Africa’s subregional peace and security governance through platformisation: lessons from the IGAD-led peace process for South Sudan between 2013 and 2018

This article explores how the Intergovernmental Authority on Development (IGAD) functions as a platform enabling warring parties to manage, resolve, or transform conflicts in the Horn of Africa (HoA). Within the broader process of platformisation – where institutional and political roles become dynamic, mediating platforms – IGAD illustrates how regional bodies can evolve into vital infrastructures for conflict mediation. While often criticised for institutional weaknesses and competing member state interests, the article argues IGAD remains a crucial political space for peace negotiations. These diplomatic efforts, shaped by factors like interest alignment, can encourage cooperation among diverse actors, as seen in the Revitalised Agreement on the Resolution of the Conflict in South Sudan (R-ARCSS). IGAD’s platform role highlights its ongoing relevance in peace-making across the HoA and affirms the significance of Africa’s subregional bodies in supporting the African Peace and Security Architecture (APSA) and the broader goal of African solutions to African problems.