From 11-14 April 2011 the Executive Director of ACCORD, Mr Vasu Gounden led an ACCORD delegation to Juba, South Sudan, to conduct high-level consultative meetings on the peace process in that country.
Mr Gounden was accompanied by Mr Aziz Pahad, Mr Hayden Allen (General Manager: Corporate Affairs, ACCORD), Dr Kwesi Sansculotte-Greenidge (Senior Researcher, ACCORD), Ms Beatrice Nzovu (Senior Programme Officer, ACCORD) and Mr Michael Atkinson (Africa Peace Centre Co-ordinator, ACCORD). The objective of the visit was to conduct high level consultative meetings, similar to those conducted to Khartoum, North Sudan, in September 2010 and March 2011.
The delegation was hosted by the Ministry of Peace and Comprehensive Peace Agreement (CPA) implementation, and held meetings with: President Salva Kiir; high level officials from the AU; the Government of South Sudan and the UN; civil society organisations and funding partners based in Juba; and, members of parliament and representatives of the Sudan People’s Liberation Movement.
The visit also provided the opportunity for ACCORD to receive updated briefings on developments in South Sudan, especially in the lead-up towards a post-referendum environment. Before leaving Juba, ACCORD signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the Government of South Sudan. The first activity to be conducted as part of the MoU took place on 23-27 May 2011.
The Executive Director of ACCORD, Mr Vasu Gounden, along with ACCORD’s Senior Political Advisor, Mr Aziz Pahad, was invited to attend the above celebration that took place on 09 July 2011.
