Substantive Implementation Gaps Three Years into the Pretoria Agreement*
I would like to express appreciation to the Pan African Agenda Institute (PAAI) for producing a timely and structured assessment of the implementation status of the Pretoria Agreement. The PAIR report makes an important contribution by distinguishing between the achievement of “negative peace” — the cessation of large-scale hostilities — and the more demanding requirements of “positive peace,” which include constitutional restoration, civilian protection, humanitarian normalization, justice, and sustainable reconciliation (Citation: UPDATED VERSION PAAI Analytical Paper - Three Years into the Pretoria Agreement.pdf). While the report acknowledges progress in reducing open warfare, its own implementation matrix and survey findings reveal significant structural deficiencies when measured against the core Articles and sub-articles of the Pretoria Agreement. The following reflections are offered in that spirit — grounded in the Agreement’s text and in the report’s documented evidence. *1. ...