This document has been produced with the financial assistance of the European Commission.

The con-
tents of this document are the sole responsibility of Concordis International and can under no circum-
stances be regarded as reflecting the position of the European Commission.

Cross-Border Relations Beyond the Referendum

Challenges and Opportunities
State Workshop Report, Unity State, March 29th-31st 2010
Building Consensus in Unity State
This three day meeting brought together traditional authorities, civil leaders, and county authorities from
the border Counties of Unity State, as well as relevant State level Commissions and Ministries. The
workshop was an opportunity for border communities to develop principles and proposals to help inform
what the border becomes; and help ensure that it works in the interests of a sustainable Sudanese peace.

Aims:
 Build trust and understanding between border communities within and across border states;
 Develop consensus on principles for how the border should be managed peacefully;
 Develop proposals for development initiatives to support peaceful coexistence at the border;
 Introduce principles and proposals to relevant national and local peace processes, such as
negotiations on post-2011 arrangements, and to inform donor policy to reflect local needs.

Visions and Challenges

Participants expressed their aspirations for how they would like the North-South borderlands to look in
the post-referendum period. They painted a picture of a border area characterised by: 1) clarity and
acceptance around demarcation; 2) security; 3) the peaceful separation of South Sudan; 4) a clear
regulatory framework facilitating cross-border trade; 5) a clear regulatory framework facilitating cross-
border movements; 6) access to water and basic services; 7) return of displaced communities; 8)
reconciliation and mutual respect between communities; and 9) improved roads and infrastructure.

Scenarios and Expectations

Concordis International
Jubilee House
3 Hooper Street
Cambridge CB1 2NZ UK
Tel: +44 (0)1223 341281
Fax: +44 (0)1223 566359
office@concordis-international.org
www.concordis-international.org
Participants warned that conflict over land, resources, and
state power will intensify towards the referendum and
beyond. They expect eda short border war which is confined
to the border areas, but stressed that conflict could easily
spread to other areas. A local and national financial crisis
could trigger or derive from this conflict. Social relations
among border communities would likely be aversely affected.
Historical Arrangements
Cross-border dialogues have been ongoing in times of
peaceful coexistence and times of war. Numerous initiatives
have taken place over the last 50 years to manage disputes
and develop models for cooperation in the economic, social,
and political spheres, with varying degrees of success.
Ultimately, however, participants argued that these had
failed, citing the worse cross-border relations in memory.
CROSS-BORDER RELATIONS PROJECT
Concordis International is working in Sudan in
partnership with the Centre for Peace and De-
velopment Studies (CPDS) of the University of
Juba to facilitate a research-based dialogue
project aiming to inform local and national
peace and development processes, supporting
cooperative, secure and economically viable
relations across Sudan’s North-South border
beyond 2011.
December—February 2010
Initial engagements in border states and devel-
opment of methodology
March-June 2010
State workshops in Unity, Upper Nile, Abyei,
South Kordofan, White Nile, and Blue Nile.

Concordis International Trust is a June-July 2010

non-profit UK company limited by
guarantee (No. 4930461) and a
registered UK charity (No. 1105697).
In Sudan, Concordis is registered
with the Humanitarian Aid Commis-
sion and the Southern Sudan Relief
and Rehabilitation Commission
Principles and Proposals
Regional workshops bringing together communi-
Participants identified a number of stabilising factors which ties from both sides of the border.
could lead to a North-South border resembling more closely
their aspirations than their expected scenarios. They August –October 2010
developed these ideas into a set of principles and proposals— Policy briefings and national level conferences.
summarised overleaf and detailed in the full event report.
General Recommendations of Principles and Proposals to Inform Policy Making on Cross-Border Relations,
Border Governance, and Post-2011 Arrangements for Sudan.

These summary principles and proposals were developed by border communities, and state authorities in
Unity State. They will help inform discussions in forthcoming cross-border workshops. (A full report, with
further details on the participants’ recommendations can be downloaded from the Concordis website)

 Joint border policing and disarmament would improve community security along the border.

 Establishing cross-border courts is necessary to promote security, support rule of law, and facilitate
peaceful coexistence between border communities.

 Free movement of goods and traders across the border has a positive impact on border communities.

 Appropriate taxation and permit systems should facilitate cross border trade and movements which
support border communities to interact and pursue development and peaceful coexistence. Special laws
which apply specifically to border communities should be considered.

 Development of border markets would support reconciliation and development.

 Roads connecting border areas and improved transport infrastructure for borderland communities would
facilitate better trade, access to services, social relations, necessary access for security forces, and the
return of displaced communities.

 Improved service provision especially health and education in border areas will enable displaced
communities to return to their homes.

 Once functioning cross-border security and justice mechanisms are in place, once the border is
demarcated, and once the rule of law prevails, then services in the border areas such as health and
education should be available to all communities in the border areas, including nomadic pastoralists from
the north.

 Community communications initiatives such as cross-border radio stations could support mutual
understanding and peaceful relations in the border areas.

Participants and Facilitators

www.concordis-international.org