The Quest for Peace and the Limits of Arbitration in Abyei

Abyei is a territory that straddles Sudan and South Sudan. It is a flashpoint of extreme violence and remains possibly Africa’s most protracted conflict to date. Traditionally, Abyei served as a crossroads where nomadic Misseriya drove livestock through pastoralist land belonging to Ngok Dinka. Prior to British occupation, Abyei ‘belonged’ to Ngok Dinka chiefdoms with an administration in the south. Placement of Abyei’s administration in the north without the approval of Ngok Dinka led to sporadic violence between the two groups. Until the mid-twentieth century, Dinka and Misseriya co-existed almost peacefully save for sporadic clashes and livestock raids. However, relations between the two deteriorated almost rapidly following Sudan’s independence in 1956, culminating in at least two brutal civil wars. Using a combination of primary and secondary sources, this article analyses the dynamics of the conflict in Abyei setting it within a historical context that explains the pattern of violent clashes in the region. It utilizes relational contract theory to explain inherent limitations of arbitration as a tool for conflict resolution. It concludes by noting lessons to benefit future peace processes.