On 31 July 2024, the African Union’s (AU’s) Network of African Women in Conflict Prevention and Mediation (FemWise-Africa), launched its fourth local chapter in South Sudan. This was accompanied by training sessions on Early Warning and Conflict Prevention for the FemWise-South Sudan members, which took place from 30 July to 03 August 2024. The training aimed to strengthen their knowledge and skills in early warning mechanisms in the run-up to the country’s national elections.
The launch and training were inaugurated by the Co-chair of FemWise-Africa, Honourable Justice Effie Owour, and Dr Akok Madut, Head of the Mediation and Dialogue Division at the AU. Both emphasised the value of having a network of women contributing to peace processes in the country.
The establishment of the FemWise South–Sudan Local Chapter stemmed from a series of activities, including a strategic thinking workshop in 2022 and a mediation and conflict prevention training in 2023. With the country gearing up for its first elections since independence in 2012, the launch of the network has become an instrumental structure that will contribute to peace efforts in the country.
During the week of the launch, a delegation, led by the AU, undertook courtesy visits to advocate and promote the structure, as well as secure support from the ministries that will be collaborating with the FemWise-South Sudan Local Chapter. This Chapter is set to be housed within the Ministry of Gender, Child and Social Welfare.
Key takeaways from the events included the necessity of working with partners to fulfil the chapter’s mandate, deployment as election observers, formalising of mentorship programmes, capacity building, and enabling active participants to become agents of change.
ACCORD, the AU and other partners will continue to collaborate to further strengthen the structure and modalities of the FemWise-South Sudan Local Chapter.
