Introduction

The introduction briefly summarizes the thematic chapters in the book (conflict prevention, mediation and management; post-conflict reconstruction, justice and DDR; the role of women, religion, humanitarianism, grassroots organizations and early warning systems; and regional and continental bodies) as well as the country/region case studies (the Democratic Republic of Congo, Rwanda, Sierra Leone, Sudan/South Sudan, Mozambique and the Sahel/Mali). The introduction also outlines the key conceptual and definitional challenges and explains what sets this volume apart from others in the ever-expanding literature on peacebuilding in Africa. Of several recurrent themes in the book that merit closer scrutiny, the introduction highlights: funding challenges; managing expectations; tensions between grassroots dynamics and peace-building at the elite level; varying effectiveness of regional economic communities and the African Union; and frequent lack of coordination between donors and partners on the ground.