them to enrich their own unique methods. I don’t think we should try to impose,” he stated.

Afolabi also referenced ongoing debates within peace and conflict studies about the effectiveness of liberal peacebuilding models, arguing that lasting peace can only be achieved when local populations are fully involved in shaping the solutions.

“We have to listen to the people and understand how conflicts affect them, and then help them sharpen their own local resolution efforts,” he said.

Dr. Afolabi, a political scientist by training, is widely regarded as one of Africa’s leading experts on peace and security issues, with extensive experience in conflict prevention, mediation, and peacebuilding initiatives across the continent. As Director of Political Affairs at the ECOWAS Commission, he plays a key role in advancing regional efforts aimed at promoting stability, democratic governance, and conflict resolution in West Africa.