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Norway, peace and the Sudan
January 26, 2007
Ambassador Tom Eric Vraalsen discussed Norway’s role in peace efforts around the world, and in particular in Sudan, Africa, with about 40 students last Thursday.
Vraaslen is the former ambassador from Norway to the United States. He has contributed actively to Norway’s effort to end almost 50 years of continuous war in Sudan. Conflict in the region is based on an array of factors, from economic marginalization to religious and ethnic differences.
He helped broker the January 2005 peace agreement between the Sudanese government and a rebel group called the Sudan People’s Liberation Movement. He currently serves as chairman of the commission charged with monitoring and evaluating the peace agreement.
Norway has a history of influencing peace negotiations in conflicts around the world, in places such as Guatemala, the Balkans and Sri Lanka. Vraaslen attributes Norway’s ability to influence these conflicts to a variety of factors, including the relative small size of the country.
Home to fewer than 5 million people, Norway’s size has proved beneficial because it eliminates the bureaucratic obstacles found in much larger countries, like the United States, Vraalsen said. Those working in the field are able to contact government officials directly to fulfill their requests.
For example, if he needs additional funding to help sustain the peace in Sudan, he can call the prime minister, request the money and receive it within two days. In the United States, Vraalsen joked a similar request would “take two years” because of all the red tape.
“We’re in a situation where we can do things and we have the resources,” he said.
Norway’s history also plays a role. The country has no history of colonialism, so its intentions to help solve a conflict are viewed as genuine, he explained. Additionally, Norway only enters into the process after it has been invited, and even then, the Norwegians make sure they have a good base knowledge about the conflict and the professionals who know the situation and the players, he said.
The current peace process in the Sudan is moving slowly. It’s being hindered by a number of factors, including the continuing conflict in Darfur, he said.
After the January 2005 peace agreement was signed, the international community shifted its focus to the Darfur conflict, removing the pressure placed on the government and rebel group to actively pursue peace. Pressure is the only thing the government reacts to, Vraalsen said.
Now the two parties contend nothing can be done until the Darfur conflict is resolved. But Vraalsen argues that with all the resources and personnel at the disposal of the larger nations involved, like the U.S. and the United Kingdom, both conflicts can be worked on at the same time.
“It should be possible to think about two things at the same time,” he said. “If I can do it, you can do it.”
Larger nations have proved vital to supporting the peace process. Norway can only take issues to a certain point because the country lacks economic, political or military power. The larger nations have generally been responsive to requests for their support in those capacities, he said.
If the January 2005 peace agreement collapses, Vraalsen said Sudan would fall into turmoil. While more conflict is likely in the future, he is hopeful that the parties will continue to work together.
“We are working day by day to convince the parties to be sensible, to work together and to come through on their commitments,” he said.
Student David Akuien attended the event to learn more about the progress being made towards stability in the country. Akuien was born in Sudan and fled the country as one of the so-called “lost boys of Sudan” in 1987. Since then, he has kept up to speed with the situation through media reports, and he was impressed by Vraalsen’s knowledge about the region and the obstacles the Sudanese government is facing.
For his J-Term course, Akuien is working with student Shannon Murphy on a project focusing on the Sudan conflict and the role dialogues has played. Murphy said she appreciated Vraalsen’s honesty and candor about the Sudan peace process.
“It’s always enlightening to hear from someone who is directly involved,” she said. “He spoke about the realities … about trying each day, but admitted that it’s frustrating.”
Vraalsen is a PLU regent and was in Tacoma for a Board of Regents meeting last Friday and Saturday.
He helped broker the January 2005 peace agreement between the Sudanese government and a rebel group called the Sudan People’s Liberation Movement. He currently serves as chairman of the commission charged with monitoring and evaluating the peace agreement.
Norway has a history of influencing peace negotiations in conflicts around the world, in places such as Guatemala, the Balkans and Sri Lanka. Vraaslen attributes Norway’s ability to influence these conflicts to a variety of factors, including the relative small size of the country.
Home to fewer than 5 million people, Norway’s size has proved beneficial because it eliminates the bureaucratic obstacles found in much larger countries, like the United States, Vraalsen said. Those working in the field are able to contact government officials directly to fulfill their requests.
For example, if he needs additional funding to help sustain the peace in Sudan, he can call the prime minister, request the money and receive it within two days. In the United States, Vraalsen joked a similar request would “take two years” because of all the red tape.
“We’re in a situation where we can do things and we have the resources,” he said.
Norway’s history also plays a role. The country has no history of colonialism, so its intentions to help solve a conflict are viewed as genuine, he explained. Additionally, Norway only enters into the process after it has been invited, and even then, the Norwegians make sure they have a good base knowledge about the conflict and the professionals who know the situation and the players, he said.
The current peace process in the Sudan is moving slowly. It’s being hindered by a number of factors, including the continuing conflict in Darfur, he said.
After the January 2005 peace agreement was signed, the international community shifted its focus to the Darfur conflict, removing the pressure placed on the government and rebel group to actively pursue peace. Pressure is the only thing the government reacts to, Vraalsen said.
Now the two parties contend nothing can be done until the Darfur conflict is resolved. But Vraalsen argues that with all the resources and personnel at the disposal of the larger nations involved, like the U.S. and the United Kingdom, both conflicts can be worked on at the same time.
“It should be possible to think about two things at the same time,” he said. “If I can do it, you can do it.”
Larger nations have proved vital to supporting the peace process. Norway can only take issues to a certain point because the country lacks economic, political or military power. The larger nations have generally been responsive to requests for their support in those capacities, he said.
If the January 2005 peace agreement collapses, Vraalsen said Sudan would fall into turmoil. While more conflict is likely in the future, he is hopeful that the parties will continue to work together.
“We are working day by day to convince the parties to be sensible, to work together and to come through on their commitments,” he said.
Student David Akuien attended the event to learn more about the progress being made towards stability in the country. Akuien was born in Sudan and fled the country as one of the so-called “lost boys of Sudan” in 1987. Since then, he has kept up to speed with the situation through media reports, and he was impressed by Vraalsen’s knowledge about the region and the obstacles the Sudanese government is facing.
For his J-Term course, Akuien is working with student Shannon Murphy on a project focusing on the Sudan conflict and the role dialogues has played. Murphy said she appreciated Vraalsen’s honesty and candor about the Sudan peace process.
“It’s always enlightening to hear from someone who is directly involved,” she said. “He spoke about the realities … about trying each day, but admitted that it’s frustrating.”
Vraalsen is a PLU regent and was in Tacoma for a Board of Regents meeting last Friday and Saturday.