French Ministry of Defense Seminar

“The European Union and Africa: How Can We Work Together in Crisis management?”

 

 September 3-4, 2008, Paris

 

 

It is to be recalled that, France holds the European Union presidency since July 1^st, 2008. In the context of this presidency, the Ministry of Defense of France organized a high level seminar in Paris, at the “cercle national des armees (CAN) de Paris”, on September 3-4, 2008.

 

The seminar brought together African and European high level individuals, decision makers and experts of the European Union, of the member states, and of the African Union and Africa’s sub regional organizations.

 

The Seminar explored the priorities defined by the “First Action Plan (2008-2010) for the Implementation of the Joint Africa/EU Strategy”, as well as looked in to the global security and governance issues and challenges.

 

The Seminar was organized into three roundtable workshops and plenary sessions. The following roundtables were organized according to different issues to be discussed:

 

Roundtable 1- Furthering the AU-EU dialogue on peace and security issues

Roundtable 2- Supporting the African Peace and Security Architecture (APSA)

Roundtable 3- The challenges implied by the Security Sector Reform (SSR).

 

 Mr. Yemane Kidane of the CPRD participated in this important Seminar and chaired Roundtable 3.

 

Meeting of the Advisory Panel of the Knowledge Building and Mentoring Programme and African leadership Center 

28-30 May 2008, King’s College, London

Assistant professor Medhane Tadesse of the CPRD participated at a meeting of the Advisory Panel of the knowledge building and mentoring programme and African Leadership Center from May 28-30, 2008 held at the King’s College London.

The first part of the meeting was for the Advisory Panel of the African Knowledge and mentoring programme. After the progress report since the last Advisory Panel meeting was presented, the meeting went on with the selection process of the next fellows for African Women ECOWAS fellowship and another fellowship generally awarded to women all over Africa. 

The second part of the meeting was dedicated to the establishment of the African Leadership Center (ALC) which is proposed to mentor the next generation of African leaders and facilitate their participation in national, regional and international efforts. The meeting deliberated on the planning process, agenda, structure and establishment of a base for the would-be African Leadership center.  

A commemoration Oration and Dinner was also held between these meetings to welcome Kofi Annan to King’s College and use the event for fundraising purposes to support the ALC.

 

 

Fragile Statehood in Africa: A Useful Paradigm for Action?

Didimala Game Lodge, South Africa

12-13 May 2008

 

The second conference by the Observatiore de l’ Afrique which focused on the issue of Fragile Statehood in Africa was held in South Africa in partnership with the Institute for Security Studies (ISS), on May 12&13, 2008 at the beautiful Didimala Game Lodge. Yemane Kidane from the CPRD attended the conference and presented a paper on, “Fragile Statehood and the Horn of Africa”.

 

The aim of the conference was to bring African voices to the fore, encourage discussion between African and European experts on security and political issues of common interest, and explore relevant avenues of research in order to inform and challenge academia and policy-makers in Africa and Europe about the phenomenon of failed state. The conference questioned the usefulness of the failed state paradigm in the context of African governance and critically reviewed the kind of interventionism and policy instruments that has been developed in response to the failed concept.     

 

 

Seventh Tswalu Dialogue: Towards Conflict Resolution Best Practice

8-11 May 2008, the Kalahari Desert in South Africa

 

The Tswalu Dialogue was established as an African Forum to discus issues of concern to continental Development and security. Since its establishment in 2002 it has organized six other forums to encourage dialogue on various issues. The seventh Tswalu Diaogue which was organized by the Brenthrust Foundation in collaboration with other organizations was held at the Tswalu lodges, the Kalahari Desert in South Africa on May 8-11, 2008.

 

The dialogue attempted to develop current best practice towards conflict resolution and management through examination of a range of topical and relevant international case studies. This topic was deemed important especially in relation to the international community’s engagement in Africa in terms of timing and methodology, also in terms of using aid in a manner that ensures long term investment state and social institutions. The dialogue drew on lessons from the experiences of various countries in Africa, Asia, central and Latin America and the Middle East. CPRD’s Medhane Tadesse presented on the lessons learnt from conflict resolution in the Horn of Africa and Somalia.

 

 

COOPERATION WITH AFRICA IN THE CONTEXT OF GLOBALIZATION – VIEWS FROM AFRICAN. CHINESE AND EUROPEAN PERSPECTIVES.

28 - 29 April 2008, Beijing, China

 

This conference was held in Beijing, China on 28-29 of April 2008 and was organized by the Chinese Association for International Understanding (CAFIU) and the Friedrich-Ebert-Stiftung (FES). The objective of the conference was to analyze the goals and priorities of development in Africa, reviewing of experiences and lessons of cooperation with and promoting development in Africa, brainstorming about ways and means to deepen cooperation with and promote development in Africa under the new circumstances and strengthening constructive dialogue between China and Europe on cooperation with Africa. Assistant Professor Medhane Tadesse from the CPRD lent his expertise as a panelist in the discussion on Conceptualizing cooperation with Africa in the context of globalization; principles, objectives, significance and priorities.

 

 

 

The Royal Norwegian Ministry of Foreign Affairs funds CPRD-project

28 April 2008  

The Royal Norwegian Ministry of Foreign Affairs has decided to fund a study by Centre for Policy Research and Dialogue (CPRD) based in Addis Ababa. 

CPRD has been established to take up the gaps in policy dialogue and research related to peace, stability and good governance and ultimately economic development in the Horn of Africa. CPRD is an organization independent of political parties, governments, and interest groups (trade unions, employers associations, farmers associations, donors etc.). The CPRD is an institution, which sets its own research agendas, prioritizing themes on the basis of importance and relevance to the Horn of Africa. To ensure this, the Center will maintain an independent legal status, a diverse research agenda and funding base (including international, non-governmental and local sources), a broad based constituency of stakeholders, and an appropriate governance structure.

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs has decided to fund the study "Integration in the IGAD-region" with an amount of 1.3 million birr. The study will try to prove how economic integration in the sub-region will benefit peace and stability in the Horn of Africa. 

"Archive." http://www.norway.org.et/. 28 Apr. 2008

 

 

SECURITY CHALLENGES IN Africa: REGIONAL CAPACITIES TO RESPOND

 11-12 April 2008, Accra, Ghana

 

 

An author’s workshop on security challenges in Africa: regional capacities to respond was held in Accra, Ghana. This workshop was held on April 11 - 12, 2008 and was organized by the conflict prevention, management, and resolution department of the Kofi Annan International Peacekeeping training center in collaboration with the Governments of the Netherlands. The purpose of this workshop was to review current working papers that have been launched by the international peace academy. Experts on the area were gathered at this workshop from all over Africa to provide their expertise. Assistant Professor Medhane Tadesse from the CPRD also participated in this workshop.

 

 

EUROPE-AFRICA POLICY RESEARCH NETWORK (EARN) Meeting

2 April 2008, Brussels

Background:

After two meetings in Lisbon, on 13 September and 5 December 2007, a group of European and African institutes/organizations decided to create the Europe-Africa Policy Research Network (EARN). Building as much as possible on existing networks and initiatives, EARN intends to bring added value on pooling and fostering policy research capacities, dialogue and partnership between European and African non-governmental research institutions on issues relating to EU-Africa relations.  And the Action Plan of the joint EU-Africa Strategy adopted at the 2007 Summit of EU-Africa Heads of State and Government, gave an important degree of legitimacy to the EARN initiative as it invites both the European and African parties ‘’to establish a platform for European and African research institutes and think tanks to provide independent policy advice’’.

CPRD was one of the African research institutes to participate in the launching of EARN and Mr. Yemane Kidane represented CPRD in this meeting.

Objectives Of the network are:

a)  To provide independent policy analysis on issues of common concern for Africa and Europe, such as peace and security, governance, human rights, democracy, the rule of law, reform of multilateral institutions, climate change, energy, trade and regional integration, pandemic diseases, migration, science and technology, and other key political and development issues;

b)   To contribute, through practical research, to the implementation of the Africa-EU Strategic Partnership, and to be part of the monitoring and follow-up mechanisms for its implementation;

c)   To encourage co-operation and partnerships between policy research institutes in Europe and Africa with a view to explore innovative ways of improving joint responses to common problems and to develop the institutional capacities of the network members, so as to reduce asymmetries between African and European policy research capacities;

d)   To enhance interaction between the world of policy research and policy making to contribute to a better informed decision-making process of the European and African policy makers – multilateral, regional and national bodies;

e)   To increase public awareness on issues concerning EU and Africa within the academic world, the broad diversity of NGOs and civil society stake-holders, the private sector and the media.

 Objective of the meeting:

a)   Setting up the governance structure of  EARN, and launching of the network of European and African think tanks and policy research centers on EU-Africa relations;

b)   Priortization of outputs and concrete products from the EARN network;

c)    Expanding the membership in Europe and Africa;           

d)   And discuss on funding startegy.

Interim governance structure:

In the Brussels meeting, the interim governance structure was approved by the participants. The participants approved the steering committee and its leadership for the next two years (2008-2010).  The steering committee is composed of the Working Groups leaders and co-leaders (all in all eight, four African and four European organizations) and the leadership of the steering committee. All members of the network are members in one or more working groups. 

Leadership of the interim Steering Committee are: 

Chair – IEEI

African co-chair – SAIIA

European co-chair – ECDPM 

And the working groups and thier responsibilities are: 

groups	leaders	Co-leaders
1. Peace & Security	CPRD (African)	EADI (European)
2. Governance	RIIA (European)	CEEI (African)
3. Trade & regional integration	ECDPM (European)	NIIA (African)
4.Poverty reduction & development	ADRA(African)	NAI (European)

 

International Policy Roundtable

"The Africa-EU Strategic Partnership: Challenges and Prospects"

 1st April 2008,  Borschette Conference Centre, Brussels

 

"The Africa-EU Strategic Partnership: Challenges and Prospects", international policy roundtable took place on 1st April 2008,  from 9 pm to 6 pm, in the Borschette Conference Centre, room 0.D, 36 rue Froissart, in Brussels  (Schuman quarter).

This roundtable was organized by the European Commission, in collaboration with the AU Permanent Mission to the EU. Its main objective was to stimulate the policy debate on AU-EU relations, taking stock of the AU achievements so far and fostering the reflection on how to make the EU-AU partnership more effective and successful.

The roundtable provided an opportunity to bring together policy-makers and researchers from Europe and Africa, to stimulate further policy debate on AU-EU relations, and to benefit from the insights of practitioners, researchers and non-institutional voices. More than a hundred participants and guest speakers were invited to attend this roundtable. Representatives from the AU and European Commissions, the Pan-African and European parliaments, the Council General Secretariat and member States, the AU Economic, Social and Cultural Council and the European Economic and Social Committee, African and European researchers, and members of the civil Society were present in the roundtable forum.

CPRD as a research institute based in Africa was represented by its member, Mr.Yemane Kidane in this international policy roundtable.

 

Strengthening Djibouti’s Interdepartmental Coordination in Counter Terrorism

24-25 March 2008, Djibouti

IGAD Capacity Building Programme Against Terrorism (ICPAT), which is mandated to help build counter terrorism capacity of the IGAD member states, organized this meeting which took place on March 24 – 25. Researches commissioned by the ICPAT, on the structure, capacity, mandate and status of agencies engaged with counter terrorism and the challenges for coordination between these agencies were presented in the course of the one-and-a-half day meeting.  

The ultimate goal of this meeting was to come up with practical recommendations for policy makers for future capacity building efforts. The state and strengths of the counter terrorism institutions currently and what steps need to be taken, how the various institutions could work together to better execute the job, etc were discussed in detail. Medhane Tadesse, CPRD’s Director of Peace and Security Studies Directorate participated in this meeting to lend his expertise in the area and presented a paper on the nature of terrorism in the Horn of Africa.

 

Building Peace: Applying the Tswalu Protocol to Africa

15-16 March 2008, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia 

Workshop hosted jointly by the Brenthurst Foundation, Center for Policy Research and Dialogue (CPRD), and the Commission of the African Union. 

The Brenthurst Foundation which is responsible for drafting the Tswalu Protocol  with other international partners, has been involved in developing best practice on international paece-building efforts. This protocol articulates a consensus derived from the experience of a group of civilian and military professionals, academics, individual organizations, government departments and heads of state who have been at the epicenter of peacekeeping and peace building missions. It is intended as a guide for the leaders of future international interventions in the complex peace building efforts. 

The Tswalu Protocol recognizes the ad hoc nature of international responses to armed conflict and state failure. Instead of simply calling for more co-ordination, it offers a set of principles and guidelines that future peace-builders can use to help offset the inherent limitations of any multilateral operation. 

Africa being the continent with more failed and fragile states, the workshop was intended to take the issues outlined in the protocol mainly developed from the experiences of Afghanistan and Iraq. Hence, the intention of the workshop is to consolidate it in consultation with African actors and test the protocol’s applicability in these complex emergency situations.    

In brief, the objective of the workshop was: 

-         First, to explain the international experiences;

-         Second, to explain African peace building issues; and

-         Third, to develop consensus around what peace building attributes are likely to work best in Africa. 

The two day workshop was fruitful and definitely deepened the Tswalu Protocol in light of the African experience in peace building.

 

Conference on SSR and Transitional Justice

13-14 March 2008, Monrovia, Liberia  

The International Center for Transitional justice (ICJT) in collaboration with the African Security Sector Network (ASSN) organized a one-and-a-half day meeting in Monrovia, Liberia. Though Security Sector Reform (SSR) and Transitional Justice (TJ) are inter related, there are very few studies that explore the synergies and areas of possible collaboration between these fields. The aim of this conference was to open this important dialogue between Security Sector Reform and Transitional justice experts and establish an affinity group on these two related fields.  

In the course of the meeting the relationship between the two and cross cutting issues, such as adequate representation in security agencies and SSR and truth seeking efforts were thoroughly discussed. Medhane Tadesse, Director of Peace and Security Studies Directorate at the CPRD, participated as a respondent in the discussion on adequate representation in security agencies and delivered a closing remark underscoring the need to establish a Transitional justice focal point with in the ASSN.

 

Informal Meeting on Sudan and the UNMIS Mandate Renewal

 

New York Helmsley Hotel, New York

28 February 2008

 

On 28 February 2008, the Conflict Prevention and Peace Forum (CPPF) hosted an informal meeting in New York to discuss the anticipated renewal of the mandate of the UN Mission in Sudan (UNMIS) and options for the implementation of the Comprehensive Peace Agreement (CPA). The meeting brought together a small number of UN staff members and experts in their personal capacities.

 

The consultation was framed by the recent visit to Sudan of the UN Department of Peacekeeping Operation’s Technical Assessment Mission (TAM) which focused on the mandate and activities of UNMIS. The first substantive session of the consultation was a report back from the TAM. Among its conclusions were that UNMIS’s mandate is sufficiently broad that it does not need to be revised. However, the challenges of fulfilling the mandate are considerable.

 

The participants discussed the challenges facing the Sudan which are quite numerous including the implementation of the CPA according to the goal posts set during the agreement (2005) and the instability in Darfur. Moreover, they recognized that UNMIS failed to gain the support of the people of Sudan, specially the North, and what the role of UNMIS should be during the coming election and referendum time among other issues.

 

Lt. General (Ret.) Gebretsadkan Gebretensae, Executive Director of the Center for Policy Research and Dialogue (CPRD) participated in this informal meeting and lent his support and knowledge on the area.

 

 

 

Lecture at the Geneva Centre for Security Policy (GCSP)

February 18, 2008, Geneva

 

Member of the CPRD, Medhane Tadesse gave a lecture on The New US Africa Military Command, AFRICOM at the 22^nd International Training Course in Security Policy (ITC) and the 12^th European Training Course in Security Policy (ETC) in Geneva organized by Geneva Centre for Security Policy (GCSP).  

The lecture was followed by an intensive discussion on the nature of renewed US interest in Africa in general.  The discussion was complemented by the increasing role of China in the context of Africa's competing geopolitical challenges. There were 30 participants from 25 countries including the US, China, Germany, Belgium, Republic of Korea and Switzerland.

 

Consultative Meeting on SPLA Defence White Paper

February 9-14, 2008, Sheraton Addis Hotel, Addis Ababa

CPRD as an institution has been working with the government of South Sudan, in its quest to transform the SPLA and formulate a Defence White Paper. In September 2007 the center organized, in collaboration with the SPLA, a workshop that was held in Juba, South Sudan. As a follow up to this it has recently, Feb 9 – 14, 2008, hosted a closed consultative meeting at the Sheraton Addis, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia.

The SPLA Defence White Paper (DWP) committee has been engaged in writing the draft based on the input from the discussions of the Pretoria and Juba workshops and the advice from the consultants.

The over all purpose of this meeting was to review the current draft and produce a zero draft of the Defence White Paper, which will be presented to the Government of Southern Sudan and other stake holders. After seven days of intensive discussions, amendments and additions were made, a consensus was drawn on the critical issues of the white paper. The meeting was closed after successfully achieving its objective of preparing the Zero Draft of the SPLA Defence White Paper.

The consultative meeting brought together the Chief of Staff, Gen. Oyay Deng Ajak, members of the DWP committee, a representative of the Southern Sudanese legislative assembly, and a representative from the Office of the President.

 

Conference on HIV/AIDS in the Armed Forces in the Horn of Africa:

Its Implication on Governance, Peace and Security.

Khartoum, 29^th of January 2008. 

Inter Africa Group (IAG) in collaboration with its partners in Khartoum, the Sudanese Development Association and ACCORD organized a one day conference on HIV/AIDS and its implications for peace and security in the Horn of Africa.  

The conference took place in Khartoum on the 29^th of January, 2008. The objective of the conference was one, to catalogue the threats of HIV/AIDS and investigate its implications especially from the uniformed services perspective. Two, create a research and information network on HIV/ AIDS, governance and security in the Horn. 

Mr. Yemane Kidane a member of CPRD participated in the conference and presented a paper entitled “HIV/AIDS, Economic Development and the security in the Horn of Africa”

 

Peace Building in the 21^st Century

 November 29 - December 1, 2007, Tswalu Kalahari Reserve, South Africa

 

Member of CPRD, Ato Yemane Kidane had participated in the final round of the two-part peace-building process, the Tswalu Process, which took place at the Tswalu Kalahari Reserve in South Africa from 29 November to 1 December. The initial meeting was convened at Lake Kivu in Rwanda on 21 and 22 July. Between these meetings a comprehensive 'peace-building dialogue' has been extended through a wide range of external consultations on the formal papers presented at the first meeting. The Process has its origins in the mission of ISAF IX in Afghanistan during 2006-7 and serves to establish and seek recognition for a strategy that could overcome the generic problems of operational coherence and planning for the benefit of future international peace-building interventions. The Tswalu Process came out with “a tool for strategic and operational coherence” and it was organized by the Brenthurst Foundation in collaboration with Danida.

 

Seminar on Security Sector Reform

November 28 - 29, 2007, Brussels

A seminar on Security Sector reform was held in Brussels on November 28-29, 2007. This seminar was organized by Observatoire De L’Afrique, which is a network of independent experts and institutes coordinated by the Central Africa Programme of the Brussels based EGMONT – Royal Institute for International Relations.  

The objective of this seminar was to stimulate debate on SSR, a key component in peace building activities. The EU has recently, since the publication of the European Security Strategy in 2003, become active in this area. And this area appears to be a possible area of collaboration for the EU and the AU. With this in mind the seminar aimed at bringing policy makers, practitioners and researchers from the EU, its member states and African countries and institutions.     

General G/Tsadkan G/Tensae, Executive Director of the Center for Policy Research and Dialogue (CPRD), which is also an associate member of the Observatoire De L’Afrique, presented a paper on Security Sector Reform in a Post Conflict Situation: the case of South Sudan. 

The seminar concluded with policy recommendations for stakeholders involved in SSR after analyzing the situations in South Sudan and the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC). The recommendations listed aim to resolve some of the challenges or difficulties that arise in implementing SSR.

 

Journalists' Training on the African Union's Peace and Security Architecture

November  20 - 22, 2007, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia   

The training course jointly organized by the Friedrich Ebert Stiftung (FES) and The Center for Policy Research and Dialogue (CPRD) was designed to foster a more dynamic interaction between first African Journalists and the African Union.  The course provided by experts in the field and officials from the African Union (AU) was crucial in familiarizing the work of the AU particularly the role and nature of its peace and security architecture with the media and the broader public at large.  It also served as an opportunity to create a network of journalists/editors on peace and security on the East African Region.  At the end of the training certificates were handed over to participants.

 

 

Informal Consultation on Sudan

November 6, 2007, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia

The Informal Consultation on Sudan was held at Addis Ababa on November 6, 2007, at the Hilton Hotel. It was organized by Conflict Prevention and Peace forum (CPPF) from New York and supported by Center for Policy Research and Dialogue (CPRD).  

The Consultation was chaired by Teresa Whitfield from the CPPF and high level personalities from the UN such as Assistant Secretary-General Edmond Mulet, UN Department of Peace keeping Operations (DPKO), and UN Special Representative for Sudan Ashraf Qazi, Head of UN Mission in Sudan (UNMIS), were present. International experts on Sudan as well as Sudanese experts and civil society members participated in presenting their views on Darfur, Eastern Sudan, Southern Kordofan, Southern Sudan and the overall situation in the Sudan.  

In the consultation members of the CPRD participated and it’s Executive Director Let. General Tsadkan G/Tensae (Rtd) presented his views on the Security Sector Challenges to Southern Sudan.

 

 

Expert Meeting on Regional Security Policy

 31^st Oct. - 1^st November 2007, Cairo, Egypt

 

The Friedrich Ebert Foundation Egypt and Sudan offices organized the Third Expert Meeting on Regional Security Policy at the Greater Horn of Africa in Cairo, 31^st October and 1^st November 2007. 

The purpose of the meeting was to assess recent developments in the relationship between the countries of the region and to offer a platform to discuss the recent conflict developments within the regional context, and to assess regional efforts in conflict management and security cooperation. 

Two members of CPRD participated in this meeting and presented papers on The Ethiopian Eritrea Conflict: Recent developments and their impact on the Horn of Africa (by Yemane Kidane), and on Somalia: A Proxy war as a New Test Case for the AU Conflict Management? (by Medhane Tadesse).
 

 

African Security Sector Reform (SSR) Strategy workshop

October 9-11, 2007 Addis Ababa, Ethiopia 

An African Security Sector Network (ASSN)workshop, hosted by the Center for Policy Research and Dialogue (CPRD), and supported by the African Union (AU) was held at the AU head quarters, Addis Ababa, from October 9 -11 2007.  

The main objectives of the workshop were: 

·        To discuss the prospects of an ‘African Security Sector Reform Strategy”

·         To identify the core needs and challenges for SSR in Africa, so as to initiate a dialogue on a continent wide SSR strategy.

·         To draw lessons form regional and national ASSN networks experiences,

·         To launch the Handbook on SSR: Supporting Security and Justice (IF-SSR) recently published by the OECD.

·         And  to produce a set of recommendations in order to inform the African Union to contribute towards the United Nations consultative process on the establishment of an SSR framework  organized by the Republic of SouthAfrica and Slovak Republic that will be held in Cape Town on 7 and 8 November 2007.  

The workshop was attended by well known experts in the field coming from all over the world, Ethiopian government officials, AU representatives, and members of ASSN, members of the sub-regional SSR networks, donor agencies and civil societies. 

The meeting was officially opened with a key note address by Ambassador Said Djinnit, Commissioner for Peace and Security (CPS) of the AU, who outlined the activities of the AU in the area of Security Sector Reform. He also stressed the commission’s commitment to working with the African civil society community in developing an African SSR strategy.  

Regional representatives of the ASSN presented progressreports on their activities in development ofSSRprocesses and programs in their respective regions. This was deemed useful so as to draw lessons from their experiences for the development of an African SSR strategy.  

During the workshop the Organization fro Economic Co-operation and development (OECD) also officially launched its "OECD-DAC Handbook on Security System Reform". This handbook which has been in the works for over two years and which has been scrutinized by various experts is believed to be a great asset, especially for donors, as a guide to how far and in what areas they should be involved.  

During the workshopplenary sessions were held on political management of SSR, lessons from regionson the development of the SSR strategies, reportson countryexperiences, Transitional Justice and SSR, etc.

Further more, on October 11^th 2007, ASSN General Assembly meeting was held. At this meeting the chair anddeputy chair of the ASSN were re-elected, theassembly accepted the ASSN Guidelines and Regulations put forward by the Steering Committee as a provisional working document with an input from members with time limit of three months and to be ratified on the nextGeneral Assembly meeting. The Assembly, further more, endorsed the election of the chair and core body of the Horn of Africa Network, while electing new chairs for the West African and the Great Lakes Regions networks.     Co-opted members for the ASSN stirring committee were also nominated at the meeting.

 

Defense White Paper Workshop

September 3 – 7, 2007,  Juba, Southern Sudan

 Background

The Sudan People’s Liberation Army (SPLA) fought against the National Congress Party (NCP) dominated government of Sudan as a liberation movement led by Sudan People’s Liberation Movement (SPLM) for self determination of Southern Sudan. It was a guerrilla army that fought a bitter and bloody war for over 22 years to achieve its military and political objectives. As a result of the armed struggle, the Comprehensive Peace Agreement (CPA) was signed between the two fighting parties on 9 January, 2005. The CPA envisioned a peace agreement that could be the basis for the social, political and economic transformation of the Sudan and for a durable peace.

The CPA recognizes that there will be three national armed forces in the Sudan; the Sudan Armed Forces (SAF), Sudan People’s Liberation Army (SPLA) and Joint Integrated Unit (JIU). The two Interim Constitutions (one for the whole of Sudan and the other for Southern Sudan), provided the legal basis for the establishment of the various armed forces within the framework of the overall political context of the Sudan. Hence, the SPLA is trying to transform itself from a guerrilla army to a professional and regular army based on the legal and constitutional frame work provided by the CPA and the Interim constitutions.

Cognizant of the necessity of a conceptual frame work to develop a defense policy for the transformation of the SPLA army, after several consultations the Commander in Chief of the SPLA and the SPLA Chief of Staff decided to establish a Defense White Paper Committee (DWPC) with the responsibility of preparing a draft Defense White Paper for Southern Sudan.

The need for the Defense White Paper for Southern Sudan stems from the recognition of the fact that the geo-political situation in the regional and international systems and overall political scenario in Southern Sudan necessitates the need for gradual transformation of the SPLA into a professional army. The SPLA faces the huge challenge of defending the Sudan and in particular Southern Sudan from external and internal threats. In order for the SPLA to meet these challenges the Government of Southern Sudan has to establish a sound Defense Policy which can provide guidance on the development of an adequate defense capability and the efficient conduct of the SPLA’s missions and tasks .

Leading up to the consultative workshop a short training was conducted for the Defense White Paper Committee and high ranking officers of the SPLA including the SPLA Chief of Staff in Pretoria, South Africa. The purpose of the training was to create a forum for the SPLA leadership to exchange ideas and experiences ; and to also deepen their knowledge on defense and security matters.

The major objective of the consultative workshop was to create an opportunity for officials of the Government of Southern Sudan, from the Executive, Judiciary, Legislative branches, as well as from Civil Society and the SPLA to provide necessary inputs in the development of the Defense White Paper. The workshop which was held in Juba from 3-7 September, 2007, was consultative in its true sense, participatory, multi-sectoral and multi-dimensional as it involved almost all key decision making institutions and personalities in Southern Sudan.

 Organization of the Workshop

The Consultative Workshop was jointly organized by the SPLA and the Center for Policy Research and Dialogue (CPRD). The latter is an independent think tank and research institute based in Addis Ababa, whose members had first hand experience in Army transformation.

The highest authorities in the security sector of Southern Sudan, including H.E. General Salva Kiir Mayardit, President of the GoSS and SPLA Commander in Chief, the SPLA Chief of Staff Lt. Gen Ben Oyay Deng Ajak and Minister of SPLA Affairs H.E. Dominic Dim Deng attended this workshop. In addition to government officials and local experts , a number of internationally and regionally renowned experts in the field of security, development, history, etc. presented papers on various topics that were deemed important for the development of the Southern Sudan Defense White Paper. The president of South Sudan in his opening statement stated that the need for the Defence White Paper arises from the recognition of the dynamic geopolitical situation both regionally and nationally and the overall political volatility in Sudan. He pointed out that the main purpose of the workshop was to upgrade the forum for the leadership of South Sudan in all its branches of government, , the SPLA and other organized forces as well as civil society to participate in the development of the South Sudan defence white paper.

The structure of the workshop proceedings consisted of plenary sessions and working group meetings and dealt with all the major issues regarding the security sector. In the plenary sessions the theoretical background and principles general analysis of each topic was presented, conceptual framework of each theme was developed by various experts on the topic , followed by intensive discussions among the participants who work as professionals or administrators in the relevant field, who presented the institutional realities in Southern Sudan. This was followed by work group meetings where participants gave their views and comments on the guiding questions that were prepared by the DWP committee and at the end of the discussions came up with the consensus views of each group. The major points agreed at the group meetings were presented to the plenary for further discussions and elaboration. This ensured that cross sectional views were fully taken into account in developing the conclusions of the Workshop, which will considered in developing the Defense White Paper

The Workshop Proceedings

The following major topics were discussed in each of the five plenary sessions :

1. Situational analysis,: This topic, the first agenda of the workshop, mainly focused on analysis of the political and security situation in Southern Sudan. The objective of this agenda was to give an overview of the emerging situation in Southern Sudan from a historical perspective; as well as to inform the participants on the status of the implementation and future prospects of the Security Arrangements in the CPA so as to put the whole discussion and effort of the SPLA transformation in the over all political and security context and draw critical implications for the development of a Defense White Paper and army transformation.
   
   Demobilization disarmament and reintegration (DDR) was raised as a major deciding factor in the success of SPLA transformation. Some of the challenges raised were how to effect the DDR programme; how to absorb the Other Armed groups (OAGs) into SPLA which itself is supposed to be downsizing; the issue of the militia being used by the North to occupy certain areas and the large number of armed civilian population, etc.
   
   Structural marginalization, exclusion and neglect of the majority of rural Sudan in the public affairs of the country and decision-making were identified as the root causes of the conflict between the centre and the rural Sudan and as an issue demanding to be rectified.
   
   
2. The Security Paradigm : During this session the concepts of national security policy and defense policy and their relationships were defined by the two main speakers and factors to be taken into consideration in developing national security policy were also described. It was stressed that defense policy formulation process is just as important as the outcome of the process and that defense policy formulation should follow the fundamental principles of legitimacy and popular support. The relevance of defense policy to army transformation was comprehensively described. The challenges to army transformation and how problems arising out of these challenges could be resolved through strategic planning was elaborated. The participants augmented the presentations by the speakers through their deliberations on the issue of how the Southern Sudan should formulate its security policy, who should participate in the formulation process and what the bases for such policies should be, as well as how such policies should support the CPA. In dealing with the relationship between security policy and defense policy, a major concern was whether the formulation of the defense policy of Southern Sudan should await the development of a national security policy. The consensus was that the current circumstances in Southern Sudan dictate that the defense policy is a matter of priority and should not be delayed until a national security policy document is published, as the lack of a security document does not imply that security policies do not exist.
   
   
3. Security Sector Reform (SSR) : According to the main speakers, as the security sector constitutes a critical element of governance and one of the main pillars of state powers, transforming and modernizing this sector has become a major priority of policy makers and practitioners.
   
   With regard to the nature of SSR in general and the context in which it usually occurs, which in the case of Southern Sudan is that of post conflict reconstruction and implementation of the CPA, the challenges and the need to incorporate and identify the roles of all the departments involved in the security system were brought up by the presenters. It was also stressed that SSR and democratization do not necessarily occur at the same time therefore democratization needs to be worked at and not taken for granted. It was also noted that post conflict situations offer both opportunities and challenges for SSR and that Southern Sudan needs to take advantage of the opportunities while working on the challenges at the same time. All concurred on the need to have an integrated approach on various levels so as to make the process meaningful.
   
   
4. Defense White Paper Framework :
   
   This was the most important agenda as it relates to the main purpose of the workshop. The Defense White is regarded as the authoritative statement of what the Government is doing, and intends to do in the area of defense. As this is a strategic document that will guide the whole transformation effort, due attention needs to be given to having a coherent vision and plan of action.
   
   The importance of developing a strategic plan which will address the unique challenges faced by the SPLA transformation and developing a plan of action to resolve them within the Southern Sudan context was raised during the discussions. Four cross cutting issues that are critical to a well managed policy process were identified which are: Policy communication, dialogue and debate; adequate human and institutional capacity; policy analysis; and factors influencing the decision to conduct a major policy review. It was stressed that the security of Southern Sudan cannot be isolated from the remainder of Sudan, regional and international factors and that the project of the New Sudan can be the organizing principle that pulls together the key factors that can assure security. Finally the min elements of the Southern Sudan Defence White Paper were identified and the guiding principles for the drafting of the Defense White Paper were described. The case study of South Africa was presented to illustrate the process of drafting a Defense White Paper.
   
   
5. Strategic defense planning and force design logic and options: This was the last agenda for the consultative workshop. After the framework has been formulated, then comes the duty of determining the size, structure, capability and posture required to achieve the defense mission and task. The major task in this aspect will be coming up with a strategy that is within the available resources and the countries economic potential. The defence force will need to be affordable and cost effective. It should also be adequate in terms of achieving its tasks.
   
   It was mentioned that the current budget of South Sudan which is approximately USD $1,534,000,000 - 1b534m dollars - and noted that 35% of this is spent on defence. These parameters are not likely to change and it was emphasized the need for the proper management of resources.
   
   The group discussions also yielded a number of useful ideas. The groups indicated how the region in general, the neighbors of South Sudan both internal and external and the situation in Southern Sudan, and the provision in the CPA could impact on the transformation of the SPLA. They also dealt with the issue of developing a defense policy in the Defense White Paper, the process of formulating the defense policy as well as the security policy. With regard to SSR, the groups deliberated on the structure of strategic decision making, the role of civilian authorities in the security sector and particularly in defense.

Way Forward

After the presentations and discussions the SPLA was able to gather a lot of information on the major issued it needed to tackle while formulating this paper. The workshop was successful in creating the necessary awareness. The DWP has also gained political support and acceptance. This was reflected in H.E. General Salva Kiir Mayardit’s presence and even more in his remarks. He stressed how this was the right time for South Sudan to formulate its DWP and the need for support from the government and all organs of the society, with out which the process may fail. He also appreciated the thoughts that were put into the workshop and promised to review all the recommendations and provide his views.

Some of the lessons of the workshop were:

• The participants recognized that defense policy is important to army transformation because it is the basis for the formulation of military strategy which brings together the ends and means of defense to develop a military posture and prescribe military capabilities which support that posture.
• A Defense White Paper is not developed in a theoretical vacuum; it must address the current political dynamic and center itself upon the protection and full implementation of the Comprehensive Peace Agreement.
• The Defense White Paper must be capable of being implemented without external assistance. It must be based on internal resources.
• A good Defense White Paper is one that is holistic in its approach, considering more than just the military sector. It also takes into account the political, economic, societal, and the private sectors and environmental concerns as well.
• The development and implementation of the Defense White Paper will have implications that extend beyond the domain of the military. For this reason it requires the participation of other sectors of the GOSS, the Legislature, private sector and civil society.
  

Based on these lessons the SPLA and the Defense White Paper Committee have identified a number of steps to be taken. Which are:

• Finalize and use the Report on this Consultative Workshop.
• Expand the Defense White Paper Committee (appeal to the president that the committee be assigned by the President.)
• Draft an Outline of the contents of the Paper .
• Develop a Consultative Framework and Schedule
  • Within the SPLA Itself
  • With Other Branches of the GOSS & the Parliament
  • With the People of South Sudan/Sudan or in Sudan at large
  • With the International Community
• Develop a Strategy for Dealing with the GONU on this Issue.
• Identify and Secure Needed Resources and Expertise.
• Draft the Defense White Paper.
• Call a workshop for review of the initial draft of the Defense White Paper.
• Present the draft Paper to GOSS for comment including the judiciary and also the Council of Ministers.
• Submit Defense White Paper to Parliament for approval.
• Establish a Committee within the Ministry of SPLA Affairs and the Army to Oversee the Implementation of the Defense White Paper
• Carry out the SPLA Transformation process based on the approved Defense White Paper.

Following these proposals the workshop was concluded having achieved its main goal. The CPRD has been active in organizing and facilitating this workshop, further more it played a major role in laying the ground work for the formulation concept note of the Defense White Paper. The CPRD will remain engaged in the process of developing this white paper as a consulting body.

 

Network Meeting on the Horn of Africa Security Sector Reform Strategy Development 

August 7 – 8, 2007, Sheraton Addis Hotel, Addis Ababa  

A working meeting on the Horn of Africa Security Sector Reform (SSR) strategy development, organized by the Centre for Policy Research and Dialogue was held at the Sheraton Addis on August 7 – 8, 2007. This meeting was attended by representatives from Eritrea, Ethiopia, Somalia, Somali Land and Southern Sudan. The meeting conducted detailed deliberations on: 

      1. the challenges, constraints and opportunities for SSR at both regional and country levels,

      2. the need to reactivate the network,

      3. the need for creating national SSR networks in the countries of the sub region, and

      4. the draft SSR Strategy document and the draft rules of procedure for the regional network. 

The meeting was opened with a key note address by Ato Medhane Tadesse, Peace and Security Studies Directorate of CPRD, who identified some unique features of the horn countries that makes the region a good candidate for SSR and mentioned some issues of security sector reform in the region.  

This was followed by presentations by the representatives of the horn countries on the realities of their countries. Who also went on to identify some entry points that could be used by the network to introduce SSR into their countries.

Finally the group unanimously endorsed the operational guidelines and reached a consensus on the frame work for the network, which was agreed to be operationalized. They have also elected the core body of the network that was deemed to be representative of all the member states.   

 

Workshop for the Implementation of the Post Conflict Reconstruction and Development Policy and Decision.

 

17-19 JULY 2007 COMESA CONFERENCE CENTER, LUSAKA, ZAMBIA

The African Union Commission through the Conflict Management Division hosted a Stakeholders’ Workshop on “Implementation of the AU’s Post Conflict Reconstruction and Development (PCRD) Policy” on 17-19 July 2007 in Lusaka, Zambia.

The Common Market for Eastern and Southern Africa (COMESA) and the Organization for Social Science Research in Eastern and Southern Africa (OSSREA) supported the organization of the workshop, which brought together more than 112 participants, drawn from the AU Commission and AU organs, African civil society organizations (CSOs), research institutions, representatives of AU Member States, the United Nations, the private sector and development Partners. A member of CPRD, Ato Yemane Kidane participated in the workshop. The purpose of the workshop was to consult with critical stakeholders on the implementation of the AU PCRD policy and decision. The objectives were to:

• To develop a program for streamlining the contributions of actors involved in implementation of PCRD at continental, regional and national levels;
• To develop a framework and mechanisms for cooperation and coordination;
• To identify and prioritize core issues and areas of focus on which joint actions could be planned and implemented;
• And establish a follow up mechanism to monitor the implementation of workshop results. In addition to providing a forum to explain the continental strategy for PCRD, the workshop also addressed the following critical issues:
• The various challenges faced by countries emerging from conflict;
• The role and mandate, of CSOs in reconstruction efforts on the continent thus far, as well as obstacles to CSO participation, at all levels of engagement;
• The question of coordination and coherence among CSOs and other stakeholders;
• The lessons learned, successes and best practices drawn from experiences at national, regional and continental levels;
• Capacity building and retention for CSOs and other stakeholders; and Mobilization of resources for PCRD