The role of Kenya in conflict mediation: a comparative study of the Somalia and the Sudan peace processes

Abstract

Conflict in the hom of Africa is a phenomenon that dates back to the pre-independence history of the hom of Africa states. Somalia and Sudan in particular are outstanding, since they are peculiar in their own right and have borne the brunt of internal conflicts that have threatened, if not, tom the very fabric the nations. Religion has played a key role in both conflicts though the two nations have a seriously convoluted history between them, leading to decades of war that has led to humanitarian crisis in both countries. The initiated peace processes so far in the two countries have produced mixed results. Somalia on the one hand has arguably failed in achieving everlasting peace despite the numerous internal peace processes, the OAU (AU), IGAD, UN and other international agencies' attempts to promote peace in the country. On the other hand, South Sudan achieved independence in July 2011 albeit after many decades of deadly war that claimed thousands of lives and left millions displaced. The south Sudan independence is a product of the Comprehensive Peace Agreement (CPA) that was signed in Naivasha, Kenya in 2002. This thesis therefore interrogates the factors that have led to a successful peace process in Sudan as opposed to Somalia. In all this examination, the paper analyses the role of Kenya in both the peace processes as it has been the main mediator in both Somalia and Sudan. The paper therefore gives a critical comparative analysis of the Somalia and Sudan peace processes by analyzing the role each stakeholder has played in the peace mediation processes in both countries. The thesis therefore draws conclusions from the Sudan peace process and makes recommendations on how the Somalia peace process can be made successful.