Post-conflict Reconciliation and Peacebuilding: Lessons from Niger- Delta, Nigeria and Northern Sri Lanka

Abstract

Reconciliation and peacebuilding serve as motivation to mitigate violent conflict relapse in divided societies. Nigeria and Sri Lanka share similar experiences in contemporary internal violent conflicts and colonial imperialism. The process of sustaining reconciliation and peacebuilding demands coherence and active feedback amongst state and non-state actors in order for its success. The intent of this paper is to assess the mechanisms of implementation within the conceptual and theoretical elements of healing, restorative justice, truth-telling and reparations. This paper further emphasizes the lessons learnt from existing peacebuilding models. The study adopts descriptive, critical and interpretive analysis by relying on secondary data with specific reference to the Niger-Delta region in Nigeria that experienced peoples' agitations for resource control of crude oil and natural gas derived from their lands.