• Intensity and Duration: High-intensity conflicts with severe violence and prolonged duration often present more challenges for mediation. For example, the Syria conflict, with its deep-rooted hostilities and high stakes, requires different mediation strategies compared to a low-intensity border dispute.

• Issues at Stake: The type of issues, whether they are tangible (e.g., territory, resources) or intangible (e.g., identity, ideological differences), also influences the mediation approach. For instance, territorial disputes might be more amenable to negotiations involving resource-sharing agreements, whereas ideological conflicts might require confidence-building measures and dialogue.

• Root Causes: Effective mediation requires a deep understanding of the underlying issues driving the conflict. These may include territorial disputes, resource allocation, ideological differences, or historical grievances.

• Intensity and Duration: The level of violence and the length of the conflict significantly influence the mediation process. Long-standing and highly intense conflicts often require more comprehensive and sustained mediation efforts to address the deep-rooted issues and ensure lasting peace. These efforts encompass a range of strategies and mechanisms that extend beyond initial negotiations to include long-term implementation and monitoring. Comprehensive and sustained mediation efforts could be:

– Multiphase negotiations: Starting with small agreements like ceasefires and humanitarian aid to build trust, involving all stakeholders to ensure all perspectives are considered.

– Inclusive agreements: Addressing root causes like political power distribution and resource allocation, with power-sharing arrangements to ensure all major groups have a stake in governance.

– Legal and Institutional Frameworks: Mediation efforts often result in constitutional reforms and new institutions to implement and enforce the peace agreement.

– Implementation and Monitoring: This involve international peacekeeping forces maintaining security and monitoring ceasefires and demilitarized zones, while independent bodies or international organisations oversee the implementation of agreements to ensure compliance by all parties.

– Post-Conflict Reconstruction: Economic reconstruction, infrastructure development, social programs to address the economic roots of conflict, and reconciliation processes like truth and reconciliation commissions to heal societal wounds and promote unity.

– Continuous Dialogue: Ongoing dialogue between parties addresses emerging issues and adjusts agreements to changing circumstances, while continued international support provides necessary resources and pressure to sustain the peace process.