Kenya’s Mediation in the Sudan Peace Process

Abstract

This study is designed to assess Kenya’s mediation role in the Sudan peace process. The broad objective of the study is to assess the role that Kenya played in this process with a view to drawing useful lessons. The study adopts a theoretical framework based on the theory of mediation of Adam Curle. The data that forms the core of this study is drawn from both primary and secondary sources. It is established that the success of the mediation process in Sudan was largely due to the support that Kenya received from the international community particularly the United States of America. The study explores strategies, issues at stake and the challenges that were to be surmounted in order to reach a peace deal. The study establishes that although the mediation process was under the auspices of IGAD, Kenya took a leading role because by that time she was the chair of IGAD and was willing to offer herself to mediate an end to the protracted conflict in the Sudan. It is further established that the parties to the conflict accepted Kenya’s leadership role because of her international stature as a neutral and sober state compared to her neighbours some of whom had openly taken sides in the conflict. This study has shown that mediators should be people who have the expertise and the experience necessary to navigate such fragile processes to achieve desired results. The study concludes that President Moi played an important role in bringing to the negotiation table warring parties and that without his political acumen; the process would not have succeeded. The study also affirms that the study objectives were achieved and that Kenya’s continued engagement in Sudan has been largely in South Sudan with. This has gradually eroded Kenya’s influence in that process thus paving the way for Thabo Mbeki to become a lead mediator commissioned by the African Union.