In 2005, the Comprehensive Peace Agreement (CPA) formally ended the two-decade long civil war between the Government of Sudan and Sudan People's Liberation Movement (SPLM). USIP provided training and support to Sudanese and Southern Sudanese institutions and civil society members to help ensure a peaceful transition out of conflict, as well as analysis to assess progress toward this goal.

09 January 2011: First day of the referendum on South Sudan's independence and first voters in El Fasher polling center, North Darfur, Sudan. Picture: UNAMID - Olivier Chassot
Photo Courtesy of Flickr/UNAMID

In addition to supporting the development of governance structures across the entire country and planning to share oil resources, the agreement mandated steps toward a referendum on South Sudanese independence.

In keeping with the CPA, Sudan undertook a series of steps to promote peace, encourage unity, and provide to southern Sudan limited autonomy.  A Government of National Unity in Khartoum and autonomous Government of Southern Sudan in Juba formed in 2005.  In April 2010, Sudan held multiparty elections; in January 2011, the country held a referendum, resulting in 99% voting for independence; and on July 9, 2011, South Sudan became the world's newest state. USIP has worked both in the field and in DC to promote a peaceful transition from conflict through a range of projects and initiatives.

Scenarios for Sudan:  In advance of Sudan's January 2011 referendum on independence for southern Sudan, USIP hosted three workshops in April and May 2009 to develop scenarios focused on plausible developments over a two and a half year period.

Preventing Electoral Violence in Sudan:  Prior to the April 2010 multiparty elections throughout Sudan and southern Sudan, USIP conducted electoral violence prevention (EVP) training with participants, representing a range of key institutions and stakeholders, to build conflict resolution and citizenship skills.

Referendum Violence Prevention: Following from the success of the EVP workshops, USIP staff developed a referendum violence prevention workshop curriculum that incorporated case studies of violence before, during and after elections; negotiation skills training; and civic education.

Eye on Sudan: USIP monitored developments leading up to the January 9-15, 2011 referendum in Sudan to decide whether the southern Sudan region should remain a part of Sudan or become an independent country.

Eye on Two Sudans: South Sudan gained independence on July 9, 2011.  USIP monitored developments preceding and following this dramatic event.

Latest Publications

U.S. Concerns Over ‘Axis of Authoritarianism’ Cloud Final Biden-Xi Meeting

U.S. Concerns Over ‘Axis of Authoritarianism’ Cloud Final Biden-Xi Meeting

Thursday, November 21, 2024

With President Joe Biden’s presidential term ending in a few weeks, expectations for his final meeting with Chinese leader Xi Jinping were modest, especially considering the broader frictions in U.S.-China relations. Biden and Xi met on the sidelines of the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation summit in Peru on November 16. The meeting highlighted the importance of maintaining open communications channels to manage the two powers’ many differences.

Type: Analysis

Global Policy

China’s Global Security Initiative Takes Shape in Southeast and Central Asia

China’s Global Security Initiative Takes Shape in Southeast and Central Asia

Thursday, November 21, 2024

Since Chinese leader Xi Jinping launched the Global Security Initiative (GSI) in April 2022, it has been used in China’s efforts to expand its international security role and reshape global order. Drawing on field research and discussions with regional policymakers and experts, this report looks at Beijing’s progress in implementing and operationalizing the GSI in the priority regions of mainland Southeast Asia and Central Asia, and it examines key policy implications, explaining why the initiative warrants greater attention on the part of the US policy community.

Type: Special Report

Global Policy

A Delicate Balance: Promoting Nuclear Energy While Preventing Proliferation

A Delicate Balance: Promoting Nuclear Energy While Preventing Proliferation

Thursday, November 21, 2024

As global energy demands intensify and the urgency of addressing climate shocks mounts, the role of nuclear energy has come to the forefront of discussions for governments, businesses and those concerned about sustainable development. Just last week, the Biden administration released a plan to triple U.S. nuclear capacity by 2050. While nuclear energy promises efficiency gains and significant emissions reductions, public opinion remains divided about the tradeoffs of increased investment, the safety risks and the implications for international security. This puts the U.S. at a crossroads as it tries to navigate its role in a world with new demands for nuclear energy and heightened risks of conflict between nuclear-armed states. Such risks were highlighted this week when Russia lowered its nuclear threshold in response to new U.S. authorizations for Ukraine to use long-range weapons.

Type: Analysis

EnvironmentGlobal Policy

Iraq’s Lingering ISIS Challenge and the Role of Dialogue in Return and Reintegration

Iraq’s Lingering ISIS Challenge and the Role of Dialogue in Return and Reintegration

Thursday, November 21, 2024

With conflicts raging in Gaza, Lebanon, Ukraine and Sudan, concerns related to the extremist group ISIS may seem overtaken by these other conflicts. After all, Iraq declared the group’s military defeat in 2017 after the territory held by the extremists was retaken by Iraqi government forces in partnership with the United States. Yet just over a month ago, U.S. and Iraqi forces conducted a joint military raid against the group, killing nine senior ISIS leaders who were hiding in the rugged Hamrin Mountains in northern Iraq. This raid comes off the heels of the UK’s domestic intelligence chief stating that the group is positioning itself as a resurgent threat. Indeed, ISIS has conducted over 150 attacks so far this year in Iraq and Syria, more than those claimed by the group in 2023.

Type: Analysis

ReconciliationViolent Extremism

Four Questions that Could Determine Haiti’s Future

Four Questions that Could Determine Haiti’s Future

Thursday, November 21, 2024

Much has happened in Haiti over the past two weeks — none of it is reassuring. The Transitional Presidential Council (TPC) fired Prime Minister Garry Conille on November 10, after only six months in office. Moments before an interim prime minister was sworn in the next day, a U.S. commercial airliner was struck by gunfire, forcing a pause in flights to Haiti’s international airport. These developments underscore the reality facing Haiti's interim government and the immense challenges it faces in achieving a transition by February 2026, as outlined in an April 3, 2024 agreement. Given this dysfunction, Haitians and their international partners are rightly concerned that the country’s evolving political and security crisis will only further deepen.

Type: Analysis

Fragility & Resilience

View All Publications