Diplomacy and the Attainment of Statehood in Africa: a Comparative Study of South Sudan and Eritrea

Abstract

Achieving statehood and being recognised by newly independent states in the context of Africa has been hampered by numerous difficulties. In Cairo in 1964, the utipossidetis principle was adopted, which strengthened the sanctity of borders across the continent and made the situation worse. Recognising states, granting legitimacy, and ensuring the smooth running of the international system all depend on diplomacy, which is a crucial tool. State voices and visibility are increased in the global system through diplomacy. Due to this context, both South Sudan and Eritrea decided to seek statehood and recognition through diplomatic means. Accordingly, the paper examines, using a comparative case study of South Sudan and Eritrea from 1991 to 2020, the importance of diplomacy in achieving recognition and statehood. Four distinct research objectives were highlighted in the study namely to look into how diplomacy might help a state recognise its own evolution to examine South Sudan's diplomatic tactics in order to gain international recognition to investigate Eritrea's diplomatic tactics for gaining international recognition, and to determine the challenges South Sudan and Eritrea faced when using diplomacy as a statehood strategy. Realism theory of IR served as the foundation for this study. Utilising both qualitative and quantitative methods, the study used a mixed-method case study methodology. A sample of 192 respondents was gathered from diplomatic missions, attorney general's offices, educational institutions, political figures, and the general public in South Sudan and Eritrea using simple random sampling procedures as well as purposeful sampling strategies. The research used both primary and secondary data sources, which were acquired through self-administered surveys and online research, respectively. The analysis of qualitative data was done using descriptive and narrative techniques, whilst the analysis of quantitative data was done using descriptive analysis and inferential statistics. Statistical programmes such Microsoft Excel, NVivo, QDAS, and SPSS were used to aid in the analysis of the data. The study's conclusions show that diplomacy has provided South Sudan and Eritrea the capacity to interact with other countries on an economic, social, and political level, which has helped them win respect on a global scale. Eritrean nationalist ambassadors travelled frequently to various cities and walked the halls of power across the world in attempt to secure possibly game-changing political support and material help against Ethiopian rule. The study discovered that numerous talks, cease-fires, and agreements between South Sudanese leaders and their northern counterparts took place but had little effect until the 2005 CPA, which ended hostilities and produced a draught of new policies to divide authority, distribute wealth, and ensure security in Sudan. According to the report, regional organisations including the IGAD, the EAC, and the African Union all played a significant part in granting the Sudan and Eritrea State recognition. Furthermore, the report found that South Sudan was subjected to actions from regional organisations that included the lifting of economic restrictions, increased security cooperation, and dual citizenship. This was mainly influenced by geopolitics. In the end, the study discovered that both Eritrea and South Sudan used diplomatic techniques to become independent states. In the case of Eritrea, the diplomatic tactics included support for democracy, human rights protection, and recognition of the government. According to the study's recommendations, the first step should be to reinterpret the idea of state sovereignty to better reflect local conditions. Second, to further peace and stability, other African countries should adopt a more critical stance when expressing their concerns about these countries' democratic systems. Third, regardless of the political or economic standing of particular states, the international community should vigorously uphold the principle of state sovereignty. Last but not least, South Sudan and Eritrea should use strategic diplomacy to socially create and frame worldviews and agendas as well as express their divergent basic interests and aspirations.