The ‘handshake moment’ when the main warring parties agree on a peace agreement receives much attention, but the actual process of achieving lasting peace is much more complex. Peace processes often last years and involve a variety of actors, and the peace agreements they create are only one element in the overall process of conflict resolution (Jarstad and Nilsson 2008). In this article, we address the various factors that determine whether or not a peace agreement is successful, and we explore what it takes for a peace to be sustainable.
The most critical issue for successful peace is the capacity to facilitate and sustain implementation of the PA. This includes establishing mechanisms for political negotiations to resolve disputes related to the implementation of the agreement, such as implementation councils, transitional justice institutions and civil society organizations (Vandeginste and Sriram 2011). It also involves ensuring that economic issues are addressed in the PA: creating alternatives to the arms economy and stabilizing legal trade to prevent spoilers, and addressing poverty by providing a means of livelihood for those who have invested in the war and its profits (Bekoe 2003).
Third party support can be useful in this regard by facilitating a more stable environment during the peace implementation phase by offering security and financial aid, and encouraging compliance through incentives, such as the threat of sanctions. It can also assist with transforming the war economy by helping to provide a viable alternative to illegal trade.