2nd Annual Conference

Unity and Partnership:

Supporting a Just and
Sustainable Peace in South Sudan

September 25-26, 2016

Georgetown Law, Washington, DC

Welcome to the 2nd Annual CASS Conference!

The purpose of the conference is to work towards the vision of a peaceful and prosperous South
Sudan that was articulated at the 1st Annual CASS Conference by continuing to build unity
among the Diaspora and by training the Diaspora to advocate effectively in order to strengthen
the partnership between South Sudan and the United States.
1st Annual CASS Conference Vision for South Sudan
South Sudan is a reconciled, unified and stable country, proud of its diversity as represented by
its 64 tribes and enjoying equality, peace and harmony.
The government of South Sudan is a democratic federal government whose powers are vested by
a permanent citizen-informed constitution and who leaders are qualified and committed to
serving the people of South Sudan and whose systems are efficient, transparent and free of
corruption.
The people of South Sudan are educated and healthy and they enjoy all freedoms, protection
through justice, accountability and the rule of law, and prosperity through the effective
management of the countrys resources and the empowerment of its people to realize their
unlimited potential. South Sudan is an example for the continent and it is respected by the
nations.
Conference Guidelines

We are practicing Humanity Before Politics:

o Listen
o Seek to understand
o Avoid judging
o Avoid blaming
o Take a time out if you need it
Speak only for yourself about beliefs, feelings, and responses. Refrain from generalizations
and dare to be vulnerable.
Respect and receive what others offer, even if you disagree.
Listening is more important than talking. Avoid cross-talk, interrupting, speaking for others,
or trying to fix another persons concerns.
Please do not take pictures or videos of others without their permission.

Social Media
Hashtags for the conference are #CASS and #SouthSudan.
Videos of the conference will be available on the CASS Facebook page.

Program
Sunday, September 25, 2016
8:30am

Registration

9:00am

Opening Remarks and Introductions:

Kwaje Lasu, CASS Board Chair
Keni Ukabiala, Human Rights Action Amnesty International,
Georgetown Law

10:30am

Advocacy Training - The Basics: Mike Brand, JWW

11:00am

BREAK

11:15am

Panel 1: Protection, Justice and Accountability

Brian Adeba, Associate Director of Policy, Enough Project
Gabriel Swiney, Attorney Adviser, Office of the Legal Adviser, U.S.
Department of State
Dr. Jacqueline Wilson, Principal, Civic Fusion International

12:15pm

LUNCH

--------------------1:15pm

Panel 2: Humanitarian Aid, Healing and Reconciliation

John Dau, Founder, John Dau Foundation
Hanna Andrew K. Dijok, Executive Director, Sisters Hope for South
Sudan
Bill Andress, Member, Trinity South Sudan Ministry
Steve Hilbert, Office on International Justice and Peace at the United
States Conference of Catholic Bishops
Richard Parkins, Executive Director, AFRECS

2:15pm

Advocacy Training: Practice Makes Perfect: Mike Brand, JWW

3:00pm

BREAK

---------------------

3:30pm

Panel 3: U.S. Policy on South Sudan

Dr. Luka Biong, Global Fellow at PRIO, Associate Professor, University
of Juba
Sarah Rial, Founder and Executive Director, Global Partnership for Peace
in South Sudan
David Abramowitz, Managing Director, Humanity United

4:30pm

Panel 4: How the U.S. Can Support South Sudan

H.E. Garang Diing Akuong, Ambassador Extraordinary and
Plenipotentiary, of the Republic of South Sudan to the USA
Amb. Reath M. Tang, SPLM-IO Representative to the U.S.
Pagan Amum, Co-Founder, South Sudan Reborn
Joseph B. Bakosoro, Former Governor, Western Equatoria
Amb. Emmanuel Aban, National Democratic Movement

6:30pm

BREAK

--------------------7:00pm

Advocacy Training: Finalize Advocacy Asks for Congressional Meetings

8:00pm

END

Monday, September 26, 2016

9:00am

Methodist Building
Ground Floor Conference Room
100 Maryland Avenue, NE
Washington, DC 20002
Phone: 202-488-5600

Biographies
Advocacy Training
Mike Brand, Director of Advocacy and Programs, Jewish World Watch. Mike is an atrocities
prevention and human rights professional with a decade of experience in policy, advocacy, organizing and
informal education. Throughout his career Mike has worked for various NGOs in the US, Rwanda and
South Sudan. He holds a Masters in International Peace and Conflict Resolution from American
University and BAs in History and Political Science from the University of Connecticut. Mike authored
Preventing Mass Atrocities: A Three Pronged Approach to Comprehensive Prevention which was
featured in the Journal of International Service, has been published in The Hill, and has engaged in
countless speaking engagements. Mike was a 2010 Jewish Service Corps fellow where he spent a year
living and working at the Agahozo-Shalom Youth Village in Rwanda. He currently serves on the
Advisory Board for the Carl Wilkens Fellowship and was a 2011 Fellow.

Panel 1: Protection, Justice and Accountability

Brian Adeba, Associate Director of Policy, Enough Project. Brian Adeba is a journalist by
training and was previously an Associate of the Security Governance Group, a think-tank that focuses on
security sector reform in fragile countries. Over the last few years, his research interests have focused on
the inter-linkages of media, conflict, human rights and security. He supervised the coverage of the conflict
zones of Darfur, Southern Kordofan, Blue Nile and Eastern Sudan for the Boston-based Education
Development Centers Sudan Radio Service project in Nairobi, Kenya. Prior to this, he served as a project
and publications coordinator at the think-tank, The Centre for International Governance Innovation in
Waterloo, Canada. In the media, Brian edited Tech Media Reports (Now the Wire Report) in Ottawa,
Canada, where he focused on regulatory issues in the Canadian parliament. He holds a masters degree in
journalism from Carleton University in Ottawa, Canada.
Gabriel Swiney, Attorney Adviser, Office of the Legal Adviser, U.S. Department of State. Gabriel
Swiney is an Attorney Adviser at the U.S. Department of State. As a member of the Office of the Legal
Adviser, Mr. Swiney is responsible for legal issues involving countries in East Africa, Sudan, and South
Sudan. In this capacity, Mr. Swiney advises senior U.S. Government policymakers on issues relating to
the South Sudan peace process and international responses to atrocities. Mr. Swiney also teaches at the
College of William & Mary and at the University of Richmond, and has published on a range of
international law topics. He holds law degrees from Harvard Law School and Oxford University.
Dr. Jacqueline Wilson, Title Principal, Organization Civic Fusion International. Jacqueline Wilson
is an international peacebuilding practitioner and scholar who has worked in over 25 countries around the
world for over 3 decades including 11 years with the U.S. Institute of Peace. She has specialized in
understanding local peace efforts and at supporting initiatives by local stakeholders to maintain peace in
their communities. She has studied traditions and customs related to peacebuilding and has published on
the customary mechanism of compensation known as diya or blood money, on transitional justice, and on
local peace processes. She is currently drafting a book chapter on Legitimacy to be published by Rutledge
in 2017. She received her doctorate from Georgetown University in 2014. She is also a retired U.S. Air
Force Lieutenant Colonel.

Panel 2: Humanitarian Aid, Healing and Reconciliation

John Dau, Founder, John Dau Foundation. John Dau, is one of the Lost Boys of Sudan who was
featured in the 2006 award-winning documentary God Grew Tired of Us. Today, he is a father himself
and a human rights activist for the people of South Sudan. In 2007, he founded the John Dau
Foundation which aims to transform healthcare in South Sudan. (Source: Wikipedia)
Hanna Andrew K. Dijok, Executive Director, Sisters Hope for South Sudan. Hanna Andrew Kong
Dijok, lived in France for 19 years and graduated from the University of Nantes (France) with a diploma
in languages, French culture and civilization. She worked for the French Foreign Minister Jean-Marc
Ayrault and she worked in the South Sudan Embassy in Paris, France. She came to the U.S. in 2013 and
has been involved activities to empower women. She is the co-founder of the African Peace Meditation
and Reconciliation Institute and she is the Founder of Sisters Hope For South Sudan.
Bill Andress, Member, Trinity South Sudan Ministry. Bill holds a Bachelors Degree from United
States Naval Academy, a Masters Degree in Physics from Duke University and a Masters Degree in
Business Administration from Averett University. He has 30 years in the United States Navy and for 12
years he was the owner/operator of an American Express Franchise. For 16 years he has dedicated
himself to a just and lasting peace in Sudan and South Sudan. Bill is a Co-founder of CASS and serves as
its Corresponding Secretary. Bill has been married for 53 years and is the father of three adult children.
Steve Hilbert, Office on International Justice and Peace at the United States Conference of Catholic
Bishops. Steve holds a Bachelors Degree from Haverford College and a Masters Degree in International
Affairs from Columbia University. He served 3 years as Peace Corps Volunteer as an English Teacher
and Consultant in Gabon (1977-1980) and worked for 24 years with Catholic Relief Services
Mauritania, Rwanda, Morocco, The Gambia, Cameroon, India and Headquarters (1983-2007). Steve has
been with the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops for 9 years. He has been married for 33 years and is
the father of three children.
Richard Parkins, Executive Director, AFRECS. Richard Parkins began his career as an academician
and then served as a civil rights specialist in the US Government. He subsequently accepted overseas
assignments with the Ford Foundation in India. the Asian Development Bank in Malaysia, and the UNDP
in Jamaica. From 1980 - 1986, Richard was Director of Operations for the newly created Office for
Refugee Resettlement in the Department of Health and Human Services. From 1986 forward, Richard
worked for several private refugee resettlement agencies: American Council for Nationalities Services
(now Immigration and Refugee Council of America) and subsequently as Director of Refugee Policy for
the US Conference of Catholic Bishops. From 1994 until 2008, Richard was Director of Episcopal
Migration Ministry - the resettlement and immigration services and advocacy arm of the Episcopal
Church. During that time, he served as Chair of the Refugee Council USA. Since retiring, Richard has
served as Executive Director of AFRECS (the American Friends of the Episcopal Church of the Sudans).
In that capacity, he has visited Sudan and South Sudan on several occasions.)

Panel 3: U.S. Policy on South Sudan

Dr. Luka Biong, Global Fellow at PRIO, Associate Professor, University of Juba. Luka Biong Deng
Kuol (PhD) is a Global Fellow at Peace Research Institute Oslo (PRIO) Associate Professor at College of
Social and Economic Studies, University of Juba, South Sudan, and a fellow at Rift Valley Institute. He
was a resident senior fellow at Carr Centre for Human Rights Policy at Harvard Kennedy School and
visiting fellow at Institute of Development Studies at University of Sussex, UK. He served as a Director
of Centre for Peace and Development Studies at University of Juba, a Minister in the Office of the
President of Southern Sudan and a National Minister of Cabinet Affairs of Sudan until he resigned in May
2011 after Government of Sudan invaded Abyei, his home area. He also worked as a senior economist for
the World Bank and a member of teaching staff of Faculty of Economics and Rural Development at
Gezira University, Sudan. He received his PhD from the Institute of Development Studies (IDS) at
University of Sussex, UK and earned a Master of Arts in Economics and a Master of Business
Administration from the Catholic University of Leuven, Belgium and BSc from Faculty of Economics
and Social Studies at University of Khartoum, Sudan. He has published scholarly articles in a wide array
of international journals and contributed with many chapters in various books. He is a recognized expert
on the affairs of Sudan and South Sudan.
Sarah Rial, Founder and Executive Director, Global Partnership for Peace in South Sudan. Sarah
Cleto Rial, 2014 Rotary Peace Fellow, a women human rights and humanitarian advocate, and recipient
of the 2010 Eleanor Roosevelt Award for Human Rights, is a native of South Sudan, who headed an
unprecedented peacebuilding initiative, Sisterhood for Peace. She is the founder and president of Global
Partnership for Peace in South Sudan, a non-profit organization founded exclusively for civic,
educational, and development purposes, and in particular for the purpose of engaging the South Sudanese
communities across the globe to work collectively for dialogue, lasting peace, social justice, and gender
equality, as well as respect of human rights. Sarah is currently the Senior Executive Assistant to the CEO
and President of Management Sciences for Health and she has served as the program director of My
Sisters Keeper. Sarah holds a BSc. Degree in Statistics and Demography from Juba University, Sudan;
MA in Political Science Professional Development from American University in Cairo, Egypt; and a
Graduate Certificate on Women in Politics and Public Policy from University of Massachusetts, USA.
She was awarded Certificate of Recognition for Outstanding Leadership, Community Service, and was
honored as one of the Unsung Heroines of Massachusetts in 2007.
David Abramowitz, Managing Director, Humanity United. David is Managing Director at Humanity
United, overseeing HUs Public Policy & Government Relations portfolio. Prior to joining HU, David
served as Chief Counsel to the House Foreign Affairs Committee, where he was responsible for advising
the committee on such matters as international law, international justice, and global human rights and
democracy issues, including trafficking in persons and promoting democracy assistance. He has worked
on legislation ranging from the Trafficking Victims Protection Act of 2000 and the Wilberforce
Trafficking Victims Protection Reauthorization Act of 2008 to legislation implementing the U.S.-India
Nuclear Cooperation Agreement and the recommendations of the 9/11 Commission. Prior to joining the
committee staff in 1999, David worked at the Office of the Legal Adviser of the Department of State for
10 years on arms control, the Middle East, and legislation relating to foreign relations. David holds a
bachelors degree from Kalamazoo College and a juris doctor degree from the University of Michigan.

Panel 4: How the U.S. Can Support South Sudan

H.E. Garang Diing Akuong, Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary, of the Republic of
South Sudan to the USA. Amb. Akuong presented his credentials to H.E. President Barack H. Obama
on February 23, 2015. Amb. Akuong has a Masters of Art in International Studies and Diplomacy from
the School of Oriental and African Studies, University of London, and he has a Bachelor of Arts from
Faculty of Arts in Alexandria University, Egypt. He served as a Member of the National Legislative
Assembly (2010 up to date), and as the National Minister of Commerce, Industry and Investment (201113) and the National Minister of Mining (2010-11). Amb. Akuong also served as a Member of the NorthSouth (of Sudan) Boundary Demarcation Committee (2006-07) and he worked for the United Nations
World Food Program and Catholic Relief Services. (Abbreviated bio.)
Amb. Reath M. Tang, SPLM-IO Representative to the U.S. Amb. Tang completed his undergraduate
work in Electrical Engineering at Juba University. He became a Member of the National Legislative
Assembly in the Republic of South Sudan after independence in 2011. In the Parliament Hon Reath
became a Chairperson of the Sub-committee for Energy and Mining at the National Legislative
Assembly. He served as the Chairperson of Upper Nile State SPLM Caucus in the National Legislative
Assembly and as the Chairperson of South Sudan Youth Forum for Referendum Upper Nile State in 2010
to 2011. He worked as the Deputy Director for distribution and sales from 2008 to 2011 at Southern
Sudan Electricity corporation before becoming a member of Parliament. He was the President of South
Sudan Student Association in the University of Juba (2006 to 2007).
Pagan Amum, Co-Founder, South Sudan Reborn. Pagan Amum Okiech is the co-founder of South
Sudan Reborn and is its primary spokesperson. In 1982, he left law school and a promising academic
career in Khartoum to join the Sudan Peoples Liberation Movement (SPLM). He was part of Dr.
Garangs team that negotiated the comprehensive 2005 peace agreement (CPA). After the South Sudan
referendum, Pagan continued his service as Secretary General of the SPLM, the countrys chief
negotiator on the outstanding post referendum issues with Sudan, and Minister for Peace and CPA
implementation. Pagan remains strongly committed to the creation and growth of a powerful, pluralistic
democracy in South Sudan, as visualized by Dr. Garang. Pagan is forced to live in exile now, but he is
committed to one day to return home. (Source: South Sudan Reborn website.)
Joseph B. Bakosoro, Former Governor, Western Equatoria. Hon. Joseph Bakosoro has a Masters
Degree in Security and Strategic Studies Uganda and a Bachelor Degree in International Relation and
Diplomacy from Nkumba University, Entebbe, Uganda. Hon. Bakosoro served was elected Governor of
Western Equatoria State in 2010. Under his leadership, the UN honored the state with the title The
Green State because the state was stable in terms of security and food security. Every individual was
encouraged to cultivate, produce food for the family and surplus for the market. He initiated the Go-toSchool campaign and enrollment climbed from 25% in 2010 to 65% in 2015. Hon. Bakosoro served as
the SPLM Deputy Secretary from 2008 to 2010 and worked as a UNICEF Security Officer from 2007-08.
He also served as the County Commissioner in Tambura County Western Equatoria State South Sudan
from 2002-05. (Partial Bio)
Amb. Emmanuel Aban, National Democratic Movement. Amb. Aban is a former senior diplomat
with the South Sudan Permanent Mission to the United Nations. He is a former SPLM Member of the

Sudan Constitution Review Commission that drafted Sudan's Interim Constitution after the signing of
CPA.

Moderators
Ayen Bior is a reporter for South Sudan in Focus, a radio program that reaches over 11 million listeners
each week. She studied journalism and human rights at Southern Methodist University in Dallas, TX,
where she grew up. Ayen lives and works in Washington D.C. where she covers the South Sudanese
diaspora, think tanks and congressional politics as they apply to South Sudan.
John Tanza, Media Expert. John Tanza is a South Sudanese media expert who has been covering the
conflict in Sudan and South Sudan since 2003. He has a lot of experience and knowledge of the drivers
of conflict in Sudan and South Sudan. Tanza was heavily involved in media development projects for
Sudan (Darfur) and South Sudan. He managed USAID first media project for Sudan implemented by
Education Development Center in Nairobi. Tanzas interests are in media development in conflict areas.
He currently works a contractor with the Broadcasting Board of Governors (BBG), a federal agency
overseeing U.S international broadcast.

Masters of Ceremonies
Kwaje Lasu, MPH. RCP. Kwaje serves as the CASS Board of Directors Chair and the President of the
Equatoria South Sudanese Community Association-USA (ESSCA-USA). He is a Public Health
Epidemiologist with a clinical background as Pediatric and Neonatal Respiratory Care Specialist.
Dr. Isaac Gang is an Assistant Professor of Computer Science & Engineering at the University of Mary
Hardin-Baylors College of Humanity & Sciences (UMHB), department of Computer Science &
Engineering (CSE). He joined the UMHB CSE faculty in the fall of 2011 from the University of Southern
Mississippi (USM) where he taught as an Adjunct Professor of computer science at the USMs School of
Computing. Dr. Gang earned an Associate of Arts (AA) degree in computer science from Hinds
Community College in 2000, Bachelor of Art (BA) degree in history from the University of Southern
Mississippi in 2004, a Bachelor of Science (BS) degree in computer science from the University of
Southern Mississippi in 2004, Master of Science degree in computer science from the University of
Southern Mississippi in 2008, and Doctor of Philosophy in computational science from the University of
Southern Mississippi in 2010. Dr. Gang is the founding member of the Coalition of Advocates for South
Sudan (CASS), Jonglei Peace Initiative North America (JPINA), and the Alliance for South Sudanese in
Diaspora (ASSD). Dr. Gang is also a former Secretary General of Leadership Institute of New Sudan
(LIONS).

Conference Co-Chairs
Kwaje Lasu, MPH. RCP. Kwaje serves as the CASS Board of Directors Chair.
Esther Sprague is the Founder and Director of Sudan Unlimited, which seeks to support Sudanese and
Southern Sudanese in their efforts to secure and enjoy freedom, justice, equality, democracy, peace and
prosperity.

Special Thanks
The 2nd Annual CASS Conference would not be possible without the generous support of the
following individuals and organizations. We extend to them our most sincere thanks!

Basil Saen
Church of the Pilgrim
Conference Speakers
Eugene and Chi Soo Kim
George O'Connor
Georgetown University Law Center (GULC)
Human Rights Action - Amnesty International (HRA-AI) at GULC
Jewish World Watch
Marilyn Griep
South Sudan Women United: Nyakan Gile, Rachel Mogga, Mary Mogga and Margaret
Ihiju Atarri
Sudan Evangelical Alliance Partners
Sudan Sunrise
You thank you for joining us!

For more information about CASS, please contact:

Kwaje Lasu
Board Chair, CASS
kwaje@me.com

Bill Andress
Corresponding Secretary, CASS
BillAndress@ureach.com