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Paper short abstract

The conflict resolution techniques applied to the Mozambican civil war (1976-1992) employed DDR programs and transitional justice mechanisms (general amnesty). Traditional rituals sought to resolve this problem at the community level as well as to address the shortcomings of these programs.

Paper long abstract

Restoring law and public order is a traditional activity in post-conflict reconstruction. However, this task is extremely complex, given the lack of an interim code that can be applied in the period following the cessation of hostilities. It is necessary to understand to what extent the existing traditional justice systems in these societies were respected, which employed informal techniques to reintegrate ex-combatants into their communities of origin with a view to national reconciliation. Is it advisable to combine methods of formal justice with methods of traditional justice, or should we consider these two realities incompatible? A possible answer to this question necessarily involves assessing the effectiveness of both procedures and problematizing their limitations and advantages. Local justice may have advantages due to its greater flexibility and informality compared to formal approaches, such as traditional ceremonies. In Mozambique, there seems to have been some success because international actors took local tradition into account. There was a general amnesty – which, for many, meant that the most heinous acts were whitewashed with impunity, falling into oblivion – along with cleansing and purification rituals for ex-combatants, allowing this issue to be addressed, albeit in an atmosphere of secrecy and informality. Discussing the Mozambican case can therefore contribute to a deeper understanding of these dynamics and provide clues for a more holistic approach to the problem.