Simulation on

MATAKE-BADANGA PEACE
PROCESS NEGOTIATIONS
 
 
 
Editors:  
 Ferdaouis  Bagga,  Claire  Connor,  Kate  Elçi  and  Johannes  Langer  
 
Written  by  members  of  the  American  University  Negotiation  Project  (AUNP):  
Ferdaouis  Bagga,  Claire  Connor,  Jonathan  Dillon,  Kate  Elçi,  Mary  Harrigan,  Amber  Hill,  Kevin  Kurtz,  
Johannes  Langer,  Nóra  Loncsar,  Lara  SanPietro,  Ian  Schramm,  Jenée  Sharon,  and  Natalie  Shemwell.  
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Created:  October  2011  
Latest  version:  29  March  2012  
Simulation  on  Matake-­‐Badanga  Peace  Agreement  Negotiations    
 
 

Contents  
 

SCENARIO  ................................................................................................  3  
MAPS  .......................................................................................................  4  
BACKGROUND  .........................................................................................  6  
LIST  OF  ROLES  ..........................................................................................  8  
MEDIATORS  .............................................................................................  9  
MATAKEAN  GOVERNMENT  REPRESENTATIVES  .....................................  16  
BADANGAN  REPRESENTATIVES  .............................................................  22  
RELIGIOUS  LEADERS  ..............................................................................  27  
COMPANIES  ...........................................................................................  30  
OTHER  PARTIES  .....................................................................................  36  
JOURNALISTS  .........................................................................................  40  
 

   

 
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Simulation  on  Matake-­‐Badanga  Peace  Agreement  Negotiations    
 
 
SCENARIO  
 
The  country  of  Matake  has  been  embroiled  in  an  intractable  conflict  and  today  
negotiations  for  a  peace  agreement  are  finally  taking  place.    You  are  convened  to  negotiate  
with  domestic  and  international  parties  on  neutral  ground  in  the  country  of  Kehan.    Mediators  
from  the  United  Nations  (UN),  Norway,  and  the  Organization  of  Etaman  States  (OES)  organized  
these  talks  to  address  the  civil  conflict  which  has  taken  place  for  four  decades  in  Matake.  
 Fighting  between  westerners  from  the  region  of  Badanga  and  eastern  Matakeans  escalated  
about  ten  years  ago  when  a  strong  and  armed  secessionist  movement  led  by  Badangans  
formed.      
Because  there  are  over  twenty  different  parties  represented  at  these  negotiations,  the  
mediators  suggested  a  division  of  talks  by  topic  area,  possibly  economic,  territory  or  political  
working  groups.    The  two  UN  special  envoys  to  Etama  are  the  lead  mediators  for  today’s  
negotiations.    In  particular,  mediators  are  pushing  for  a  formal  ceasefire  agreement.  
These  are  the  first  negotiations  taking  place  and  depending  on  the  success  of  these  talks  
future  meetings  could  be  arranged.    
 
Note:  Journalists  may  be  around  to  report  on  the  negotiations  and  interview  parties,  whereby  it  
is  also  possible  to  actively  approach  them.  
     

 
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Simulation  on  Matake-­‐Badanga  Peace  Agreement  Negotiations    
 
 
MAPS  
   
Matake:  
 

 
 
 
   

 
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Simulation  on  Matake-­‐Badanga  Peace  Agreement  Negotiations    
 
 
 
 
Etama:  
 

 
 
 

 
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Simulation  on  Matake-­‐Badanga  Peace  Agreement  Negotiations    
 
 
BACKGROUND  
 
Matake  is  a  conflict-­‐ridden  country  with  a  large  population  located  on  a  semi-­‐arid  
continent  called  Etama.    Matake’s  east  is  open  to  the  sea,  is  mostly  flat,  and  has  much  of  the  
wealth  and  population  of  the  country.    The  western  and  largest  province  of  the  country,  
Badanga,  is  separated  from  the  rest  of  Matake  by  the  Sodrif  River.    This  east-­‐west  conflict  has  
been  characterized  by  tensions  over  the  geographic  separation,  political  exclusion,  religious  
divisions,  and  economic  disparity.    The  main  opposition  to  the  government  is  the  Badangan  
Secessionist  Forces  (BSF)  which  has  practically  given  up  on  the  possibility  for  peaceful  
coexistence  with  eastern  Matake.    They  are  united  along  a  common  goal  of  seceding  from  
Matake.    As  a  result  of  these  issues  fighting  is  escalating  and  mortality  rates  continue  to  rise.    
Both  Badangans  and  the  Government  of  Matake  are  accused  of  human  rights  violations  by  
international  observers.  
There  have  been  over  two  million  conflict-­‐related  deaths  over  the  past  four  decades,  
with  most  of  the  violence  taking  place  in  the  past  ten  years  since  the  formation  of  the  
secessionist  movement.    Hundreds  of  thousands  of  Matakeans  from  both  sides  have  become  
internally  displaced  persons  (IDPs)  and  are  now  dispersed  around  the  country.    Over  200,000  
Matakeans  have  fled  to  refugee  camps  in  neighboring  countries,  and  the  Organization  of  
Etaman  States  (OES)  has  had  to  step  in  to  provide  support  to  these  affected  nations.    Some  
Matakeans  have  been  internally  displaced  as  they  have  fled  parts  of  the  country  with  heavy  
fighting.    The  OES  has  increased  humanitarian  aid,  but  because  of  the  surge  in  violence  over  the  
past  decade,  many  officials  are  actively  seeking  assistance  from  the  United  Nations  to  deal  with  
this  conflict.  
 
Religious  Dimensions  
The  Holy  Badanga  Faith  is  polytheistic  and  once  permeated  throughout  all  of  Matake.    
Remba  missionaries  spread  Rembaism  throughout  eastern  Matake  a  century  ago,  and  now  it  is  
considered  the  national  religion  of  Matake.    The  leader  of  Rembaism  is  known  as  “The  Master,”  
because  of  his  vast  influence  over  religious  doctrine  in  Matake.      
Citizens  of  Lukisi  are  very  religious  since  many  of  the  holy  sites  for  both  faiths  are  
located  in  Lukisi.    80%  of  Badanga  remains  true  to  the  Holy  Badanga  Faith,  including  the  
contested  Lukisi  district  in  the  south  of  Matake.    Religious  division  has  become  a  central  feature  
of  this  conflict.    The  government  of  Matake  favors  devout  Rembas  by  giving  them  tax  breaks,  
land  subsidies,  and  other  preferential  treatment.    The  leader  of  the  Holy  Badanga  Faith  
regularly  speaks  out  against  this  injustice  and  about  the  need  for  peace  and  equality  in  Matake.  
 
Economic  Dimensions  
Most  goods  shipped  to  Matake  enter  through  eastern  ports  or  by  railroad  from  the  
west.    It  is  a  post-­‐colonial  country  and  had  not  developed  infrastructure  as  much  as  it  needed  to  
keep  up  with  its  once  booming  copper  trade  -­‐  thus  the  main  railway  is  constantly  overworked  

 
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Simulation  on  Matake-­‐Badanga  Peace  Agreement  Negotiations    
 
 
and  is  in  desperate  need  of  modernization.    Just  before  the  war,  the  government  of  Matake  
privatized  the  copper  industry  and  railways  as  an  attempt  to  rapidly  develop  the  country.      
The  civil  war  is  dramatically  affecting  the  copper  industry,  and  fighters  frequently  target  
trains  as  they  cross  into  the  east.    The  western  province  of  Matake,  Badanga,  holds  the  great  
majority  of  copper  mines,  with  a  few  in  the  east  and  a  dense  cluster  of  mines  in  the  southern  
district  of  Lukisi.    The  mines  in  Lukisi  are  barely  functioning  now  because  of  the  recent  take-­‐
over  of  the  district  by  the  Lukisi  People’s  Army  (LPA),  led  by  the  ruthless  Colonel  Derga.  
Foreign  companies  have  done  business  in  Matake  in  the  past,  but  often  have  a  
disadvantage  compared  to  the  state-­‐subsidized  companies,  and  have  pulled  out  of  Matake  for  
the  most  part  due  to  the  civil  conflict.    Matake  is  rich  in  copper  and  this  is  its  primary  
commodity  export.    Because  of  the  violence,  copper  exports  from  Matake  and  business  with  
foreign  investors  has  significantly  declined.  These  negotiations  represent  an  opportunity  to  
revitalize  the  industry.  The  main  method  of  exporting  copper  is  by  railroad  routes  which  are  
centrally  owned  and  controlled  by  the  Badangan  Copper  Corporation  (BCC).  
 
Political-­‐Military  Situation  
The  Government  of  Matake  is  comprised  primarily  of  easterners.    Badangans  have  felt  
consistently  marginalized  from  the  political  sphere  since  the  start  of  the  conflict.    Currently  
neither  side  has  a  clear  military  advantage  over  the  other,  and  both  sides  are  heavily  armed.  
 Five  years  ago  the  Matakean  government  brought  in  the  Executive  Solutions  Security  
Corporation  in  an  attempt  to  tip  the  military  balance  in  their  favor.    However,  Executive  
Solutions  has  been  unable  to  successfully  repress  the  secessionist  movement  and  has  gained  an  
increasingly  bad  reputation  for  their  tactics.  
The  BSF  has  proposed  a  possible  border  for  an  independent  state  that  would  align  well  
naturally  with  the  Sodrif  River.    They  hope  for  political  and  territorial  independence  from  
Matake,  while  the  government  of  Matake  considers  a  unified  Matakean  state  the  only  option.    
The  Lukisi  district  is  a  particularly  important  and  contested  area.    Until  recently,  it  was  under  
the  control  of  a  Matake-­‐appointed  governor.    The  LPA,  led  by  the  unpredictable  and  ruthless  
Colonel  Derga,  has  effectively  commandeered  the  district  by  occupying  important  government  
buildings  and  setting  up  strategic  roadblocks.    Lukisi  is  contested  as  both  Badangan  
secessionists  and  the  Matake  government  claim  rights  to  the  district.    
There  is  a  presently  a  temporary  cessation  of  hostilities.    This  was  initially  arranged  by  
informal  talks  between  the  Commander  of  the  BSF  and  the  UN  Special  Envoy  to  Etama.    The  
government  of  Matake  responded  by  going  along  with  this  tacit  agreement.    However,  
everyone  understands  that  this  situation  is  tentative  and  there  remains  a  risk  that  violence  will  
resume  if  negotiations  end  sourly.    Many  of  the  mediators  are  pushing  for  an  official  ceasefire  
agreement  to  be  signed  as  a  preliminary  step  in  today’s  negotiations.    Some  parties,  however,  
feel  that  a  ceasefire  cannot  be  reached  until  other  issues  are  addressed.  
 
   

 
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Simulation  on  Matake-­‐Badanga  Peace  Agreement  Negotiations    
 
 
LIST  OF  ROLES  (27)  
*  =  role  can  be  multiplied  
**  =  doubled  role  is  the  deputy  minister  
 
1   United  Nations  Special  Envoy  to  Etama  
2   United  Nations  Special  Envoy  to  Matake  
3   Norwegian  Officer  of  Etaman  Affairs  
Mediators  
4   Norwegian  Deputy  Officer  of  Etaman  Affairs  
5   General  Secretary  of  the  Organization  of  Etaman  States  (OES)  
6   Matake  Senior  Officer  of  the  Organization  of  Etaman  States  (OES)  
7   Representative  from  the  Office  of  the  President*  
Matakean   8   Representative  from  the  Office  of  the  Vice-­‐President*  
Government   9   Representative  from  the  Ministry  of  Trade**  
Representatives   10   Representative  from  the  Ministry  of  Defense**  
11   Governor  of  Lukisi  
12   Commander  of  Badangan  Secessionist  Forces  (BSF)  
Badangan   13   Vice  Commander  of  Badangan  Secessionist  Forces  (BSF)*  
Representatives   14   Political  Advisor  to  the  Commander*  
15   Colonel  Derga,  Leader  of  the  Lukisi  People’s  Army  (LPA)  
16   Spiritual  Leader  of  Rembaism,  “The  Master”  
Religious  Leaders  
17   Leader  of  the  Holy  Badanga  Faith  
18   CEO  of  Badangan  Copper  Corporation  (BCC)  
19   Canadian  Copper  Company,  Vice  President  of  Operations  
Companies   20   Canadian  Copper  Company,  Vice  President  of  Finance  
21   Executive  Solutions  Security  Corps,  Representative  1  
22   Executive  Solutions  Security  Corps,  Representative  2  
23   Human  Rights  International  NGO*  
Other  Parties   24   Women  Unite  NGO*  
25   Badangan  Internal  Displaced  Person  (IDP)*  
26   Twitter  Correspondent  for  Badangan  Times  
Journalists  
27   Twitter  Journalist  for  “International  Human  Rights  Watch”  
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
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