USAID/OTI Sudan Hot Topics
December 2004
Supporting Rule of Law Institutions in Southern Sudan
The Pankar region of Bahr El Ghazal witnessed an increase in instability and violent conflict in early 2004. Through the OTI-supported Pankar Rapid Response project, a series of community peace meetings were convened where resolutions, recommendations and plans for resolving conflict were developed. Throughout the process, stakeholders identified the weakness of the judiciary and the lack of response by regional authorities as a cause of conflict in the sub-region. Lamenting the non-engagement of the government, Elder Ayol Kombai said at a community peace meeting, “Why did you neglect us for so long? The time has come for the government to intervene.”
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| Senior chiefs from the Bahr El Ghazal region raise hands in a public pledge to make peace |
OTI’s support to four mobile courts has strengthened the legitimacy of local governance and rule of law institutions. The assistance has provided critical logistical and technical support to the regional judiciary. As a result, the court has responded to five major conflicts in the region that were labeled as priorities by the communities and local authorities. Over 1,500 looted cattle have been recovered and returned to their owners. The increased freedom of movement has allowed access to markets, grazing land, and health centers. In an area with little road infrastructure, the mobility of the judiciary has reduced the chances that unresolved cases would spiral into violent conflict.
For further information, please contact:
In Washington, D.C: Nhelly Saleh Ramirez, Sudan Program Manager, Tel: (202) 712-0795, nsaleh@usaid.gov
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