Role Of Intergovernmental Authority On Development In Sudan's Peace Mediation Process(1996-2005)

Since 1956 when it got its independent,Sudan has been characterized by a continuous civil war.It was the struggles of Southern against what they perceive as politics marginalization which was based on region and race.The Sudanese war had impact in internal and external of the country,it damaged the country and the effects of the war had an impact on the neighboring states through,the massive movement of citizens and influx of refugees.Also,there were some countries who wanted to maximize their interests by giving one party a military support over the other.The outcome of this war became more of a regional war than an internal conflict.When the warring parties signed the CPA in 2005,it was the marking of successful mediation peace process.This landmark achievement showed IGAD's role in the Horn of Africa and in Sudan.IGAD was come in this issue because the O.A.U and later A.U,U.N would later offer gave support to a regional body(IGAD)the mandate to resolve the conflict in the horn of Africa including Sudan civil war.In this vain,it was assumed that is Intergovernmental Authority on Development that could eventually see as them who put to the end of this conflict.This study sought to examine the role of IGAD in Sudan peace mediation process.The study was guided by the general objective which is to examine the role of IGAD in Sudan peace mediation process 1996-2005 also the study applied,the specific objectives which are to assess IGAD's mechanism in Sudan peace mediation process,and to examine the factors that explain IGADs role and achievement in Sudan peace mediation process.This study employed the theory and practice of mediation,it is a theory which was s founded by Adam Curle.This theory is appropriate to be applied to this study,it gives more understanding Sudan peace mediation process.This study adopts case study in its design to have an insightful knowledge on the role of sub-regional organization in conflict resolution Sudan cases.The study finds that IGAD was able to play an important role in resolving Sudan long standing conflict.As a regional organization,it managed to bring to table the major warring parties to the conflict that eventually lead to the signing of the Comprehensive Peace Agreement C.P.A.The treaty marked the official end of the conflict that resulted to the formation of unitary government comprising the North and South.The study has established of the role of both internal and actors as key influencer to the success towards the signing of the treaty.This study was organized into five chapters which the first Chapter deals with introduction,Chapter Two talks about the overview of Sudanese Conflict.The Third chapter discusses about IGAD involvement in Sudan Peace Mediation Process,1996-2005.And the following fourth Chapter looks at the Factors to IGADs Achievement in Sudan Peace Mediation Process.Chapter two which covers the overview on Sudan conflict after getting independence in 1956,this chapter provides a basis to the understanding on the role of IGAD in resolving the conflict.The chapter traces the history of the conflict in post independent Sudan highlighting key actors and issues behind the conflict.The chapter begins with a brief description of the Sudan republic then followed by three sections and subsections.The chapter examines the Sudan conflict in colonial and postcolonial period and pays attention to the causes and consequences of the conflict respectively.It argues that colonialism played a key role in laying the foundation for the hostilities of the warring parties.This is more found in the colonial policy of divide and rule,boundary demarcation and governance structure that exploited a section of the southern population.Chapter three examines how IGAD got involved in Sudan peace mediation process between 1996-2005.It specifically pays attention to mechanisms adopted to bringing the warring parties to the negotiation table that eventually led to the signing of the CPA.The chapter identifies a number of mechanisms adopted in the Sudan peace mediation process.The first standing committee which was created in 1993 shows the first involvement of IGAD in Sudan conflict resolution.The committee set DOP which was to make give a self-determination to the people of south and Sudan,had to respond to the needs of population for social and political equality,this committee was later followed by a set of several rounds of negotiation popular referred to as Machakos 1 and 2 which all were looking at the end of the conflict in Sudan,finally Naivasha that resulted in the signing of CPA,the CPA was to put to the end of the conflict in Sudan and give a self-determination to southern Sudanese.It is these mechanisms that would lead to the signing of the Comprehensive Peace Agreement between the warring parties.These peace mediation mechanisms afforded the warring parties a face to face negotiations on the divergence of issues.Chapter four examines factors that contributed to IGAD's achievement towards the signing of the CPA.The chapter is organized into three sections examining direct internal factors followed by the indirect external factors that made IGAD to manage to resolve the conflict.The study identifies the role of individual,military situation and pressure from IGAD member states as the direct internal factors.IGAD skilled mediator where there was a will and capacity to bring the warring parties to the negotiation by the IGAD mediator known as Lazaro sombeiwo,the military situation was that all the warring parties did a competition by getting other support from other countries and both sides they did not wanted to lose the battlefield,the pressure from IGAD member of,states can be seen when the neighboring States,all members of IGAD,desired to,activate the Authority's development agenda,this means that the funds could not come when in,Sudan there is still a war.Due to the lack of resources and given that the Authority comprises of,some of the poorest countries in the world,there was need to solicit for outside funding to initiate their development projects.The study also acknowledges the role of external actor in form of the pressure exerted by the United states on Sudan government to resolve the conflict.The US was identified as a major key external actor that pressurized the warring parties through the economic sanction to the Government of Sudan,which was been helped the terrorism group,US role also was seen through,the support that gave to IGAD.The chapter also provides a highlight on key feature of the CPA.These features of CPA include;end of the civil war,self-determination of South Sudanese,separation of the religion.Finally,is chapter five which has conclusion and recommendation.The chapter concludes that IGAD was able to bring the warring parties to sign the comprehensive peace agreement because of its mediating mechanisms with the support of internal and external factors such as the USA.The study recommends that there is a need of more resources,need of institutional cooperation of member's states by resolving their issues between themselves.Towards this,the study sought to understand the history of the civil war in Sudan in order to bring into perspective the working of IGAD's role in the sub-region.