The usefulness of national mediation in intra-state conflict in Africa

Abstract

In his 2012 report on mediation, the UN Secretary-General notes a growing trend to recognize the ability of national mediators to lead mediation in intra-state conflict. This article explores the feasibility of national mediation in Africa. It analyses the role of national mediation in South Africa (1985–1996) and Lesotho (2009–2012) and, taking Ghana as the primary example, the role of national peace councils, which have an institutionalized mandate to mediate in internal conflict. It discusses the complementarity of national and international roles in national mediation, the issue of leverage, the conditions for national mediation, the composition of mediation teams and their mediation capacity, and the benefits of national mediation. The article offers qualified support for the usefulness of national mediation since it can produce benefits such as enhanced self-reliance and social cohesion, has substantial ability to prevent conflict and can help to implement agreements. However, the specific conditions necessary for national mediation to be viable mean that success is rare.