Under the Sudan Conflict Transformation Initiative (SCTI), ACCORD have conducted a high-level conflict management course in South Africa for ambassadors of the Sudanese Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the National Centre for Diplomatic Studies, Khartoum. The initiative is part of ACCORD’s in-country programmes, and its goal is to strengthen national and local peacebuilding initiatives by providing technical assistance to partners in the governments and civil society of Sudan and South Sudan. Through these strategic endeavours, the initiative has contributed towards a consolidated approach to transforming the conflict environment in the Sudans, ensuring a sustainable and feasible peacebuilding approach and developing a culture of peace.
Jointly organised by both the National Centre for Diplomatic Studies and ACCORD, the programme immersed the 13 ambassadors and senior staff members from the Ministry in analysing conflict, interactive discussions on comparative cases, and testing a conflict management framework against case simulations. The course was supplemented by a study visit to the Apartheid Museum in Johannesburg. ACCORD’s Deputy Director, Jerome Sachane, and the ambassador of Sudan to South Africa, H.E. Ambassador Dr. Ali Al Shariff, joined the workshop in order to share experiences and lessons learned from a variety of missions and activities. The event was held from 28-30 November 2011.
In addition to consultation and dialogue visits, a UNSCR 1325 study, and a deeper engagement with UNMISS, the initiative will provide further conflict management trainings and a second study visit in the first half of 2012. The onflict management training not only contribute to promoting dialogue and fostering the mechanisms of peace, but also propel ACCORD to the forefront of civil society organisations dedicated to engaging in dialogue and peace on the continent.
