International Seminar on Ethnicity and Conflict in Eastern Africa

25 September 2008 Helsinki

SHALIN Suomi ry, KIOS and A.R.R-AMAHORO ry are organising an international seminar Ethnicity and Conflict in Eastern Africa in Helsinki on 25 September 2008.  The seminar is funded by the Ministry for Foreign Affairs of Finland.

The seminar will shed light to issues of ethnicity and land in different countries of Africa, which are currently experiencing internal conflicts or are beginning to emerge to a post-conflict era. The seminar will bring together experts from different countries to share experiences and knowledge from their respective countries, and to network with international actors in democracy and conflict issues. Representatives of NGOs, government institutions, media and students are warmly welcome to take part in the seminar!

The seminar will concentrate on Eastern and Southern African countries: Uganda, Zimbabwe, Ethiopia, Somalia, Kenya, Rwanda and Burundi.  It will also borrow experiences from Europe and specifically Kosovo.

Date: 25 September 2008, 9 am – 3:30 pm

Venue: Hotel Arthur, Vuorikatu 19, 00100 Helsinki

Seminar is held in English.

The participation in the seminar is free of charge.

Please confirm your participation by 23 September 2008 to shalinry@gmail.com.

For more information, please contact Peter Kuria at shalin@shalinry.org.

The seminar is organised by SHALIN Suomi ry in technical collaboration with the A.R.R-AMAHORO ry and the Finnish NGO Foundation for Human Rights KIOS. A.R.R-AMAHORO is a young Finnish NGO that focuses its work on creating awareness of the post-conflict situation in Rwanda, with the aim of bringing genuine reconciliation and peace. KIOS is an NGO foundation that provides financial support to local human right organisations in developing countries. One of the geographical focus areas of KIOS is Eastern Africa.
Programme of the seminar (see also attached!)

Ethnicity and Conflict in Eastern Africa

Date: 25 September 2008

Venue: Hotel Arthur, Helsinki

08:45 Registration

09:00 Session I:

Ms. Jjuuko Margaret N. Lwanga (Uganda):
The role of media in defining ethnicity, democratic processes and promotion of human rights. The case of Rwanda and Burundi.

Prof. Kimani Njogu (Kenya):
Ethnicity, media and democratisation – Human rights, land and political processes. The case of politically negotiated settlements and future of Kenya.

Dr. Sabelo Ndlovu (Zimbabwe):
Ethnic dimensions of politics and democratisation – the case of land and human rights in Zimbabwe.

10:45 Break

11:00 Session II:

Mr. Gebremedhine Birega (Ethiopia):
Negative Ethnicity in Ethiopia – The politicisation of ethnicity.

Prof. JosephMatumaini (Tanzania):
Religion and Ethnicity- The impact of religion on ethnic identity and the role of religious affiliations in defining cultures of conflict  and developing communication pathways.

Mr. Arefaine Mengistu (Ethiopia/Switzerland):
Ethnicity and the north-south link – Understanding the case of ethnic dimension in Ethiopia and working for ethnic integration in Kosovo.

12:30 Lunch Break

13:30 Session III:

Mr. Jean-Christophe Nizeyimana (the Netherlands/Rwanda):
The impact of negative ethnicity on civil liberties – A displaced person working for the displaced. Reflections on Rwanda and challenges of new context of ethnicity.

Mr. Bambanze Vital (Burundi):
The role of civil society in promoting and defending the space for the rights of indigenous people – the case of the Batwa Indigenous community in Burundi/Uganda.

Mr. Adam Hussein (Kenya):
Stateless Ethnicity! World citizen or pariah?

15:00-15:30 Final discussion