Professional Training

Workshop on Conflict Resolution in Southern Sudan

December 5-7, 2005 | Malakal, Southern Sudan

The USIP Professional Training Program conducted a workshop in Malakal, southern Sudan December 5-7, 2005. This was our fourth Sudanese workshop. Senior Program Officer Jacki Wilson was assisted by Program Officer Jonathan Morgenstein for the workshop, which was conducted in partnership with local NGO Reconcile. Participants included tribal elders and representatives from the Dinka, Nuer, Shilluk and other tribes, as well as religious leaders from both the Christian and Muslim community. Women and youth also participated. Special observers were present from PACT, UNMIS, and Upper Nile University.

This workshop continued our focus on regional dimensions of conflict that could undermine Sudan’s Comprehensive Peace Agreement. Upper Nile was selected due in part to its links to the Wunlit Peace Agreement, a historically significant successful conflict resolution covenant among the Dinka, Nuer and Shilluk reached in 1999. Although the Wunlit agreement calmed fighting among these three major clans for many years, the potential for the resumption of violence is real, particularly as peace brings the stress of economic development, the return of refugees and IDPs, and DDR activities.

Participants contributed local conflicts or problems that they are personally aware of to help focus the discussions during the workshop. Following training on communications skills, negotiation skills, culture, and working with third parties, the participants were broken into working groups to discuss and to develop action plans. Topics discussed in the working groups included agriculturalist/pastoralist conflicts, the distribution of arms (both to militia and the local populace), tribalism and its manifestations, and human rights issues such as rapes, abductions and forced conscription of children. The action plans were left with the local host of the workshop who can help facilitate follow up. The participants were eager to gain the skills and knowledge necessary to help them resolve their conflicts peacefully.