USAID/OTI Sudan Field Report
March 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, radio is the most effective vehicle for relaying information about the community, education and training, and for conveying information related to governance and the peace process. As a result, OTI will help 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
GOS and the SPLM resumed the peace talks in Kenya on March 4. This phase of discussions focused on the administration of the three transitional areas of the Nuba Mountains, Southern Blue Nile, and Abyei. Traditionally, these areas have been considered part of the north, following the 1956 administrative boundaries and therefore, according to the GOS not eligible for self-determination as other parts of the south. Held outside of the framework of formal IGAD talks, these talks are understood as critical to ultimate success of the peace process. Many analysts consider that a failure to reach an acceptable agreement on the transitional areas for all parties will doom the entire peace process. According to Kenya's special envoy to the talks, General Sumbeiywo, the talks on the transitional areas had achieved "limited success" in this initial round.
In March, Talisman, Canada's largest independent oil company, completed the sale of its share of the Greater Nile Project, which is exploring the oil potential of Western Upper Nile. The company had received significant criticism from human rights groups such as Amnesty International and Human Rights Watch as profiting from the displacement of local Sudanese by GOS-sponsored militias.
The United Nations received permission from the GOS to begin delivering humanitarian assistance to Southern Blue Nile (SBN) region in eastern Sudan. The area has been not part of the mandate of Operation Lifeline Sudan, so the UN negotiated separate MOUs with both the GOS and the SPLM to grant access for UN agencies to permit the distribution of humanitarian assistance. Food aid was expected to begin immediately, as SBN has long suffered from critical shortages.
After emerging in February, the new rebel movement, the Sudan Liberation Movement/Army (SLM/A), formerly the Darfur Liberation Front, continued to mount attacks. After losing the town of Gulu to GOS forces in early March, the SLMA claimed to have seized control of Tina, on the Chad border. The SLM/A also issued a political declaration, stating its objective is the creation of a united democratic state, and advocating for the separation of church and state in Sudan's government. Local groups in Darfur issued statements that the Sudanese government was guilty of human rights violations in the troubled western province. The impact of the new rebel movement on the on-going peace process remains unclear though the SPLM/A did appeal to the government to engage in a dialogue about the rebellion, rather than resorting to continued military engagement.
For most of March, the Civilian Protection and Monitoring Team (CPMT) was unable to conduct investigations. Established as part of the on-going peace negotiations, the CPMT has the responsibility to review instances of alleged violations of the cease-fire, targeted against civilians. From March 7, the Sudanese military intelligence stopped processing notifications, resulting in the CPMT not traveling. The Sudanese military are supposed to ensure security protection for the CPMT, and without processing the notifications, the CPMT cannot be assured of their safety in traveling to reported areas of cease-fire violations. Both the GOS and the SPLM agreed to extend the cease-fire agreement until June 30, 2003.
HIGHLIGHTS
A. Narrative Summary
In March, OTI awarded a cooperative leadership award to Education Development Center for the development of a radio service for southern Sudan. The OTI assessment team determined that a lack of access to information in southern Sudan, particularly regarding the on-going national peace process, is a significant problem. Sudan's great size, with a topography that makes communication and transportation extremely difficult, and largely impossible during the rainy season, and the widespread illiteracy of the generation that has grown up during the war, make radio the first choice for disseminating information. Existing radio broadcasts in regional languages have been limited to broadcasts from the north and sporadic coverage from various international services like the BBC. The scope and duration of these international broadcasts is very limited.
To that end, OTI is funding the development of a radio service for southern Sudan. Radio can be an effective vehicle to address two major concerns: the lack of human capacity and the lack of information about events that affect the everyday lives of the people of southern Sudan. The provision of timely and accurate information can provide motivation for greater civic participation. The radio service will present a diverse mix of timely and relevant programming broadcast in Sudanese languages, (initially Juba-Arabic, Nuer, Dinka and English with the potential to include other major languages of southern Sudan) by Sudanese presenters. The amount of airtime proposes to start at a realistic level of two hours/day within four months and expand to six hours/day.
NEXT STEPS/IMMEDIATE PRIORITIES
OTI will deploy a team to Nairobi to continue implementation in April. OTI's media implementing partner, Educational Development Center, deploys a team to Nairobi in April 2003. 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 is also in the process of hiring a permanent Country Representative who should be in Nairobi by June. OTI is also exploring opportunities to provide support to the possible peace agreement, anticipated in June.
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