The role of sub-regional organizations in the management of internal conflicts; a case study of IGAD in the Somali peace process, 1999-2005.

Abstract

This research sets out to investigate the role of sub-regional organisations in the management of internal conflicts. The study proposed to achieve four objectives. First it proposed to find the role of IGAD institution in the management of internal conflicts. Secondly it proposed to investigate the role of regional institutions in promoting peace and security among member states. It also set to inquire into the factors, which constrain regional institutions in fulfilling their mandate of promoting peace and security. And finally it was to make recommendations towards effective institutional conflict management. The research came up with substantive findings from the case study. First it established that IGAD is able to facilitate peace negotiations as a result of three factors. First it is a neutral entity whose position in the negotiations will be acceptable to the parties to conflict. Secondly the organisation is able to mobilise required resources both locally and internationally to finance a peace process. It was also noted that the sub-regional organisation has sufficient understanding of the conflict and would be able to align the regional actors' interests and get a consensus on the way forward. The research equally identified barriers to effective institutional conflict management. First the IGAD is not having sufficient resources to spear head peace processes. The dependency on the donors makes it impossible to determine the pace for the peace process. It is also possible for the donors to manipulate the peace process to suit their national interests. In the long run the peace agreement may not be sustainable. This reading is recommended for diplomats, conflict managers, negotiators and students of international studies seeking to widen their scope in the debate of institutional conflict management. The research is in a simplified academic language and has five thematic sections for easy perusal and referencing.