Can power-sharing work?

Ivory Coast rebel leader Guillaume Soro (c) is now a government minister

Burundi's last active rebel group, the National Liberation Forces (FNL) has announced that it is ready to talk with President Domitien Ndayizeye about how to end the 10-year civil war.

Other ethnic Hutu rebel groups have laid down their weapons and joined Burundi's national unity government, where power is shared between the Hutu majority and the Tutsi minority which has traditionally ruled the country.

Power-sharing governments seem to be the latest way to bring peace to some of Africa's bitter conflicts.

They have been set up in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Ivory Coast and Liberia and could be coming to Sudan soon.

But government supporters in Ivory Coast say that anyone who picks up a gun can now become a minister.

Does power-sharing mean that Africa's many wars will soon end?

Can once bitter enemies really work together for the national good?

Will it not just encourage even more rebel groups to spring up?

A selection of reader's views are published below

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I think power-sharing is the best way forward for Africa. Look at the Democratic Republic of Congo. Things are working there. But we have to work harder and harder to make Africa shine.
d.j vasek, oshakati-namiba

Power sharing has always been a good idea and will always be. In normal ethics we know two minds are better than one. The problem with most African countries is greed and suspicion. Those holding power always think solely in terms of their own interests. The normal citizens whom they are supposed to serve are none of their business.Greed has fuelled a lot of anger and we should rest asured that meány conflicts are still coming.We must learn how to share.
Bonny, Copenhagen,Denmark.

All power sharing offers is TIME to sort things out. But look at what we get in most cases. What happens when these guys have to leave power? While we share power, the mechanisms need to be put in place to make people accountable and make examples of those who revert to their old ways. Personally, I don't like it; but it is a good start. Much better than war and mayhem!
Vito Weeks, Liberian in the US

Power-sharing does not really bring peace in conflicting nations, rather, it only brings about the absence of war. When greed, corruption, and tribalism are active in the minds of the leaders, then power-sharing becomes a period of strategizing the end of the other party.
Joseph Onek, Phoenix, USA

Power sharing is a euphemism for "guns for jobs". This practice means the appeasement of warlords who, for the most part throughout Africa, are devoid of any cogent ideologies other than lining their pockets with ill-gotten wealth. The acceptance of this practice as a means of conflict resolution encourages the next would-be liberators, who banking on their position of military strength, will demand more of the lion¿s share. Africa can only make sustainable progress to democracy by replacing guns with politics. To this end, the AU can play a meaningful role by denying legitimacy to those who use violence to gain political power, and (perhaps more importantly) demanding more from our governments in terms of human rights, good governance and social justice.
Francis Kabwa Andersson, Liberia/USA

Power sharing is better than war, but you can't help getting the impression that they are all vultures fighting over a carcass. What Africa needs is good government, not squabbling over the spoils of government.
David Burrows, South Africa / Brazil

Power sharing is the best option to resolving conflicts, especially in continental Africa. But let us not forget that war in Africa comes about as a result of poor governance. Good governance will prevent the shadows of ethnic conflicts. Africans, let us see the rising sun and put stupidity behind us for a brighter future.
Leroy Jackson, USA

There is an old and widely known thought by Arthur C. Clarke that every revolutionary idea evokes three stages of reactions: At first people say, "It's completely impossible." Then they say, "Maybe it's possible to do it, but it would cost too much." Finally they say, "I always thought it was a good idea." Peace should also be given a chance through every means. Rebels and governments are realizing that fighting, killing and maiming ordinary civilians will never bring peace as we¿ve witnessed in Angola, Sierra Leon, Uganda, DRC, Liberia, Sudan, the list is long. Power sharing like the one in Congo, Ivory Coast and Liberia brings sanity and a hope. Soon these leaders will also realize that fighting was never the best option after all.
Justus, Japan (Kenyan)

On paper and in a democracy yes, power-sharing can work, but not in an Africocracy where conflict is put on hold while all that is shared is power and opportunity for corruption between opposing leaders and the "people" remain in the same dire situation.
shingi, London, UK

I believe African leaders are not true enemies and could easily share power. If they were, why do they not kill themselves while talking peace at the table? If they agree that they are not going to fight again, then there is no need to start fighting again after the face-to-face talks are over.
Peter Dut Angon, Phoenix, Arizona, U.S.A

Power-sharing gives peace a chance. It is the first step towards democratic rule in some of these countries. At least, through a power-sharing agreement, warring forces put their weapons down and agree to negotiate. Although some of the elements that ascend to power through power-sharing might be quite unpleasent, one cannot ignore the greater benefits of a peace agreement. The proposed power-sharing agreement in the Sudan, for example, has to be applauded considering that the factions have been warring for decades leaving millions dead and extremely impoverished. Now there is hope for peace.
George Mutua, KENYA

Did someone say power sharing? As long as Africa's starving power hungry leaders can agree among themselves, power sharing may work for a while before hell breaks loose again.
Imvulu Otioti, SUDAN/US

I think it is the only way out of the killing fields. Unless African governments or leaders learn how to govern, power sharing from the barrel of the gun is going to continue. The problems of African leaders are corruption, clinging to power till death, abusing human rights, ruling by eliminating opposition parties, and the accumulation of wealth in a foreign banks at the expense of their own country and people. Some African leaders want to rule their country for 15, 30, 40, 50 years, may be life. God help us from their stupidity.
Harry Massele, Norristown,Pennsylvania

It is clear that opposition groups/rebel groups have to be brought in to the process of Government for fighting to end in África´s long ruuning civil wars. In many cases rebel groups draw their support from a substantial proportion of the population, which will have to be recognised in any interim settlement before it can be legitimised following the introduction of real democracy. However in many cases it seems that the real aim of rebel leaders is to use force in order to carve out their own share of the spoils plundered from the people by incumbent governments. I guess that democracy, imperfect tool that it is, is the only hope for the dispossessed peoples of much of Africa to regain control of their countries´wealth, but it won´t happen overnight.
Geoff Grant, Luanda, Angola

Power sharing is a time bomb awaiting to explode. There is no way that the former foes could work together to deliver on their promises to the poeple they purportedly took arms to liberate or defend. Hence suspicion will be the watchword in the power sharing government in any country it is set up.
Madut A. Majok, Halifax/ Canada

I come from Ivory Coast and my view is that in the case of my country, I don't think that it is a power sharing government. Rather it is an interim government which will last until new elections are held in October 2005. I think power sharing cannot solve Africa's problems unless the political debates are conducted with verbal negociations, not with guns. As it had happened in Ivory Coast, one side could feel unhappy with temporary power sharing decisions and leave for the guns to take revenge. Africans are really proud people and for former enemies to work together, they need a lot of sacrifices and genuine political ambitions to alleviate poverty and exclusion in the country. For me power-sharing can only lead to more problems not peace. Peace can be achieved if power-sharing members have an altruistic view of their nation's problems.
John Ngassa, London, Britain