Eastern Sudan Pre-Negotiation Programme

Eastern Sudan Pre-negotiation Programme: 2005 – 2006

Concordis International shepherded a pre-negotiation process for EasternSudan, leading to the Eastern Sudan Peace Agreement. Starting with an inclusive consultation in February 2005 for senior Eastern Sudanese, on access to resources and opportunities in that region, the process involved intensive non-partisan attempts to achieve direct talks between the Government of Sudan and the Eastern Front. Eventually, the British, Canadian, Norwegian and US governments asked Concordis to provide workshops for the Eastern Front to equip them to negotiate constructively. These workshops took place in Asmara in November 2005 and were
followed by intensive training for a smaller group of potential negotiators on developing constructive and coherent negotiation positions. Further efforts to encourage direct talks led to negotiations mediated by Eritrea and an agreement signed in October 2006.