Access to Resources and Opportunities in Eastern Sudan: Consolidating the Comprehensive Peace Agreement Nairobi, Kenya, 14-17 February 2005

This four-day meeting, organised by Concordis International, brought together 18 prominent members of Sudanese civil and political society, together with renowned international scholars. The participants represented a comprehensive range of key political and geographical constituencies, particularly for Eastern Sudan. Sudanese and international experts gave ten presentations on the factors that have contributed to the political, economic and cultural marginalisation of Eastern Sudan and suggested ways to improve access to resources and opportunities in the region in the light of the recently signed Comprehensive Peace Agreement (CPA). Each presentation was followed by vigorous and frank group discussion, resulting in the formulation of recommendations and practical proposals. Participants identified that a mixture of historical, climatic and political factors has contributed to the marginalisation of Eastern Sudan, which has created an unstable security situation in the region. Eastern Sudan was viewed as an area of shrinking opportunities, shrinking services and limited natural resources, such as water, land and grazing. The participants highlighted the marginalisation of the nomadic tribes, namely the Beja and the Rashaida, and viewed the issue of land rights and the difficulties involved in providing nomadic groups with services as two major problems facing Eastern Sudan.