Abstract

International organizations have played a critical role in promoting international peace and security since the end of the Second World War. Specifically, the United Nations has been an important actor and anchor of peace through forging negotiations and peace enforcement missions. These efforts can be credited for the decline of interstate conflicts. However, the world has witnessed a sharp increase in conflicts between states and non-state actors since the end of the Cold War, and what has been of concern is the declining presence and influence of the UN in addressing these new forms of protracted conflicts. This has opened a gap for regional organizations to play a role in peace processes. The rise of the Intergovernmental Authority on Development (IGAD) from a development forum to an active mediator in peace and conflict resolution provides a unique example to examine the involvement of regional actors in international peacebuilding.