January 2, 2008:
The strained
relationship between the Government of South Sudan (GOSS) and the national
government continues, with oil-rich Abyei as the most obvious hotspot. National
elections are scheduled for 2009 and they will be contentious. However, South
Sudan, if it were to become a separate country, would be afflicted with the
same troubles that afflict the rest of
Sudan, whether it's called North Sudan or National Sudan. Tribal tensions and
old animosities frustrate the GOSS. Several tribal groups see the GOSS as
primarily a Dinka tribal operation. The Sudan Peoples Liberation Army (SPLA)
was in many respects a Dinka liberation front, but even the Dinkas critics
acknowledge the Dinka took up the burden of the fight against the Northern
Islamists' depredations in the south. The Dinka decided to fight. Still, a number of Nuer tribes certainly think the GOSS favors the Dinkas and
that is a bad sign for the future. There are more. A recent report out of South
Sudan discussed trouble in the town of Nimule (on the Uganda border) between
Dinkas and Equatorians. Some Equatorians have charged Dinka tribespeople
with "land grabbing" in Equatoria. The
trouble in Equatoria reflects another simmering issue will tribespoeple in South
Sudan be able to live anywhere in the country, based on their own free decision
to settle and ability to purchase land (or pay rent), or will "tribal areas" be
allowed to exclude people who are not members of the "local tribe"?
January 1, 2008: The UN (UNAMID) begins
2009 with 12,242 peacekeeping troops in Sudan. This is roughly 60 percent of the 20,000 soldiers and military staff
authorized for the operation. UNAMID is supposed to ultimately have 26,000
peacekeepers (a figure which include military troops, military staff, and
police).
December 31, 2008: The national government held a military
weapons show in Khartoum that featured tanks and new aircraft as part of its
Independence Day ceremonies. The aircraft included SU-25 "Frogfoot" attack planes.
The Independence Day celebrations were a show case for national president Omar
al-Bashir. He gave a big speech. International Criminal Court (ICC) prosecutors
want to indict Bashir for war crimes.
The US State Department announced that
President George W. Bush will meet with members of the Government of South
Sudan (GOSS) to discuss problems implementing the 2005 Comprehensive peace
Agreement (CPA).
December 22, 2008: A report from
religious NGOs operating in Darfur said that based on its own experience in
Darfur that the situation faced by the 250,000 refugees they serve is worse
than at any time in the last six years. The NGOs evaluated the situation based
on access to clean water, food supplies, and meeting basic healthcare needs.
December 19, 2008: The national government
said that it is still ready to conduct peace talks based on Qatar's "joint Arab
League-African Union" mediation
proposal.
The GOSS filed a legal brief regarding
the boundary (ie, border) between north and south Sudan. The GOSS believes the
boundary decision by the Abyei Boundary Commission (ABC) is correct. The north
(national government) says the ABC's line is "too far north" (ie, it takes
northern territory and gives it to the south). The GOSS filed the brief in the
Permanent Court of Arbitration. In The Hague, Netherlands. The Permanent Court
of Arbitration was created in 1989 to try to resolve international disputes
exactly like the one between South Sudan and the national government and yes,
it is interesting that the Abyei question is being treated as an international
dispute. One of the issues the ABC faced was a "political transfer" of several
Dinka Ngok chiefdoms from one administrative district to another in 1905.
December 18, 2008: The UN reported that
the lead elements of an Ethiopian infantry battalion had arrived in West Darfur
state to serve with UNAMID. The battalion will ultimately include 519 troops. Ethiopia already has 341
peacekeepers in West Darfur. Ethiopia will also send a reconnaissance troop and
a logistical support element.