From 18 to 21 December 2009, the Institute for Security Studies convened a closed workshop to discuss the future of Sudan. With less than two years remaining of the six- year interim period provided by the Comprehensive Peace Agreement (CPA) of 2005, the Government of National Unity, the Government of South Sudan, the National Congress Party (NCP), and the Sudan People`s Liberation Movement/Army (SPLM/SPLA) are facing complex and difficult choices and challenges in relation to the stability and transformation of Sudan. Whilst the outline of a path to elections and a referendum has been laid out in the CPA, the territory beyond the 2011 deadline has yet to be considered or mapped. It was within this context that the scenarios to strategies workshop was convened.

The workshop aimed to provide a relaxed and informal setting in which various influential Sudanese opinion formers from various parts of the social and political spectrum could reflect on what might happen in their country before and after the referendum scheduled for 2011. Representatives of key international and foreign agencies were also invited to participate in the discussions.

The four principal aims of the four days of deliberations were:

• To develop a set of different scenarios, all of which would be useful inasmuch as they were relevant, challenging, plausible and clear.

• To formulate a set of strategic implications based on these scenarios.

• To develop an increased sense of communication, understanding and trust among the participants.

• To suggest a plan to carry forward the results of the workshop