The UK Government actively works with the United States, African countries, and the wider international community to prevent and resolve conflict and to promote peace and stability in Africa. In addition, the UK works closely with its international partners, including the African Union, to build democracy and good governance in former war-torn countries in Africa.

For example, UK regional conflict advisers have coordinated a range of conflict prevention/resolution work, including:

• Grassroots conflict prevention and resolution work in Nigeria, Uganda and Somalia;
• Giving support to the Darfur and southern Sudan peace agreements;
• Peacekeeping training in South Africa, Nigeria, Ghana and Kenya; and
• Post-conflict projects in Liberia.

Darfur/Sudan

Darfur is the largest humanitarian crisis of the 21st century. Four years of fighting between the Sudanese Government, government proxies and rebels in Darfur resulted in appalling human rights violations. Therefore, finding a peaceful solution to the humanitarian crisis in Darfur is a top priority for the UK Government.

For example, a coordinated effort by international partners and the UK, including its mission to the United Nations (UN) and its Embassy in Khartoum, achieved the July 2007 agreement with the UN and African Union (AU) to authorize a joint peacekeeping mission to Darfur. In addition, since 2003, the UK Government has contributed $350 million in aid to Sudan. More recently, the UK provided $114 million of humanitarian aid to refugees of Darfur. Currently, the UK Government is:

• continuing to support the deployment of the joint African Union (AU) and United Nations (UNAMID) peacekeeping mission;
• supporting AU/UN efforts to find a political solution;
• piloting key humanitarian initiatives;
• focusing on the peace process for southern Sudan, including implementation of the North–South Comprehensive Peace Agreement; and
• providing aid support to the Darfur Community Peace and Stability Fund to tackle Darfur's immediate recovery and long-term reconstruction needs.

Therefore, the UK Government plays a leading role in finding a durable solution to the crisis in Darfur. 

Democratic Republic of Congo

The UK works with the international community to support efforts towards peace and stablisation in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC). Much of this work is done through the UK Mission to the United Nations. For example, UK military officers are part of the UN Peacekeeping Mission to the DRC. The Peacekeeping Mission:

• supports stabilisation and efforts to achieve peace and reduction of violence, particularly in the east region;
• promotes ceasefires between the armed forces and rebel troops;
• paves the way for rebel soldiers to rejoin the army; and
• makes access possible for humanitarian organisations.

The UK worked on the Peacekeeping Mission's renewal in December 2007, arguing for more attention to the problems of sexual violence and support for local elections in 2008. In addition, officials from the UK Government have established a mini-mission in Goma, eastern DRC, to support stabilisation, report on developments in the conflict and provide political representation.

Somalia

The UK Government works with international partners, including the United States, to help achieve political reconciliation in Somalia and to address Somalia's humanitarian crisis.

In 2007/08, the United Kingdom took a leading role in the UN Security Council's efforts on Somalia. The UK successfully helped facilitate agreements between Security Council members on UN Resolutions 1744 (February 2007), 1772 (August 2007) and 1801 (February 2008), which were all unanimously adopted. These resolutions set out the international community's policy towards the political process in Somalia and authorised the deployment of the African Union Peacekeeping Mission. The UK provided $15.8 million towards this mission from the UK Peacekeeping Budget and more than $42 million in humanitarian relief and development assistance to Somalia.

Currently, the UK is working to support the further deployment of the African Union Peacekeeping Mission and eventual deployment of a UN peacekeeping force if and when the conditions are right.

Sierra Leone

The UK Government contributed to the international efforts to make sure that the first national elections in Sierra Leone since the withdrawal of UN Peacekeepers took place peacefully. The UK also actively supported the efforts of the Peacebuilding Commission to build long-term governance and development. In December 2007, UK Government agreed a peace-building cooperation framework with the Government of Sierra Leone.