Book Description

Embroiled in civil war since independence, Sudan has also suffered from the failure of both regional and international actors to fully come to terms with the scope of the complex issues involved. Sudan: The Elusive Quest for Peace contributes to a fuller understanding of those issues, exploring the factors that have contributed to the conflict from the days following independence to the present.Iyob and Khadiagala concisely examine the cultural, sociopolitical, economic, and geographical facets of the prolonged hostilities, then assess a sequence of mediation efforts. They also distill the web of grievances that fuel the current conflict in the Darfur region. They conclude with recommendations for the serious political and economic reforms in SudanCand the decisive efforts of external actorsCthat will be required if the peace process is to move forward.Ruth Iyob is associate professor of political science at the University of MissouriBSt. Louis and senior policy adviser to the Africa Program at the International Peace Academy. Her publications include The Eritrean Struggle for Independence: Domination, Resistance and Nationalism, 1941-1993. Gilbert M. Khadiagala is associate professor of comparative politics and African studies at the Johns Hopkins School of Advanced International Studies. He is author of Allies in Adversity: The Frontline States in Southern African Security, 1975-1993 and coeditor of African Foreign Policies: Power and Process.Contents: Introduction: Exploring the Complexities. The Geography of Conflict. Regional and International Mediation. IGAD: African Solutions to African Problems, 1993-2003. The Darfur Flashpoint. Conclusion: Elusive Peace?