The Effectiveness of Regional Organization in Boundary Conflicts: The Case of African Union in the Conflict between Sudan and South Sudan

Sudan is still experiencing tensions and civil strife while fighting over boundary towns with rich oil mines and experiencing civil war that was facilitated by the president’s decision to redraw the internal boundaries. African Union has been on the front line to condemn any form of hostilities against each other and draft maps that would guide Sudan and South Sudan towards the road to peaceful co-existence. The main objective of the study was to establish the effectiveness of African Union strategies in boundary conflict resolutions between Sudan and South Sudan. With the specific objectives being; to examine the challenges faced by the African Union in seeking to resolve the boundary conflict between Sudan and South Sudan, to identify the causes of boundary conflicts between Sudan and South Sudan and to explain the role and intervention of the African Union in the Sudan and South Sudan boundary conflict. This Research used Sudan and South Sudan as case studies. The Descriptive Survey Research Design was used in the study, relying entirely on secondary data collected from past researches. The Social Constructivism and Ethnic Security Dilemma theories guided the study. The data was analyzed using descriptive method. The findings of the study indicate that the African Union has not been successful in resolving the boundary conflict between Sudan and South Sudan. The researcher anticipates that the findings of the study will help Sudan and South Sudan to come up with permanent solutions to the existing boundary conflict. The Researcher recommends that the African Union needs to guarantee efficiency and importance of cease-fire treaties and encourage inventive peace making processes.