South Sudan: The Role of AU Mediation Envoys

The Institute for Security Studies (ISS) published in February 2017 a report titled "Assessing AU Mediation Envoys: The Case of South Sudan" by Dimpho Motsamai, ISS South Africa.

The report highlights the factors that limited the African Union's role in the South Sudanese mediation from December 2013 to August 2015 and emphasizes the need to institutionalize and evaluate AU mediation activities.

Sudan and the Peace Process

The Kampala, Uganda-based Sudan Democracy First Group (SDFG) posted on 17 February 2017 a commentary titled "Can a Peaceful Political Process in Sudan be Revitalized through the AUHIP? Challenges and Opportunities."

The SDFG suggests ways the African Union High-level Implementation Panel (AUHIP) led by former South African President Thabo Mbeki can revitalize the Sudan peace process.

Ethiopia's Role in South Sudan

The International Crisis Group published on 30 January 2017 a commentary titled "Ethiopia Must Continue to Help Stabilise South Sudan" by Rashid Abdi, project director for Horn of Africa.

The author noted that Ethiopia has shown strong leadership and a level of direct involvement in peace efforts in Sudan and South Sudan that few countries can match. He argued that Ethiopia should not waiver in its commitment to ensuring a peaceful South Sudan and use the tools at its disposal to support an inclusive and stable government in Juba.

Sudan over the Past Year

The Rift Valley Institute published on 25 May 2016 an overview titled "This Year in Sudan" by Douglas Johnson and Guma Kunda Komey. It summarizes key political and economic developments in Sudan over the past year.

Failure of the Addis Ababa Talks on Sudan

The Sudan Democracy First Group published on 30 November 2015 a commentary titled "The Failure of the Addis Ababa Talks: Insistence on War, Prevention of Humanitarian Aid and Monopoly on Political Solutions." 

It discusses the suspension of negotiations between the government of Sudan and the Sudan People's Liberation Movement North, on the one side, and between the government of Sudan and the Justice and Equality Movement and Sudan Liberation Movement Minni Minnawi, on the other. 

Sudan: What Next?

African Arguments published on 13 August 2015 an analysis titled "Sudan: What Next?" by Magnus Taylor, Sudan and Uganda analyst for the International Crisis Group.

He concluded that attempts to encourage an end to Sudan's worsening conflicts and to halt the deterioration of economic conditions for the impoverished majority, continues to suffer from the political vacuum within the NCP--a lack of agreement among the NCP's diverse internal constituencies and especially the military's resistance to concessions to the Sudanese Revolutionary Front--and an absence of credible alternatives. 

Will Sudan's Elections Derail National Dialogue?

The Institute for Security Studies in South Africa published on 26 March 2015 a commentary titled "Navigating a Bump in the Road: Will Sudan's Elections Derail National Dialogue?" by Peter Fabricius, foreign editor of South Africa's Independent Newspapers.  Fabricius offers a fairly negative account for Sudan's political prospects.

Prospects for National Political Dialogue in Sudan

The International Crisis Group (ICG) published on 11 March 2015 a briefing titled "Sudan: The Prospects for 'National Dialogue'".  The ICG concludes that the prospects for a soft-landing to end Sudan's internal political differences are fading because the ruling National Congress Party is unwilling or unable to make necessary concessions.

Conversation with Former US Special Envoy for Sudan

The U.S. Institute for Peace published a three part interview with Princeton Lyman, former U.S. special envoy for Sudan.  Part I dated 28 April 2014 is titled "Sudan National Dialogue."  Part II dated 30 April 2014 is titled "Sudan and the West."  Part III dated 2 May 2014 is titled "Sudan Looking Ahead."  The series offers useful insights on U.S. policy and the challenges for finding solutions to the problems in Sudan and South Sudan.