African Solutions to African Challenges: The Role of Legitimacy in Mediating Civil Wars in Africa

Author(s): Allard Duursma
Journal Title: International Organization
Publisher(s): Cambridge University Press
Publication Year: 2020

Studies on the mediation of civil wars typically conclude that due to limited economic and military resources African mediation efforts are often unsuccessful. In this International Organization article, CSS’ Allard Duursma shows that these findings do not hold when attempts by African actors are systematically compared to those of non-African ones. In contrast to the existing literature, he shows that African third parties are far more likely to conclude negotiated settlements that are more likely to be durable. The reason for this is that they are seen as more legitimate within the African society of states, which perceives African mediation as the most desirable way of solving conflicts on the African continent.

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