This study is about South Africa’s diplomatic initiatives in the DRC from 1990 to 2009. It concentrates on the implementation of the transitional phase to prepare for the elections in 2006 and the implementation of the post conflict reconstruction and development (PCRD) projects from 2006 onwards. The study argues that South Africa’s ability to facilitate peace which ended a full-scale war in the DRC should be highly commended as one of its diplomatic achievements. Its experience of negotiations and mediation to end apartheid has placed it in a favourable position amongst other global players. It supported its ambition of ensuring that the development of the African Continent is prioritized on the global agenda. However, South Africa does not have any experience in transitional diplomacy and this study has highlighted that it needs sufficient capacity and strategies first before it engages in it. Such capacity should be informed by a full understanding of the receiving country in order to prepare the diplomats accordingly. Clarity of South Africa’s national interest in pursuing transitional diplomacy seems weak and therefore confuses ‘teams on the ground’ as they are not always sure how to manouvre within a very complex and highly contested country like the DRC. The role of the international community, members of the Great Lakes and the Congolese population has been highlighted as being critical to assist the DRC to achieve stability and sustainable peace. Without political will and leadership from the DRC leaders themselves, all diplomatic efforts will be futile. Ten years is a very short time to assess the success of post-conflict reconstruction activities but useful lessons have been drawn from this evaluation. They have enhanced our understanding of transitional diplomacy and some of them can be used as models and guidelines which will improve intervention in future projects. / Dissertation (MDiplomatic Studies)--University of Pretoria, 2010. / Political Sciences / unrestricted

This study of the Somali conflict resolution process is based on the available body of knowledge about the nature of the conflict and diplomatic initiatives aimed at finding a peaceful resolution to the conflict. It provides a brief analysis of the nature and scope of the conflict with a particular focus on key features of the conflict and on the actors and issues driving the conflict since the fall of General Mohammed Siad Barre’s military regime in 1991 and the subsequent collapse of the Somali state. The study concludes that although the nature of the conflict is acute and exceedingly complex, it is not impossible to resolve. In this regard a number of recommendations are provided in the concluding chapter. The paradox of the Somali conflict resolution processes is the consistent focus on state-building approach by mediation processes despite the failure rate of such an approach. The study argues that the mediation processes should focus on a peace-making approach to the Somali conflict resolution process. State-building should only be considered an integral part of peace-building once the resolution phase has been accomplished. This means that the international community should adopt a long-term approach when mediating the intractable Somali conflict and that such an approach should comply with the basic principles of mediation, chief amongst which is the requirement of utiliting a neutral mediator. AFRIKAANS : Hierdie studie van die Somali konflikresolusieproses is gebasseer op die beskikbare korpus van literatuur oor die aard van die konflik en die diplomatieke inisiatiewe gefokus op die soeke na ‘n vreedsame oplossing daarvan. Dit verskaf ‘n ontleding van die aard en omvang van die konflik met spesifieke aandag aan die kerneienskappe van die konflik en die akteurs en vraagstukke onderliggend aan die konflik sedert die val van Generaal Mohammed Siad Barre se militêre regime in 1991 en die daaropvolgende ineenstorting van die Somali-staat. Die studie kom tot die gevolgtrekking dat alhoewel die aard van die konflik akuut en uiters kompleks is, dit nie onmoontlik is om ‘n oplossing te vind nie. In hierdie verband word ‘n aantal voorstelle in die slothoofstuk gemaak. Die paradoks van die Somali konflikresoulusieproses is die deurlopende fokus op ‘n staat-bou proses in bemiddelingsprosesse ten spyte van die bewese mislukking van so ‘n benadering. Die studie argumenteer dat die bemiddelingsproses op die bou van vrede behoort te konsentreer. Staat-bou behoort slegs as integrale deel van die bou van vrede beskou te word in die stadium wat die konflikresolusieproses afgehandel is. Dit beteken dat die internasionale gemeenskap ‘n langtermyn benadering moet volg in bemiddeling van die konflik en dat so ‘n bendering moet voldoen aan die basiese vereistes van bemiddeling waarvan die belangrikste die vereiste van ‘n neutrale bemiddelaar is. / Dissertation (MDiplomatic Studies)--University of Pretoria, 2010. / Political Sciences / unrestricted