Why Sudan?

An independence rally in Southern Sudan

In 2009 I chose to explore my interest in Peace Work seriously by undertaking a Postgraduate Certificate in Conflict Resolution with the Centre for Peace and Reconciliation Studies at Coventry University. This served to educate me in some of the key skills needed in the field, and the context to its development. Most crucially it gave me two weeks intensive work with an incredibly rich and diverse group of colleagues from all over the world, including two participants from Sudan. After ongoing correspondence once our course had finished, I was eventually invited by Aganwa Wilson, Director of a Southern Sudanese NGO called MRDA, to join them in specifically the development of a new peace building initiative. I have recieved numerous such invitiation over the past few years from friends in the Global South. The timing for me personally and the crossroads in history that Sudan now stands at have influenced my decision to accept this one. This personal connection is incredibly important to me. All too often I feel that International 'Development' amounts to another layer of patronage and interference. Without the blessing of my colleagues in Sudan I would feel uncomfortable with the notion of arriving unwelcome. I am hoping this post will communicate why I find this opportunity so compelling.

Sudan
The borders of Sudan arguably encompass the original ‘Cradle of Civilisation’. The Ancient Kingdom of Nubia, whose monarchy, economic infrastructure and spiritual practices predate and inform those of the much celebrated Egyptian culture, survived numerous military and cultural assaults until the Eighteenth century and colonisation.

Today the modern Republic of Sudan, the biggest in both Africa and the Arab world and, includes almost six hundred distinct ethnic groups speaking over four hundred languages and dialects (the official state languages are Arabic and English) and incorporates substantial numbers of Christians, Muslims and followers of indigenous faiths. Sudan has been embroiled in conflict for much of its existence since it achieved independence from years of Egyptian and British colonisation in 1956. Two civil wars fuelled by conflicts and inequalities between the North and South of the new country were followed by a military coup in 1989 and a later eruption of hostilities in the West of the country, specifically the Darfur region, which has drawn attention to Sudan in recent years.

Southern Sudan
The South has a population of around six million and most of the population is reliant upon rural, subsistence agriculture, despite the ongoing exploitation of major oil reserves. Conflict and internal politics has resulted in massive underdevelopment of the region, a lack of infrastructure and major destruction and displacement. Since independence over two million people have died and more than four million are internally displaced or have become refugees. There are also internal conflicts in the South, exacerbated by scarce resources, poverty and external intervention from the North and farther afield. Furthermore the borders with unstable states including Democratic Republic of Congo, Central African Republic and Chad, as well as the presence of fugitive elements of the Lords Resistance Army, displaced from Northern Uganda, undermine peace in Southern Sudan.

Whilst the conflict in Darfur remains unresolved there is an official peace agreement between the leadership of the North and South that has seen a high degree of autonomy for the South since 2006, pending a full referendum on independence scheduled for completion on January 9th. Some of the foundations of an independent system of government have been established and many of the large Southern Diaspora have returned to homelands vacated during the most recent War. Official agreements and deals between elites do not necessarily resolve underlying tensions and if, as anticipated, the South votes for independence, its citizens and leaders will face a number of serious challenges, not least an embedded culture of insecurity and violence and the need to build a rule of law that enables all to realise their basic rights through non violent means.

The Work of MRDA
For the past 3 years MRDA has rolled out a programme of Civic Education working with citizens in the Southern State of Western Equatoria, supporting them to understand and exercise their rights and responsibilities under the framework of the nascent Government of Southern Sudan (GOSS). This has included work on the Southern Sudanese constitution and the process of registering to vote and voting in elections held in 2010 (the first in over twenty years). Building upon this work the leadership of the organisation have elected to launch a new Centre for Peace and Democracy Studies.

My time will focus on evaluating the conflict sensitivity of current initiatives and developing new training and development of pilot modules and programmes through participatory training and evaluation that will draw upon the lived experience, skills and expertise of participants to build a relevant, effective and flexible body of work. Those participating will be skilled up to deliver their own programmes to wider sections of their communities in order to maximise the impact of the work. I will also be supporting the development of project plans and funding proposals to ensure the sustainability of this centre and to create the means a local worker to take over my role in a paid capacity.

The Centre will draw participants from all over the Southern Sudan with an emphasis on the population in contentious areas and the population with a history of cattle disputes as well as the substantial population of young people under 30, and intends to reach one hundred and eighty participants over its initial projected three year life cycle.

For me this endeavour represents an incredible opportunity to apply and develop my current knowledge and skills and learn much more from the experience of those around me. As I aspire to work full time in the field of peace work as a trainer and facilitator this is a chance to 'fail forward', test my ability and resolve and contribute to some crucial work. I look forward to sharing the experience with you.


Links
A very recent documentary on life in Southern Sudan and the upcoming Referendum
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eYXdFUbj_a8

A great documentary about Nubia, made by a Black British filmaker. Please buy it if you're interested to support more work like this that sheds light on oft-ignored history.
http://www.sudanesethinker.com/2008/07/07/black-nubia-the-forgotten-kingdom/

Mundri Relief and Development Association
http://mundridevelopment.org/mrda-aboutus.html

Centre for Peace and Reconciliation Studies, Coventry University
http://wwwm.coventry.ac.uk/researchnet/CPRS/Pages/Home.aspx