CEWARN received twelve graduate students pursuing African Peace and Conflict Studies from University of Bradford. The group’s visit to Addis Ababa which was organised through the Institute of Peace and Security Studies (IPSS) was intended to broaden and deepen the students’ understanding and practical experience of the complexities involved in peace-building and post-conflict reconstruction in Africa.

During the visit to CEWARN, the team was briefed on the history, mandate and current operations of CEWARN as well as some of the current pressing peace and security concerns in the IGAD region.

The CEWARN Secretariat in Addis Ababa has relocated as of 1 March, 2015. The new premises that also houses three additional IGAD peace and security programmes, namely: the IGAD Security Sector Programme (ISSP), the IGAD Office of the Facilitator for Somalia Peace and Reconstruction; as well as the Office of the IGAD Special Envoys for South Sudan (OSESS) is located on Cape Verde Street – some 50 meters off Bole Road towards the European Union Delegation premises.

CEWARN seized this occasion to support a local charity organisation called The Macedonians Humanitarian Association (MHA) that supports elderly people and people with disabilities. CEWARN donated 14 used personal computers with basic accessories; 4 laptop computers; 7 printers; 1 scanner; 1 LCD projector and 32 UPS units.

CEWARN Director Mr. Richard Barno delivered an update on CEWARN’s activities to a Steering Committee meeting of the IGAD Drought Disaster Resilience and Sustainability Initiative (IDDRISI) that convened from 25-26 March 2015 in Addis Ababa. Mr. Barno‘s presentation covered CEWARN’s activities over the past year and its strategic direction that hinges on emerging challenges of violent conflict in the region.

Among these challenges, Mr. Barno cited the politicization of administrative boundaries alongside the introduction of devolved system of governance; rise in Conflicts associated with loss of pastoral lands – due to commercial agriculture and rising populations; rise in conflicts related to extractive Minerals as well as the rise in election-related conflicts and the ability of conflicts to easily spill over national boundaries.

Mr. Barno cited some of the key initiatives CEWARN is undertaking to support Member States in addressing the underlying causes of conflicts in cross-border areas, namely: the establishment of a Resilience Innovation Hub in Partnership with the Canada-based IDRC as well as The Consulting House and ICGLR with focus on action oriented research.

He also cited an ongoing partnership with the Global Peace Foundation (GPF) and EAC to engage Private Sector Leaders in conflict prevention. In addition, Mr. Barno cited a pilot policy initiative that CEWARN is undertaking in collaboration with the Horn of Africa Programme of Life and Peace Initiative (LPI), the Organization for Social Science Research in Eastern and Southern Africa (OSSREA) and InterAfrica to leverage CEWARN’s decade-long to identify policy gaps in cross border security governance and engage policy makers for policy-level response. The Steering Committee convened ahead of the fourth General Assembly Meeting of IGAD’s Drought Disaster Resilience and Sustainability Initiative (IDDRISI) that met on on 27 March 2015.

The General Assembly comprises Ministers in charge of Agriculture and/or relevant line ministries from the seven Member States of IGAD as well as representatives of Development Partners, International NGOs and Civil society among others. The IGAD Drought Disaster Resilience and Sustainability Initiative is currently one of IGAD’s priority programmes. It was launched in 2013 with the aim of ending drought emergencies in the Horn of Africa through integrated development and humanitarian assistance oriented responses.

A High level African Union Ad-hoc committee composed of the Heads of State and Government of Algeria, Chad, Nigeria, Rwanda and South Africa is expected to begin work in support of the IGAD-led Mediation Process for South Sudan. The AU support mechanism, which was announced at the African Union Peace and Security Council’s 494th meeting held on 24 March 2015 in Addis Ababa, is set to complement a new IGAD-Plus peace arrangement that entails substantive support from the UN and other partners such as Troika, EU and China to IGAD.

 The AU PSC at the meeting expressed disappointment with the failure of the South Sudanese parties to meet their earlier commitment to a 5 March deadline for completion of negotiations on all outstanding issues relating to the establishment of a Transitional Government of National Unity (TGoNU) by 9th July 2015.

The Council also expressed deep concern at the prevailing situation in South Sudan, characterized by fighting in recent weeks and a serious humanitarian situation. In addition, the Council, “recalling its earlier pronouncements on the issue of sanctions against those undermining the quest for peace, violating international humanitarian law and obstructing the efforts of the United Nations Mission in South Sudan (UNMISS), noted the adoption, on 3 March 2015, by the United Nations (UN) Security Council, of resolution 2206 (2015).”

Refer to :

• UN Security Council Resolution establishing a Sanctions Regime for South Sudan, 3 March 2015
• Message from H.E HaileMariam Dessalegn, Prime Minister of the Federal Democratic Republic of Ethiopia and Chairperson of the IGAD Assembly to the People of South Sudan, 6 March’15
• Communiqué of the latest meeting of the African Union Peace and Security Council on South Sudan, 24 March 2014

CEWARN seeks the services of a highly competent film-maker or communications firm to produce a 12-15 mins documentary film which showcases CEWARN’s work.

Deadline for application: 8 April 2015

Please refer to TOR for guidelines on Application.

CEWARN invites competent candidates from the IGAD region to apply for the position of CEWERU Liaison Officer in Addis Ababa.

Deadline for Applications is 2 March 2015. For more information on application requirements, Refer to Terms of Reference.

Mike Choge is a graduate of Kabarak University in Kenya in Environmental and Life Sciences. He is a Kenyan national and joined CEWARN as an intern in July 2014.

His interests include the interconnectedness between environment and conflict. Mike regards CEWARN’s mandate of monitoring and prevention of violent conflicts in the region as vital in mitigating humanitarian disasters in the region.

In CEWARN, he contributes to events management and provides support to CEWARN’s Rapid Response Fund (RRF) programme. His leisure interests include reading and traveling. He aspires to be an opinion leader on matters of peace, security and conflict prevention in the region.

Zerayacob is a graduate from the Addis Ababa University with a Bachelor of Law degree. She is an Ethiopian national and joined CEWARN as an intern in September 2014.

One of her areas of interest is understanding how international law supports and helps to achieve conditions for peace and security between states. Her academic and professional experience includes working as a research assistant. She regards CEWARN as an organization that works for the betterment of the lives of people across the region through conflict prevention.

In CEWARN, Mahlet has contributed to events management, editing publications and compiling daily news briefs on regional peace and security developments. Her leisure interests include sports, travel and books. She aspires to be a regional expert on issues of conflict and environment.

Eeva Hakala is a graduate of the University of Turku in Finland with an MA degree in Media Studies. She is a Finnish national and joined the CEWARN as an intern in January 2015. Her areas of interest include crisis communications as well as issues of refugees and terrorism in South Sudan and Somalia.

She is also keen to learn about China’s role in East Africa. Her previous academic and professional experiences include studies in Media, Political Science and Asian Studies with exchange periods in China and Hong Kong. Eeva regards CEWARN as an organization that facilitates regional collaboration on regional peace, stability and development.

In CEWARN, She compiles daily media summaries on peace and security developments in the region. Her leisure interests include sports, hiking, and learning new languages. She aspires to work in the field of crisis communications.

Diletta Dormi is a graduate from the Luiss Guido Carli University in Rome with an MSC degree in Government and Public Communications. She is an Italian national and joined CEWARN as an intern in November 2014.

She has a strong research interest in institutional communications in conflict and post-conflict situations. Her former academic and professional experiences also include advanced Public Speaking courses as well as graphic advertising. Diletta regards CEWARN as an organization with a humanitarian focus that works everyday to achieve lasting peace and prosperity in the Horn of Africa region. In CEWARN, she contributes to media relations, editing publications, and events management.

Her leisure interests also include traveling and intercultural interactions. She aspires to work in the field of peace and security with focus on conflict prevention in developing countries.