By Gert Jan Geling, December 27, 2013

As part of the capacity and state building of the Republic of South Sudan, fifteen South Sudanese diplomats get a four-week training in diplomatic skills and international relations at Clingendael.

The training is part of the cooperation between Governments of South Sudan, the Netherlands and the Clingendael Institute.

Long-term relationship

2013 marks the ten-year anniversary of the cooperation between Clingendael and the South Sudanese government and its predecessor under the Government of National Unity and the Sudan People's Liberation Movement (SPLM).

The cooperation started when the Netherlands co-signed as international guarantor the Comprehensive Peace Agreement between the Republic of Sudan and the SPLM/SPLA.

Diplomacy, security, development

Over the course of four weeks, the diplomats study and discuss a wide range of topics clustered around the themes of diplomacy, security and development.

The common thread shows the challenges, complexities and solutions with regard to state-building and post-conflict reconstruction. At the same time, the participants enhance their skills through workshops in project management, scenario planning, policy writing, negotiations and (consular) crisis management.

The group pays working visits to the Organisation for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons (OPCW), International Criminal Court (ICC), EU External Action Service (EEAS), NATO, UNHCR Office in Brussels and the European Peace-building Liaison Office (EPLO).

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To conclude the programme, the diplomats visit the Dutch development organisations Cordaid, VNG International and SNV. Here they discuss mutual cooperation and the support Dutch civil society provides to communities in South-Sudan.

At the Dutch Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the group discusses the Dutch policy towards South Sudan as well as the main focal areas of Dutch development assistance: water, security and rule of law, and food security.

Situation in South Sudan

The unrest that starts in Juba on 16 December has a great impact on the visiting diplomats.

Inside and outside of class, each of the diplomats express a desire for South Sudan to unite, to overcome political and ethnic divisions and to develop their political and economic potential.

The Clingendael Academy hopes there will be a political and diplomatic solution to the unrest in South Sudan. As the South Sudanese Ambassador in the Netherlands maintains: ‘Diplomats also have a role in peace building and stability in their own country.’

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The South Sudanese diplomats, Clingendael trainers, programme managers and the Academy Director in front of Huys Clingendael.