The current geopolitical environment has seen conflicts become more complex in nature, and the last two decades have witnessed a dramatic growth in mediation, as well as the emergence of an unprecedented diversity of mediators, in an effort to respond to these complex security challenges. Against this background, the Mediation Support Network (MSN) held its annual meeting on the theme, Mediating Complex Conflicts – Multi-stakeholder Collaborative Approach in a Changing World Order. The meeting took place from 26 – 28 April 2023 in Accra, Ghana.
The meeting brought together key organisations who are members of the Network to promote and improve mediation practice, processes and standards to address the complex nature of conflicts through an inclusive approach.
The three-day interactive meeting provided practical lessons on the challenges that mediation teams face when mediating complex conflicts. The meeting also focused on strengthening the link between research and practice. An engaging discussion on research reports, commissioned by the Folke Bernadotte Academy (FBA), enabled participants to examine whether the theory and practice on conflict mitigation approaches are being accurately presented. Study visits to the Kofi Annan International Peacekeeping Training Centre (KAITPC), as well as to the West Africa Network for Peacebuilding (WANEP), elaborated on the extensive peace efforts undertaken by African institutions to address conflict situations, particularly in the West African region. The visit to WANEP also included a presentation from the National Peace Council of Ghana which provided valuable insights into the local peace infrastructures within the state.
The meeting also served as a reflection point of the network to develop tools to strengthen the network’s collaboration and create awareness of the work being done globally.
