As the German government revises its Africa Policy Guidelines, it should revaluate how it approaches conflict mediation. Supporting mediation efforts through the United Nations, regional organisations or NGOs has become the preferred policy option for Germany vis-à-vis African conflicts. This choice not only concerns relations with the neighbouring continent. Whether in Ukraine, Afghanistan or the Western Balkans, “Germany enjoys a worldwide reputation as an honest mediator and broker”, emphasizes Almut Wieland-Karimi, Managing Director of the Centre for International Peace Operations (ZIF). In 2019. the Federal Foreign Office published the Concept for Peace Mediation and emphasized Germany’s specific experience in dealing with conflicts from its own national past. Referring to the “reconciliation with France and Poland”, German authorities consider themselves to be well-positioned to influence the transformation of relationships between former enemies.
This perspective is based on a widely accepted premise in the field of conflict resolution, namely that mediation oriented towards reconciliation is inherently positive. Yet, it might be wise to pay attention to the limits and pitfalls of this approach. Beyond being of theoretical interest, this question is of direct relevance for practitioners and the affected populations – a better understanding …read more
Source:: German Institute for International and Security Affairs
