Last month, a group of 15 African practitioners engaged in mediation and peace processes on the African continent travelled to the Hague to partake in a training programme focused on enhancing their negotiation and mediation skills. The training was organised in collaboration with the African Union Commission and FemWise-Africa. Differing from the past six Clingendael training programmes, which primarily catered to African women mediators, this edition welcomed a diverse group comprising both male and female mediators alongside youth representatives. 

Over the course of two weeks, participants engaged in practical exercises and roleplay scenarios, and crafted mediation action plans based on real-life cases. They also interacted with mediation experts working on the African continent during an interview carrousel. These dynamic interactions with trainers and peers enriched their understanding of the mediator's role and its intricate challenges, particularly the demanding task of maintaining impartiality and neutrality in complex situations.