Civil Society Organizations and the Quest for Peace in South Sudan
Date: 6 August 2015
Location: 2:00p.m - 5:30p.m, Gudele Hall, Juba Grand Hotel
Organizer: The Sudd Institute and UNDP
Following the outbreak of violence in mid-December 2013, various South Sudanese civil society organizations (CSOs) saw the necessity of them working together in order to help restore peace and stability in the country. The question that was on everyone’s mind at that time was how to speedily end the conflict. Responding to this unwarranted catastrophe of epic proportion, the civil society organizations formed a variety of coalitions designed to help them join their synergies, passions and efforts so as to maximize on an expected outcome, restoration of peace.
Despite the commitment to work together, it did not take long before apparent divisions surface. As result, CSOs have found it difficult to either galvanize public support or pressure the warring parties to resolve their differences through a negotiated settlement. To foster a better understanding regarding the CSOs landscape in South Sudan in terms of the challenges facing these actors in their peace-related work, The Sudd Institute in conjunction with UNDP is sponsoring a public lecture. The lecture explores issues such as lack of strong bond and cooperation among CSOs, war induced divisions, flawed mediation agenda that pays lips service to inclusivity among others.
Speaker
Zacharia Diing Akol, Senior Policy Analyst, The Sudd Institute
Discussants
Hon. Deng Deng Hoc, Minister, Ministry of Environment
Bishop Michael Taban, Pentecostal Church of South Sudan
Paleki Mathew, Executive Director, South Sudan Women Empowerment Network
Moderator
Dr. Kimo Adibo, Economist, World Bank