Justice and Reconciliation during Sudan’s Post-2011 Transition

The participants in this consultation, from a wide range of political and geographical backgrounds, came to discuss the future possibility of justice and reconciliation in Sudan, as the country goes through a period of significant change. Lasting three days, the consultation heard presentations on a number of relevant topics, such as ‘Lessons to be Learned from Elsewhere’ and ‘The Religious Contribution to Reconciliation in Sudan’. These presentations were made by members of Concordis staff and by experts on the topics under discussion, Professor Lars Waldorf and Dr Sarah Nouwen. The initial discussion on the principles of Post-Conflict Justice and Reconciliation raised a theme which recurred repeatedly throughout the discussions. This was the difficulty to be found in striking a balance between truth-telling, reconciliation in the face of potentially difficult revelations, and justice which should not be equated to persecution, in order to promote the highest possible chance of reconciliation. The subsequent discussion on existing and traditional Sudanese conflict resolution methods highlighted the agreement in the room that it would be necessary for Sudan’s problems to be tackled using a Sudanese solution.