Norway’s engagement in peace processes since 1993

An overview is given below of the countries where Norway has been actively engaged in promoting peace and reconciliation.

Country

Norway’s contribution

Afghanistan

 

Support for peace efforts and regional cooperation, aimed at strengthening regional relations and promoting common interests. Particular priority given to women’s rights and participation.

Colombia

 

Several decades of involvement in peace and reconciliation efforts in Colombia and in various dialogue initiatives between the country’s guerrilla groups (Farc-EP and ELN) and successive governments. Together with Cuba, official facilitator of the peace negotiations with Farc-EP, which began in 2012 and resulted in a final peace agreement on 24 November 2016. Since then, participation, with Cuba, in the implementation commission (known by its Spanish acronym, CSVR) together with representatives of the Colombian Government and Farc-EP. Since 2016, official facilitator of the peace process with the ELN.

Guatemala

 

Norway played a role as facilitator during the peace talks, and was a member – together with the US, Spain, Mexico, Venezuela and Colombia – of the Group of Friends for Guatemala, which assisted the UN in its mediation efforts. Three partial agreements signed in Norway. Peace agreement signed in 1996.

Israel, Palestine

Facilitator of the negotiations in 1992-1993 that led to the Oslo Accords. In charge of the People-to-People Programme, established under the Oslo II agreement in 1995 to make the peace process more inclusive. Chair of the Ad Hoc Liaison Committee (AHLC), which coordinates international assistance to Palestine, since its establishment in 1993. Since the Oslo Accords, the AHLC has coordinated international financing for a large share of the Palestinian Authority’s budgets.

Myanmar

Contributions to the peace process through the Joint Peace Fund, provision of support to the Joint Monitoring Committee, and capacity-building efforts aimed at promoting the active engagement of ethnic armed groups in the peace process. Broad support for the peace efforts of civil society organisations.

Nepal

 

Provided an informal meeting place for the parties to the conflict during the peace process. Support for UN assistance and monitoring efforts. Peace agreement signed in 2006. Support to the integration and rehabilitation of Maoists ex-combatants and support to Nepal Peace Trust Fund.

The Philippines

Facilitator of the peace talks between the Government and the Communist movement NDFP since 2001. Active participation in the International Monitoring Team (IMT) and the Independent Decommissioning Body (IDB) in Mindanao in connection with the peace process between the Government and the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF).

Somalia

Founding member, with the US, of the International Contact Group. Supported the development of the National Reconciliation Framework, which was adopted in 2019.

Sri Lanka

 

Facilitator of the peace negotiations in the period 2000-2006. Leadership of the Sri Lanka Monitoring Mission set up to monitor the ceasefire agreement signed in 2002, until the Sri Lankan Government formally withdrew from the agreement in 2008.

Sudan/South Sudan

 

Member of the Troika (Norway, US, UK) since 2002. Played a leading role in the negotiations leading to the peace agreement in 2005. Supported the Igad-led negotiations that resulted in the Addis Ababa agreements between Sudan and South Sudan in 2012. Also supported the Igad-led negotiations following the internal conflict in South Sudan from December 2013. These negotiations led to the conclusion of the South Sudan peace agreement in August 2015 and a revised agreement in September 2018. Norway is also supporting the implementation of the 2018 agreement.

Venezuela

Facilitator of negotiations in 2019 between the parties in Venezuela, represented by the delegations of Nicolás Maduro and Juan Guiadó respectively.

Norway has also provided financial and technical support for peace processes in Aceh, Burundi, the Democratic Republic of Congo, Kenya, Mozambique, Syria and Uganda. In addition, Norway has been engaged in dialogues in several other countries, including Haiti, the Dominican Republic and Timor-Leste. As peace talks are often held in secret, this list is not exhaustive.