Appraisal of the use of Mediation and Negotiation in Conflict Resolution during Armed Conflicts in East Africa
1Godswill Owoche Antai, 2Jacob Eneji Ashibi, 3Lorrita Ogu, 3Linda Iheanacho and 4Dennis Edet Okpong
1Department, Post-Graduate and Diploma, Kampala International University, Kampala, Uganda.
2Deputy Vice Chancellor (Academic Affairs) Kampala International University
3Faculty of Law, University of Calabar, Nigeria.
4Lieutenant and Legal Officer with the Nigerian Navy
Email: godswill.antai@kiu.ac.ug
ABSTRACT
This research appraises the use of mediation and negotiations during armed conflicts in East Africa, focusing on some key case studies like South Sudan, Somalia, and Northern Uganda. Attention is paid to how regional and international actors have been significant facilitators of peace processes, involving the African Union, Intergovernmental Authority on Development, and the United Nations. The doctrinal approach to research was undertaken to understand the successes and setbacks of these efforts, address practical challenges pertaining to cultural, political, and logistical barriers, and analyze power dynamics and processes of trust-building during mediation and negotiation. While mediation has indeed been instrumental in brokering peace agreements, many challenges persist, such as the influence of external actors on peace processes and the sustainability of the outcomes. By taking a nuanced approach to understanding how mediation and negotiation can best be developed and leveraged in East Africa’s conflict landscape. It provides practical recommendations on how to enhance the capacity of local mediators, improve coordination among external actors, and ensure the sustainability of peace agreements. This study contributes to the academic discourse of conflict resolution and policy development and imparts valuable information to scholars and policymakers alike on current dynamics in armed conflict in East Africa and what that may mean for international peace building efforts in the years ahead.
Keywords: Mediation, Negotiation, East-Africa, Peace Agreement, Peace Building
CITE AS: Godswill Owoche Antai, Jacob Eneji Ashibi, Lorrita Ogu, Linda Iheanacho and Dennis Edet Okpong (2024). Appraisal of the use of Mediation and Negotiation in Conflict Resolution during Armed Conflicts in East Africa. IDOSR JOURNAL OF ARTS AND MANAGEMENT 9(3):31-46. https://doi.org/10.59298/IDOSRJAM/2024/9.3.3146