ACCORD and the Intergovernmental Authority on Development (IGAD) organised the IGAD MSU’s Committee of Ambassadors B-Annual Meeting in Juba, South Sudan from 11-12 December 2018.
In order to ensure the fulfilment of the standing order of the MSU to report bi-annually to the Committee of Ambassadors, the meeting took place with the purposes of the MSU to: report annually on the implementation of its mandate; share the outcome document of the meeting of the senior officials on the mediation establishment of the mediation protocol; report on the implementation of the last year’s resolution of financial contribution of member states to the mediation fund; seek the mandate to establish entry points and deliver programmes that meet the objectives of the instructed areas such as conflict prevention and peace building together with strengthening regional and national frameworks; share with the CoA the status of the organogram and structure of MSU; and secure a mandate to strengthen women in peace agenda.
The MSU therefore, was able to update the CoA on the various initiatives it undertook during the year, with a particular focus on 3 main activities: the progress regarding the consultation on the mediation protocol and its developments; the outcomes of the third IGAD High Level Retreat and the intention to develop a conflict prevention framework; as well as the Roundtable on the Agreement of the Revitalisation Agreement of South Sudan, which was recently held at the ACCORD offices in Durban. Furthermore, discussions extended the way in which the MSU can work more closely with the Early Warning and Response Mechanisms; identify and create relevant institutions to help the creation of the technical experts and enter into partnership agreements; and undertake country level consultations with relevant national institutions in each member state to explore if each country has a national strategy for conflict resolution. Finally, it also aims to identify gaps to enable ways in which countries can benefit from Regional initiatives.
Significant outcomes of the meeting included, the commitment of member states of the contribution of funds to the IGAD MSU to ensure the effective implementation in mediation and conflict prevention as well as approving the change in organisational structure of the IGAD MSU. ACCORD is committed to working with the IGAD MSU in order to achieve optimum results in mediation and conflict prevention in the East and Horn of Africa.
