WAR-AFFLICTED SUDAN AND SOUTH SUDAN IN LAST CHANCE SALOON

After months of what one can only term as the ‘digging in of heels’ of the respective parties involved in the bloody dispute, it came as a shock to most observers when the Sudanese government this week revealed that it was now ready to resume talks with South Sudan.


Origins of the Dispute

Observers recall that the present conflict stems from a border dispute between both countries which arose in April of this year. Subsequent talks engineered by the African Union unsurprisingly failed to yield the desired results due to both sides’ entrenched positions. The crux of the matter was essentially a ‘minor’ – in the grand scheme of things – disagreement as to how and where the demilitarised buffer zone was to be erected.

Whilst attempting to avoid accusations of being pessimistic, one cannot help but raise the rather valid point that if the above disagreement was sufficient in itself to halt negotiations, it is in turn overly difficult to countenance how both parties will be able to resolve other issues which have also been thrown into the mix. Both countries are at loggerheads over oil export fees as South Sudan heavily depends on Sudan for exporting oil. Further, there are accusations made by both sides regarding the other’s association or rather affiliation with armed gangs who carry out raids on each other’s territory as well as additional disputes in relation to ownership of oil producing border regions.


The United Nations Involvement

The conflict has inevitably resulted in further unnecessary loss of life which is in addition to the about 2 million lives lost during the civil war between the north and south in the period of 1955 to 2005. The UN, for all the mostly deserved criticisms levelled at it in recent times, has been swift to act on this rare occasion. The Security Council’s May 2 resolution has widely been credited for preventing further escalation of the conflict between both nations. Susan Rice, the U.S. Ambassador to the United Nations acknowledged as such in declaring that the conflict between both the Sudan and South Sudan was “in a better place” than was the case prior to the authorisation of the resolution.


Humanitarian Crises

In respect of the humanitarian crises which arose in the South Kordofan and Blue Nile regions which appear to be the most affected areas owing to the conflict, she stated: "What we are seeing in terms of those refugees who have made it across the border is absolutely alarming. Those are the healthy ones, comparatively, that are able to make it out…this is indeed an exceedingly worryingly situation.” She continued, "There has been no progress in terms of the government of Sudan allowing open humanitarian access, including into rebel areas."


South Sudan and its Chequered History

South Sudan has had a rather chequered history since it attained independent status last July, thus becoming the world’s newest country. Aside the war with its more illustrious neighbour, South Sudanese government officials are battling allegations of chronic corruption made by its President, Salva Kiir. The embezzlement of public funds has been blamed for the little to no evidence of State development since it succeeded in seceding from its parent country, the Sudan. This has led to the country’s president issuing an unprecedented public call, by way of a letter, for the return of public monies. In the letter to current and former government officials dated 3rd May, Mr Kiir stated: "An estimated $4 billion are unaccounted for or, simply put, stolen by former and current officials, as well as corrupt individuals with close ties to government officials."


Sound-off

Whether next week’s meeting between both countries will be successful at achieving a cessation of hostilities is anyone’s guess. What appears to be clear however is that the said meeting probably presents the last opportunity for the resolution of matters via dialogue before full scale violence engulfs this war-afflicted region of the world.

UN ACCUSES SUDAN OF ASSAULT ON SOUTH SUDAN REFUGEES

At least a dozen people of South Sudanese origin were reported dead on 11th November 2011 following the latest wave of onslaught from Sudan government forces. This latest attack follows the spate of bombings carried out by Sudan armed forces near the border separating both countries a few days earlier on 8th November 2011.

Hilde Johnson, head of UNMISS (United Nations Mission in South Sudan) confirmed that 2 bombs landed inside the Yida refugee camp and 3 outside of it. The refugee camp which suffered the attacks shelters 20,000 people in the country’s Unity State and comprises largely of individuals fleeing violence in the Sudanese states of South Kordofan and Blue Nile.

These recent skirmishes have led to fears that Africa’s longest running civil war which ended following a 2005 peace deal may be reignited. It was hoped that the independence of South Sudan, gained after many years of conflict, on 9th July 2011, would usher in a period of long sought-after stability which the region has been stranger to for generations. However, disputes over the sharing of oil revenue, the oil-rich Abyei border region and ideological differences have made the prospect of peace somewhat distant.

The UN Under Secretary-General for peacekeeping operations, Herre Ladsous briefed the UN Security Council at the end of the past week about the latest attacks, specifically highlighting the role of the Sudanese armed forces in the violence. These sentiments were echoed by the UN Human Rights chief, Navi Pillay, who has labelled the bombing of civilians an ‘international crime’ and called for an investigation into the bombing of the Yida refugee camp. The US has also voiced concerns over the safety of civilians and as a consequence has called for the cessation of hostilities in the region. “This bombing of civilians and humanitarian workers is an outrageous act, and those responsible must be held accountable for their actions”, said Jay Carney, the White House Press Secretary in a statement to the press. He continued: “The US demands the government of Sudan to halt aerial bombardments immediately”.

The latest conflict has led to the withdrawal of the British aid agency, Oxfam from the upper Nile area of South Sudan. This move is a significant blow to the refugees in the area as Oxfam is the only provider of clean water for people displaced by violence. However, the Sudanese government’s representative to the UN, Daffa-Alla Elhag Ali Osman has denied any responsibility on the part of his government for the bombings and added that its actions are aimed at rebels operating in the region. In a statement, Mr Osman stressed that the government fully respected the sovereignty and territorial integrity of South Sudan.

News of the latest attacks on civilians is no doubt troubling. Reputed press agencies, the Guardian and Voice of America recently reported findings by a US Satellite monitoring group which revealed that Sudan’s military was upgrading air bases near the border with South Sudan in order to enhance its air assault capacity. Observers worry that this is indicative of a clear intention by the government to launch a full scale aerial assault on its neighbours. President Omar al-Bashir’s government, which has been charged by the International Criminal Court (ICC) over attacks on civilians in the Darfur region of the country, is spreading itself thin in terms of its military resources, not least because of its continued operation in the Darfur region of the country, which is in addition to the operations in the South Kordofan and Blue Nile regions of the country which are allegedly aimed at engaging armed rebels based in those regions.

The protection of civilians and refugees is paramount and one hopes that the UN carries out immediately the investigation called for by Navi Pillay, the organisation’s human rights chief. An opportunity was lost by the UN and the international community to check the obduracy of the Sudanese government during the course of the Darfur conflict. Lives depend upon positive action being taken by the UN in response to these latest series of incidents. The lives of these refugees are the UN’s business.