African mediation of the Kenyan post-2007 election crisis

This contribution analyses the African Union-led mediation of Kenya's post-election crisis in 2008. In little more than a month, four main factors aligned in a concert of action to deliver a successful mediation that led to the signing of the National Accord and the formation of the Grand Coalition Government. The first was a framework for mediation that emerged within the ambit of the African Union around which support and momentum grew over time. Accepted by both sides of the conflict, this mechanism enjoyed legitimacy and became a rallying point for all actors interested in resolving the crisis. Second, was the role of Kenyan stakeholders in mounting and sustaining pressure on the parties of the conflict and the mediating team to return Kenya to peace. Mobilising across party lines, Kenyans from various constituencies engaged the peace process from the start to beyond the signing of the accord. In many ways, this translated into local ownership of the peace process and built a constituency of support for it. Third, was the character of the mediating team, which embodied experience, expertise, network and mediation skills for addressing the crisis. All the eminent personalities enjoyed respect in Kenya and internationally, and hence raised confidence in the process. Furthermore, their being African diminished any resistance that could have been associated with Western or other external influence on the process. The final factor was the unrelenting international pressure and leverage that was exerted largely through the framework of mediation. The Kenyan mediation generated critical lessons for negotiations elsewhere. However, as in many other peace agreements, the process lacked mechanisms to ensure full compliance with the provisions of the accord.