The world is wracked by conflict and many people hope that peace talks will lead to an end to the violence. But the truth is that talks are rarely successful and most do not address fundamental causes of war.
Peace talks are a complex endeavor, and there are many different approaches that have been developed to help them succeed. One of the most important is to involve multiple mediation processes. It is thought that these increase the chances of an agreement by creating space for more ideas and perspectives to be explored.
Another key approach is to promote trust and listen to grievances. This helps find creative solutions that give all parties guarantees to allow them to imagine a common future. It also allows mediators to build relationships of trust with the parties and break down silos within each side. Contrary to the conventional understanding, mediators do not have to be neutral and unbiased; they can even be leaders of a party or have strong connections with a leader of one of the sides. A case in point is former Burkina Faso president Blaise Compaore, who mediated the 2007 peace process between the government of Cote d’Ivoire and the rebel Forces Nouvelles, which he openly supported.
Other crucial steps include making sure that women are involved in the process and that they can make a difference. This can be done by ensuring that all actors, including mediators and Groups of Friends, guarantee that women’s participation is equal and meaningful, and that any barriers to this, whether legal or cultural, are eliminated.
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