Choosing to Engage: Armed Groups and Peace Processes

From Conciliation Resources' publication series Accord: An International Review of Peace Initiatives, this 6-page brief explores strategic and principled engagement with non-state armed groups as a key policy instrument in the context of violent conflict. A key finding: "Talking to armed groups can improve understanding of the conflict and obstacles to settling it, can help build mutual confidence, and can pave the way towards sustainable conflict resolution."

A variety of approaches are described in this brief. The role of intermediaries of multiple types is highlighted. For instance, "Political engagement with an armed group can include establishing communication and keeping communication open, gathering information, seeking to advise or influence, exploring negotiation options, or actual mediation...Low-key strategies led by local community groups or other non-state actors, while involving their own risks, may keep dialogue alive and may address concerns about inappropriately conferring legitimacy."

Key policy conclusions are outlined:

• "Engagement as the norm - Dialogue with armed groups is key to peace processes that can end violent conflict, protect populations and address underlying conflict issues.
• From whether to engage to 'who should engage and how?' - Engagement can take many forms, from unofficial contact to substantive negotiations, involving various third parties. Practitioners and policymakers should focus on identifying appropriate tactics and strategies tailored to the situation.
• Engagement tends to strengthen...the pro-dialogue elements within armed groups, while lack of engagement tends to strengthen hardliners by removing viable alternatives to violence.
• ...Proscription of armed groups (for example, terrorist listing) is a blunt instrument and can be counterproductive. There is an urgent need to review such laws and to develop more sophisticated mechanisms to allow appropriate engagement and encourage peacemaking.
• ...Improved interaction and cooperation between governmental and unofficial intermediaries would benefit all parties pursuing effective engagement strategies."