Unified Mission Analysis Centre (UMAC)
United Nations Mission in Sudan (UNMIS)
Khartoum, Sudan
Political:
The joint UN-AU Technical Assessment
Mission, led by the UN Under-Secretary-General for Peacekeeping Operations,
Mr. Jean-Marie Guéhenno, and the AU Commissioner for Peace and Security,
Mr. Said Djinnit, continued its consultations in Darfur and Chad after
meeting government Ministers and officials in Khartoum. They met the factional
leader of the Sudan Liberation Movement/ Army (SLM/A), Mr. Minni Minawi
and the Chadian President, Mr. Idriss Deby. Members of the team also held
consultations in El Fasher, Nyala and El Geneina, that
included all the Walis of Darfur, the native administrations,
IDP communities, Civil Society Organisations and political parties. Discussions
focused on the DPA and its implementation, which issue appeared to divide
the Darfurians present. The majority raised concerns about key issues such
as power-sharing, the disarmament of the Janjaweed and individual compensation,
lamenting that they had been entrusted to 'the same government' that
had armed the Janjaweed to resolve. The Government, on the other hand,
assured that there would be no problem with the implementation of the Agreement.
On 15 June, the leader of the Security Council Mission that recently visited Sudan, Ambassador Sir Emyr Jones Parry, reported back to the Council in New York. He noted that the GoS had not yet agreed to a transfer of peacekeeping duties from AMIS to UNMIS, and sought to allay Sudanese concerns about the nature of a Chapter VII mandate.
On 17 June, the Governor of Khartoum State issued a decree establishing the State Government. Five ministerial posts were allocated to the NCP, while two posts were given to the SPLM and other northern political groups respectively.
Despite the Government of Uganda (GoU)'s ambivalence to the prospect of peace talks with the Lord's Resistance Army (LRA), the Government of South Sudan (GoSS) continues to make preparations to facilitate possible talks between the LRA and the GoU. On 13 June, LRA leader, Joseph Kony, named a 15-member team to be permanently based in Juba for possible future negotiations. The high-level delegation is currently in Juba for the touted talks. Meanwhile, LRA movement towards the DRC border, apparently heading for Garamba National Park, appear to continue. Should the talks come to pass, their outcome could mark a turning point for the end of LRA activities in Southern Sudan .
UNMIS Military:
The overall situation in UNMIS AOR is calm but unstable.
Precautionary measures are in effect in Sector I due to the possibility of alleged LRA activities in the areas South and West of JUBA, as well as along the DRC border.
UNMIS Police:
A significant initiative of the week was the five-day workshop conducted by UN Police in Malakal, in conjunction with UNDP, for senior officers of the Jonglei State Police. The workshop focused on Police management, cmmunity plicing and Human Rights. A similar workshop commenced on 19 June in Ed Damazin.
A co-location program aimed at establishing closer working ties between the UN and local police was formally launched at Nasser, in Malakal. The local Police
Commissioner described it as a "positive step" and conveyed his readiness to cooperate with the UN. In Yei, UN Police raised the issue of the arbitrary arrest and illegal detention of people by the local police with the County Judge, who indicated his willingness to take the necessary legal steps to address the issue.
Monitoring efforts experienced some setbacks. In Abyei the lack of cooperation from the local police continued. While the local GoS police station often declines requests for information by UN Police, the SPLM Police Commander accused the UN of providing insufficient materials and training assistance for them.
Khartoum and Northern Sudan
In the East, the implementation of the Comprehensive Peace Agreement received a significant boost, with the withdrawal of the Sudan People's Liberation Movement/ Army (SPLM/A) from Hameshkoreib. However, during the redeployment, the Sudan Armed Forces (SAF) announced that they could no longer guarantee the freedom of movement or safety of UN personnel, particularly the Joint Monitoring Teams (JMT). They also declared Hameshkoreib to be an "operational area," and made repeated calls for the JMT to pull out. At a meeting of the Ceasefire Joint
Monitoring Committee (CJMC) held on 17 June, the CJMC decided that the presence or otherwise of JMTs in Eastern Sudan would be reviewed after completion of the SPLM/A's redeployment from the area. Until then, the security of the JMTs would be guaranteed by both the parties.
In tandem with the above developments, humanitarian activities have also been restricted. During a meeting held between UNMIS and Military Intelligence representatives in Kassala, the MI officer stated that SAF would suspend all air and road movements by humanitarian agencies to Hameshkoreib, but made an undertaking that once GNU security forces gained control of the location, they would support all humanitarian missions. Thus, the emergency humanitarian assessment to Hameshkoreib planned for this week had to be postponed.
Despite these restrictions, another mile stone event for Eastern Sudan occurred this week: the commencement of peace talks in Asmara. On 13 June, procedural talks began between the GoS and the Eastern Front (EF), which saw the parties begin negotiations on a Declaration of Principles (DoP). No decision has yet been made on whether to allow the involvement of international observers. The extent to which the parties and the mediation would consider giving a role to the UN remains unclear. UNMIS was only invited for the opening session, but not for the discussion on the DoP.
HIV AIDS
In Khartoum, UNMIS participated in meetings of the Technical Working and Theme Groups on 11 and 15 June respectively, where the UN Country Team discussed how to implement UN Joint Programming on HIV/AIDS. Consensus was reached on naming lead agencies within Sudan and ensuring collaboration amongst them. Capacity building for the Sudan National AIDS Programme (SNAP), including overall empowerment and response assessments, were also discussed. Following the meeting, UNMIS worked on a project proposal for SNAP aimed at securing global funding for HIV/AIDS programmes, for members of the armed and police services.
Returns:
On 17 June, two barges departed Kosti for Juba and Malakal. 1655 returnees awaited their arrival at Kosti wharf, of which 1412 returnees are destined for Juba and 243 returnees to Malakal.
Darfur
North Darfur:
Despite the overall decline of violence in Darfur since the signing of the DPA, due to the reduction in clashes between the Government and SLA forces, banditry, rape, cattle rustling and targeted attacks on INGO compounds and UN convoys, as well as the African Union, continue to pose a threat to peace. During the reporting period, North Darfur was particularly restive, witnessing the spectacular abduction of six IOM staff by the SLM/A-Wahid in Irgue, 50km West of Kutum. The concerned staff were released after a day, following the joint intervention of the UN and AU. In addition, on 14 June, an AMIS patrol was detained for several hours by the SLM/A-Wahid in Kaguro, 43km Southeast of Kebkabiya. The group cited non-acceptance of the DPA as their general grievance. Furthermore, they requested the AU to obtain express permission from the SLM/A leadership in El-Fasher, before undertaking any further patrols.
This week also saw renewed inter-SLM/A fighting in Kulkul and Korma on 12 and 13 June, respectively. Although the fighting in Kulkul, currently under the control of SLM/A-Wahid, was instigated by the SLM/A-Minawi, the incidents in Korma appear to have been sparked by a SLM/A-Wahid offensive, probably in a bid to regain lost territory. No details of the latter attack, or the number of casualties, are currently known. UNMIS will continue to encourage and support AMIS in the implementation of its mandate, including resuming its vital operations around the Kalma, Abou Shouk and Zalingei camps.
For the first time since his most recent detention, UNMIS gained access to SLM/A stalwart, Suleiman Jamous, on 15 June. During his meeting with Mr. Minawi on 16 June, SRSG Pronk discussed Mr. Jamous' Release for the purposes of obtaining medical treatment. Mr. Minawi promised to free Jamous, through the UN.
West Darfur:
In West Darfur, two UN guards were shot and wounded in Geneina and Garsila. A NGO car was also hijacked in broad daylight just north of Geneina. Furthermore, NGO staff have come under threat from IDPs in Hassa Hissa camp (Zalingei), forcing them to minimize their activities. General insecurity in the Geneina IDP camps has forced the humanitarian community to set up new safety procedures; and the camps themselves have become a potential hotbed for violence. There are fears that worsening insecurity for the IDPs, particularly after the signing of the DPA, could have a deleterious effect on its implementation.
South Darfur:
In South Darfur, clashes were reported between the Rezigat in Ed Daein and the Misseriya tribe in South Kordofan, over the sharing land and water points. This resulted in 200 Rezigats households fleeing to an area south of Ed Daein locality.
On a more positive note, reports were received of returns to villages that were attacked in previous months. Inhabitants of Dito (5,200 people, attacked on 22 April) and Joghana (27,000 people, attacked on 23 April), were said to be returning to their villages. OCHA was also informed that some 9,000 Gimir IDPs in Kass were willing to return to their villages of origin, if some basic humanitarian services were made available.
Southern Sudan
In Yei, the President of the GOSS, Salva Kiir, issued a decree on 15 June suspending the Governor of Western Equatoria, Patrick Zamoi and placing him under house arrest in Juba. The suspension is said to be associated with inter-ethnic fighting in Western Equatoria, in particular, Yambio, Mundri and Mvolo. President Kiir has also ordered an investigation into the finances of Western Equatoria. Although Governor Zamoi has asked for calm from the 'sons and daughters of Western Equatoria,' his suspension could cause tensions in Yambio, where many Zande in particular are said to be unhappy with the decision.
DDR
On 13 June, DSRSG Da Silva chaired a donors' meeting that was attended by representatives of the EC, Japan, Canada, DFID and the North DDR Commission. He updated donors on the status of the Interim DDR Programme, implementation challenges and the development of phase I of the DDR programme. UNICEF reported the release of 181 child combatants in Julud in early June. On the whole, donors were pleased with the progress that had been made and agreed to meet on a monthly basis.
Returns:
A mission from the Internal Displacement Division of OCHA, Geneva, arrived this week to document lessons learned from the Dinka Bor assisted returns. The team met JIRRST, UNMIS and implementing partners. Field visits were also conducted to the returnee population in Padak/ Baidit in Jonglei State, as well as to Yei.
On 15 June, approximately 200 spontaneous IDPs arrived at Juba port. Although approximately 140 IDPs integrated immediately into the community, the remaining 60 were left stranded at the river side. The IDPs, who came from Port Sudan and were bound for Western Equatoria, said their decision to return was based on information received from GoSS and one NGO, that travel expenses to Kosti would be reimbursed. They were also informed that food would be provided for them on the return route and that upon arrival, they would be met by the GoSS, UN and NGOs.
Insecurity at the Lologo way station and the apparent lack of law enforcement is an ongoing concern at the camp, host to a number of vulnerable IDPs. The issues of food storage, water and sanitation are also yet to be resolved. UNMIS has decided to include the way station on its patrol route and its gender and protection units will monitor developments.
UNMIS, UNDSS, OCHA and UNDP undertook a joint mission to Motot and Waat, to assess the continued insecurity in those areas, which is said to be affecting the lives and livelihood of the local population, including returnees. The return of IDPs has slowed down in central and northern Jonglei due to insecurity. During the recent disturbances and disarmament of returnees, 1,016 houses were burned, affecting some 2,418 families in Goagoak, Chuaidok, Patuak, Rukmaker and Patyian villages.
Mine Action:
UNMAO de-mining teams have completed the clearance of the Line of Disengagement (LoD) at Rokon. The LoD is now open for up to 8 metres of traffic. Due to contractual difficulties between FSD and WFP, demining operations on the Kayala-Torit road ceased as of 31 May. However, verification activities are ongoing on the Wau-Getti road, but activities on the Getti-Aweil part were also suspended, due to bad weather and road conditions.
Abyei, Blue Nile and South Kordofan
Humanitarian:
The Resident Co-ordinator's office and FAO visited Blue Nile State on 11 - 14 June, for discussion with the UN and NGOs on a template for assisting the state in its 18-month recovery plan, which was later presented to government representatives. The plan is expected to be completed by the end of July.
Returns:
The assessment to Akur and surrounding villages by UNMIS and OCHA has determined the presence of returnees in the communities. However, much of the population consists of armed men and their dependants. Agencies are now waiting for policy directives from OCHA-Khartoum, before making a determination on any eventual intervention. A request has been made for more NFIs, as well as for UNICEF to pre-position itself for the intervention and expected spontaneous returnees.
In South Kordofan, it was confirmed that 952 returnees passed through the way station since it opened, making for an average of 95 returnees per week.
Safety of Personnel: NSTR
Restrictions on the Freedom of Movement: UN agency staff were stopped by the authorities of Kurmuk and prevented from travelling without a travel permit. The head of the local intelligence office (SPLM) threatened the UN staff with imprisonment, if they disobeyed his instructions again. The issue will be raised in the Area Joint Monitoring Committee.
Namaste