USAID/OTI Sudan Field Report
April 2003
Program Description
Since 1983, an estimated two million Sudanese have died as a result of the protracted conflict, drought and famine. In the past year, however, several positive developments within Sudan have occurred, providing new opportunities to finally resolve Africa's longest war and move the country to a lasting peace. In addition to several successful, local-level, people-to-people peace processes, the Government of Sudan (GOS) and the Sudan People's Liberation Movement (SPLM) appear on the verge of a peace agreement for which significant, high-level U.S. government engagement is credited. OTI plans to link ongoing southern Sudanese peace processes and peace-building efforts to initiatives that promote good governance practices to increase the participation of southern Sudanese in their governing structures. OTI's program focuses on critical transition issues in southern Sudan, such as increasing access to balanced information, promoting good governance, providing conflict-resolution expertise in areas vulnerable to violence, and supporting people-to-people peace processes.
OTI's program in southern Sudan supports activities in the following focus areas:
- Independent Southern Sudan Media: Given the high levels of illiteracy in southern Sudan, radio is the most effective vehicle for relaying information about the peace process, general news, as well updates on humanitarian and development programming. Educational Development Center (EDC) is working to establish a local-language radio service for southern Sudan.
- Conflict Resolution Mechanism and Tangible Peace Dividends: Proposed OTI activities in this area will include timely transport of respected local and international conflict resolution experts to areas vulnerable to conflict, and the provision of tangible peace dividends to bring communities together to secure local-level peace agreements.
- Good Governance: Initial OTI efforts to improve governance and strengthen the relationship between civil authorities and citizens will have two components: supporting the development of the rule of law by increasing the independence and effectiveness of the judiciary, and increasing support to local non-governmental organizations.
Country Situation
On April 2, Sudanese President Omar el-Bashir and SPLM/A leader John Garang met in Nairobi for discussions hosted by Kenyan President Kibaki. Both announced their commitment to the on-going peace negotiations, and predicted that an agreement could be reached as early as June. The Nairobi talks marked only the second time the two leaders have met; the first meeting took place in July 2002. In spite of the high-level meeting, the parties to the peace negotiations did not make significant progress in April. The agenda for this fourth round of talks centered on security issues and ended on April 16 without any agreement between the two sides. Specifically, the GOS and the SPLM disagreed over whether the rebel and government armed forces should be integrated into a new national military. Talks are scheduled to resume on May 7.
Throughout April, the new rebel movement, the Sudan Liberation Movement/Army (SLM/A), which was formerly known as the Darfur Liberation Front, continued to mount attacks in Darfur. In response, the GOS has stepped up its military presence in Darfur, and according to some reports, has begun attacking local villages in an effort to stamp out the insurgency. Sudan's border area with Chad has been declared a military zone by the GOS following a meeting between Sudanese President Omar el-Bashir and Chadian President Idriss Deby. On April 25, the SLM/A reported that it had seized the airport and Al-Fasher, the capital of Northern Darfur state, and destroyed GOS helicopters and equipment. The GOS refutes this claim, stating that Al-Fashar remains under government control. The authorities in the capital of Southern Darfur, Nyala, imposed a curfew on the city following the clashes in Al-Fashar. The SLM/A has issued statements that it does not seek independence, but demands greater political autonomy and a more equitable share of resources from the central Sudanese authorities. The GOS disputes the SLM/A's claims to be a political organization, labeling the rebels "bandits and armed gangs."
A majority on the U.N. Human Rights Commission voted down a resolution from the EU calling for the extension of the mandate of a special rapporteur on human rights for Sudan. For a decade, Sudan had been categorized as an item 9 country, which necessitates the appointment of a special rapporteur charged with investigating and reporting on the human rights situation in the country. In a March briefing to the U.N. Human Rights Commission, then Special Rapportuer Gerhart Baum stated that he had seen "no fundamental change" in Sudan's human rights situation since earlier visits. The report also stated that tens of thousands of southern Sudanese were displaced from the oil-rich area of western Upper Nile in 2002. Russia, China and all but one of the African members of the U.N. Human Rights Commission voted to upgrade Sudan's status to an item 19 country, eliminating the requirement for a special rapporteur. Uganda was the lone African country to not vote for the change in status, as it abstained from voting.
The October 2002 Sudan Peace Act requires U.S. President Bush to report to Congress on the GOS. The April 21 report certified that the GOS has been negotiating in good faith with the SPLM and therefore, would escape the imposition of additional sanctions. Sanctions could have included the pursuit of a U.N. Security Council resolution for an arms embargo on the Sudanese government; U.S. efforts to vote against loans, credits and guarantees by international financial institutions to Sudan; as well steps to deny the Sudanese government access to oil revenues to ensure that the funds were not used for military purposes. Moreover, had the report not certified Sudan, the United States would have considered downgrading or even suspending diplomatic relations. In announcing the report, President Bush hailed the on-going peace process for Sudan, but stated, "there is still much work remaining."
HIGHLIGHTS
A. Narrative Summary
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| The EDC team and OTI staff visit the new studio space. |
OTI awarded a cooperative leadership award to Education Development Center (EDC) for the development of a radio service for southern Sudan. The service will broadcast in several local languages, including Dinka, Nuer, Juba-Arabic and English. EDC deployed its expatriate staff to Nairobi in April to begin operations. In Nairobi, EDC found studio space that will require some renovation, which should take about two months to complete. Nonetheless, EDC anticipates being able to develop some programming even before all the changes to the studios are finished. EDC also started identifying Sudanese journalists from a broad ethnic spectrum to ensure balanced reporting in the major local languages of southern Sudan. Projected start date for the broadcast of the radio service is early July.
OTI staff kept busy throughout the month finalizing the establishment of its programming mechanisms. OTI staff returned to the USAID/REDSO Mission in Nairobi to continue office set-up, including hiring local staff and further defining programming with implementing partners. OTI's Senior Media Advisor traveled to Nairobi to work with EDC on the development of the radio service and to outline OTI Sudan's overall media strategy for southern Sudan.
NEXT STEPS/IMMEDIATE PRIORITIES
OTI continues work on contracting an implementing partner for its small-grants program in southern Sudan. A contract is anticipated in May. The organization will administer a small-grants program focused on conflict resolution and strengthening governance at all levels. OTI anticipates completing a grant to provide support to the judiciary in southern Sudan. OTI will continue to work closely with EDC to ensure a quick start to broadcasting of the radio service. OTI is in the process of hiring a permanent country representative who should be in place by June. OTI is also exploring opportunities to provide support to the possible peace agreement, anticipated in June.
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