Mediation in 2024: First Insights from the MEND Database
Author: Mateja Peter
The first release of the Mediation Events and Negotiators Database (MEND) captures 230 mediation and 903 mediation-related events across six conflict-affected contexts in 2024: Sudan, Syria, Libya, Yemen, Afghanistan, and Israel (including Palestine/Gaza, Iran, and Lebanon). Israel-linked conflicts accounted for over half of all events, making it the most active mediation setting. Key trends include a spike in Sudanese mediation early in the year, and a December surge following the fall of the Assad regime in Syria. Mediation involved a diverse range of actors, with Egypt and the US contributing to the highest number of agreements. Egypt’s role in mediating conflicts along its borders illustrates shifting regional dynamics. The majority of 2024 agreements focused on humanitarian access and ceasefires, reflecting the increasing importance of short-term, needs-based mediation. Of 17 agreements recorded in MEND, only four appear in formal legal datasets, highlighting the value of tracking informal and non-legal outcomes.
As part of the PeaceRep Global Fragmentation project, MEND offers a unique, evolving resource that enhances understanding of third-party mediation in an increasingly complex global conflict landscape.