The role of Kenya's special envoys in the management of internal conflicts : the case of Sudan, 2002-2009

Abstract

Special envoys excite unwanted interest because they are able to obtain information but their slender resources, higher priorities and brief visits make it likely that their reports will be impressionistic. The area of resources the special envoy should have at his disposal and within what framework touches on the whole integrity of the institution. The study used both quantitative and qualitative methods to collect relevant information.

The population from which the sample was drawn was based on special envoys, government officials, institutions like; IGAD and Sudanese Embassy and Ministry of Foreign Affairs and a sample size of 25 respondents. The primary data collection involved interview guides, group discussions, a questionnaire and published and unpublished documents. The study had focused group disctissions with a few selected members of the Sudanese community residing in Kenya.

This study concludes the effects of special envoys on foreign policy and the vulnerability of mediation on mediation and on parties involved; contribution to conflict prevention or mitigation by assessing circumstances, offering conciliation efforts, providing early warning for the outside community and involvement in conflict resolution efforts between the parties involved. To reduce the vulnerability and risk of exposure or disintegration of the institution of special envoys a secure political environment should be created, there should be an open economic policy and the demand for foreign capital and investment flows should be enhanced and geo-political factors which include issues such as the presence of overlapping ethnic communities across borders should be suppressed.