USAID/OTI Sudan Field Report
May-June 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 toward 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 to be on the verge of a peace agreement. High-level U.S. government engagement is credited with playing a significant role in this latter effort.
OTI plans to link ongoing southern Sudanese peace processes and peace-building efforts to initiatives that promote increased 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 supports activities in the following 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, and updates on humanitarian and development programming. The OTI-funded 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 include timely transport of respected local and international conflict resolution experts to vulnerable areas and bringing communities together so they can realize the tangible benefits of local level peace agreements.
- Good Governance: Initial OTI efforts to improve governance and strengthen the relationship between civil authorities and citizens will increase the independence and effectiveness of the judiciary and expand support to local non-governmental organizations.
COUNTRY SITUATION
In May, an outbreak of yellow fever occurred in the Imatong and Ikotos areas of southern Sudan. Initial reports suggested that the fever was Ebola, sparking fears of a widespread outbreak of the horrific illness. Following tests in South Africa and Kenya, it was determined that the illness was yellow fever, a hemorrhagic fever with symptoms similar to Ebola. UN agencies and international NGOs began working with local health officials to stem the spread of the virus. By month's end, some 80 people had been affected and 30 had died. In other health news, the GOS refused entry to air passengers coming in from countries reporting SARS cases.
During May, U.S. officials expressed approval of recent GOS efforts to cooperate on terrorism issues. Despite considerable improvement since the mid-to-late 1990s, Sudan still remains on the U.S. list of countries that sponsor terrorism. During the month, U.S. Secretary of State Colin Powell met with his Sudanese counterpart, Mustafa Osman Ismail, to detail what Sudan needs to do to be removed from the list.
The peace process continued in May and June, but progress was limited as the two sides negotiated one of the most contested issues on the agenda, security arrangements. The GOS' peace adviser stated that "very little had been achieved." Despite assurances in April from SPLM leader Garang and Sudanese President Beshir that an agreement would be reached by June, without progress on this key issue such an outcome appears to be out of the question for the time being.
General Lazarus Sumbeiywo, chief negotiator for the regional Inter-Governmental Authority on Development (IGAD)-sponsored peace talks on Sudan, gave an interview in May. He outlined his expectations for the peace process and the remaining obstacles to a durable agreement. The General said an agreement should be completed by mid-August, but "it will remain up to the parties to sign it." Acknowledging the failure of the 1972 Addis Abba agreement, in large part owing to the absence of safeguards to ensure compliance, the General is seeking guarantees from the international community for the provision of monitors and/or peacekeeping forces in conjunction with any future agreement. During June, the General visited Khartoum and rebel-held areas in Sudan to speak with both sides about the peace agreement. As a result, both sides agreed to renew the cease-fire agreement in the Nuba Mountains for an additional six-month period.
Sudanese opposition leaders met in Cairo in May to reaffirm their unity and show support for the on-going peace process. Dr. John Garang (SPLM), Sadiq al-Mahdi (Umma Party), and Mohammed al-Mirghani (Democratic Unionist Party [DUP]) held a series of meetings to discuss the Machakos talks, which do not include the northern opposition groups such as the Umma and DUP. It was the first time in three years that Garang met with al-Mahdi, following the latter's departure from the National Democratic Alliance (an umbrella organization of virtually all Sudanese opposition groups).
HIGHLIGHTS
A. Narrative Summary
In Nairobi, EDC continued its efforts to create a short-wave, local-language radio service for southern Sudan. EDC has worked closely with Kenyan authorities to ensure the appropriate registration and establishment of the station. EDC staff also were busy identifying potential staff, including broadcasters and technicians, and contacting NGOs and Kenyan Universities to find qualified professionals with requisite journalism and language skills. EDC staff also began to develop initial radio programming content and a broadcast schedule. In June, in coordination with the Sudan Development Trust, EDC held a training session for journalists who might work for the radio service. The training took place over eight days, the first five of which focused on a general introduction to journalism and the final three on radio journalism. Twenty-seven Sudanese, many of whom had some prior experience, participated in the training. All the participants expressed satisfaction with the training and several will continue to work with EDC as the radio service develops.
EDC also sent its Radio Programming Advisor to Washington D.C. to begin production on proposed programs. By the end of June, EDC had located several speakers of Sudanese languages, such as Dinka and Nuer, in Washington who can translate and read stories for the radio service. At the same time, work on establishing broadcast facilities in Nairobi continued.
In June, OTI awarded a $6.9 million contract to Pact, Inc. to implement a small grants program in southern Sudan. The two-year program will emphasize activities that:
- Accelerate the transformation process toward peace by promoting proven dispute resolution institutions and expanding an accommodating environment for reconciliation and accord;
- Strengthen the policy framework and systems of governance necessary for the promotion of constructive rehabilitation, development, and sustainable peace;
- Strengthen judicial systems and women's right to empowerment; and
- Promote a greater demand for and participation in democratic governance, development, and the wider peace process.
While the program will focus on selected areas from among these priorities, it will also be flexible and responsive to the changing dynamics of the country context. If the anticipated peace agreement between the GOS and SPLM is completed in the near future, the OTI-Pact program will provide a flexible mechanism to reinforce the peace and expand opportunities for democratic reform in post-conflict Sudan. Pact immediately set to work establishing an offices and getting staff in place to begin program implementation.
Also in June, OTI awarded a $543,000 grant to the British NGO, Christian Aid. The main purpose of the grant is to provide support to a series of activities aimed at strengthening indigenous governance capacity, particularly in the judiciary, in southern Sudan. In addition, it will help foster grassroots peace initiatives by working through local civil society organizations. The grant covers specific interventions including the provision of transport/logistical and administrative support to the southern Sudan judiciary, South Sudan Law Society, Nuba government institutions and civil society organizations, and individuals working on the Panakar peace initiative. The grant will also support a civic education network of Sudanese NGOs and provide support for the creation of a development plan for the Southern Blue Nile region.
In June, as part of the same grant Christian Aid worked with women's groups from the Nuba Mountains to develop an All-Nuba women's conference. The aim of the conference was to develop a consensus on peace and development issues in the Nuba Mountains. The conference took place, but failed to achieve all of its intended objectives because Nuban women from Khartoum were barred from participating.
Program implementation during this reporting period continued to be affected by security issues. While OTI staff were in Nairobi working with implementing partners and the REDSO Mission on Office programming in May, heightened security concerns prevented them from doing so in June.
NEXT STEPS/IMMEDIATE PRIORITIES
- OTI is working to deploy to Nairobi the newly hired Country Representative for the Sudan program.
- In July, OTI and Pact staff will attend joint training sessions on the use of the OTI database to track small grants. ·
- OTI will continue close collaboration with EDC to resolve outstanding registration problems with the Government of Kenya and launch radio programming on a short-term basis from Washington D.C.
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