FEBRUARY 2012 // standcanada.org
SUMMARY // CONTENTS // DEVELOPMENTS IN SOUTH SUDAN Intermittent cattle raids taking place between the Lou Nuer and the Murle have been a significant problem facing the new nation since its succession in July 2011, with both the government and the UN seemingly unable to stop this vicious cycle of violence. The area has been plagued by ethnic clashes for decades, but the violence has become more deadly due to fighters gaining access to heavier weaponry as a result of the civil war. HUMANITARIAN AFFAIRS AND SECURITY
Following the July separation of South Sudan from Sudan, many have feared unrest due to the new division of the countries resources, particularly oil. This economic situation has now reached a peak, with inflation causing ample unrest in both Sudan and South Sudan.
SOUTH SUDAN, SUDAN, AND CANADIAN POLITICS
At the end of January, the Canada-Africa Parliamentary Association (CAPA) embarked on a parliamentary visit to South Sudan, in order to fortify relationships with African politicians.
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POLICY RECOMMENDATIONS //
2. Provide up to three transport helicopters and five tactical helicopters: six transport, six tactical and three observation helicopters are still required for the UN mission.
1 North Sudan
Since June 2011, there has been a dramatic spike in violence in the border regions of Abyei, South Kordofan and the Blue Nile state along the border of North and South Sudan. The United Nations estimates approximately 200,000 people have fled South Kordofan and thousands more are fleeing the Blue Nile State. Although both rebels in South Kordofan and the Khartoum-based Northern government are engaged in military conflict, the North has largely been responsible for most of the deaths, using aerial bombardments and ground forces to launch attacks and deny access to humanitarian organizations. 1. The Canadian Government should dispatch researchers to the Sudan border regions and Ethiopia to investigate, document, and statistically verify the occurrence of mass atrocities from refugees who have escaped the violence. 2. Canada should demand the North allow humanitarian organizations access to populations in need in the border regions where the fighting is taking place. 3. Canada should speak out at the UN against the escalating conflict and talk to its international partners to apply pressure on both parties to stop attacks and begin a troop withdrawal. 4. Canada’s Foreign Minister should create a bilateral dialogue with his international counterparts to direct their attention to the grave nature of the situation.
3. Continue to support, and consider increasing funding to, the International Security and Stabilization Support Strategy (ISSSS), which is a UN multilateral peacebuilding fund that is integral to the stability and security of the volatile Eastern region.
4 Domestic Policies on Genocide Prevention
In order to effectively prevent, monitor and address grave human rights abuses and mass atrocities, the Parliament of Canada should create a Sub-Committee for the Prevention of Genocide and Other Crimes Against Humanity which should be attached to the Standing Committee on Foreign Affairs and International Development. This would allow Parliament to conduct: • MONITORING: keep MPs informed about the onset of genocide and crimes against humanity, including the identifiable stages of these crimes • PREVENTION: become proactive in its response to such crises, allowing MPs to act early and utilize a wider set of policy mechanisms • COORDINATION: centralize Canada’s institutional approach to the issue of mass atrocities by giving one central committee the mandate to comprehensively monitor, study and recommend courses of actions.4
2 South Sudan
In the wake of South Sudan’s secession, the new country is faced with many critical development issues that could threaten its progress and re-ignite conflict in the region. In order to help South Sudan from becoming a failed state, Canada can aid South Sudan in the following areas: 1. As requested by the Government of South Sudan, Canada should chose one of the following 2 areas of development to better streamline and manage the development process: a) general security b) food security c) healthcare d) education e) democratization. 2. Canada should use its influence at the World Bank, the International Monetary Fund, and the UN to broker an agreement between North and South Sudan to reduce the national debt of the two countries only if they both work out a reasonable debt sharing arrangement together. 3. Canada should consider providing direct bilateral assistance to the Government of South Sudan (GoSS), now that it has the opportunity to negotiate directly with the Southern government without interference from the North.
3 Democratic Republic of the Congo
According to the Secretary General, the United Nations Organization Stablization Mission in the Democratic Republic of Congo (MONUSCO) is lacking critical resources such as military observers, transport and tactical helicopters. Although Canada has been playing a role in the DRC since 1999, due to the end of the combat mission in Afghanistan, it now has the capacity to provide more resources that are desperately needed. STAND calls on the government to: 1. Increase the number of military observers: Canada’s mandate is to provide 12 observers and currently there are only nine stationed in the DRC. The UN mission in total is currently lacking another 29 observers.
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DEVELOPMENTS IN SOUTH SUDAN // JES-
SICA DUFFY
Tribal conflict has flared up in the volatile South Sudanese state of Jonglei, with civilians bearing the brunt of reprisal attacks. In late December and early January, an estimated 6,000 armed members of the Lou Nuer tribe mounted an attack on the remote Murle territory around the town of Pibor. While it has not been possible to verify the number of fatalities, the UN estimates that 60,000 people fled into the bush. The intermittent cattle raids taking place between the two tribes have been a significant problem facing the new nation since its succession in July 2011, with both the government and the UN seemingly unable to stop this vicious cycle of violence. This latest attack by Lou Nuer members was thought to be a reprisal for a previous raid by members of the Murle tribe. The latter retaliated with several attacks on Lour Nuer settlements over the following weeks, with at least 57 people killed on 11 January and another 47 on 16 January, the majority of them women, children and the elderly. Local officials have claimed that as many as 2,000 people have died as a result of the clashes, but UN officials believe the number to be much lower. However, with tens of thousands of people still hiding in the bush, it is almost impossible to accurately account for the numbers killed. Due to advance warning of the raid on Pibor, civilians were evacuated three days previously, according to South Sudan’s army spokesman Philip Arguer. The UN estimates that 60,000 people initially fled the fighting, and while many have returned to Pibor, up to 20,000 others are still hiding in the bush. While huts in Pibor reportedly suffered little damage, about a third of the settlements in the surrounding area have been torched, leaving people with little to return to.
UN humanitarian coordinator for South Sudan, Lise Grande, expressed grave concern for the displaced people, stating that the UN was struggling to reach civilians to provide desperately needed food, water, and shelter. The UN had only one helicopter to fly in food for those scattered across what is a vast and remote area the size of Bangladesh, with barely any road access. To make matters worse, Russia has announced that it will be withdrawing the remainder of its helicopters and personnel servicing the UN peacekeeping force in South Sudan by 1 April. Despite Russia’s explanation that it has fulfilled its mission, analysts believe that the decision is likely tied to political concern over security in South Sudan, including recent attacks on Russian-operated helicopters. UN diplomats and officials told Reuters that the main reason for the slow deployment of UNMISS troops to Jonglei state was Russia’s refusal to fly its helicopters there. Three Médecins Sans Frontières clinics were also ransacked and torched by Lou Nuer raiders. Medical staff was reportedly forced to flee, and MSF said that 25 of them are still unaccounted for weeks later. “Hospitals, health clinics, water sources – these have become targets for armed groups on all sides, suggesting a tactic of depriving people of their basic life essentials just when they will need them most,” MSF said in a statement. The area has been plagued by ethnic clashes for decades, but the violence has become more deadly due to fighters gaining access to heavier weaponry as a result of the civil war. The South Sudanese government has declared Jonglei a disaster area. Elsewhere in South Sudan, aircraft bombed a refugee camp close to the Sudan border on 23 January, injuring one boy and leaving 14 miss// 4
ing. The site was Elfoj, a refugee camp of about 5,000 refugees used as a transit site. The UN said it moved 1,140 refugees away from the border, with another 4,000 following. Juba was quick to blame Khartoum for the attack, though the UN has yet to attribute blame. There were reports of several Sudanese attacks in South Sudanese territories the same day, but it was impossible to verify them independently.
HUMANITARIAN AFFAIRS AND SECURITY // SHAUNA C. KEDDY Following the July separation of South Sudan from Sudan, many have feared unrest due to the new division of the countries resources, particularly oil. This economic situation has now reached a peak, with inflation causing ample unrest in both Sudan and South Sudan. Most of the countries’ oil is located in South Sudan, and with less oil revenue, imports to Sudan have become more expensive. Inflation reached 19.1 percent in November. Additionally, fighting between insurgents in the western region of Darfur, and the two states at the Sudan-South Sudan border has negatively influenced both economies. The fighting drains resources at a time when both countries are attempting to cut spending. Although Sudanese officials assert that the country can handle the loss of oil because its mineral exports and the agricultural sector can be expanded, many members of the opposition parties believe protests may arise against President Omar al-Bashir. Bashir’s government in Khartoum has a long history of mistreating South Sudan. Bashir toppled Sudan’s previous, democratically elected Prime Minister, Sadeq al-Mahdi, in a 1989 coup. Madhi, the head of the county’s largest opposition party (the Umma Party), is quoted in the press over the last month expressing his concern that Sudan could see more violence, or even a civil war, if protests grew. The underdeveloped area in the east has held small, anti-government demonstra-
tions, as have citizens in South Sudan’s capital. The Sudans have not broken out in revolution as many “Arab Spring” countries recently experienced, but these mass protests have inspired many Sudanese. If there is an uprising, Madhi believes government violence would be comparable to that of Syria, rather than that which occurred in Egypt and Tunisia. In 1985, Sudan’s president was toppled as a result of protests against food prices, and Madhi says the situation is worse in Sudan now. It is predicted that Bashir will hold onto his position even amid mass protests, as Syria’s President has done, clinging to power by attempting to quell a nine-month popular uprising. Despite Bashir’s new coalition cabinet, which includes 14 smaller opposition parties, his National Congress Party kept the key ministries. Bashir chose Madhi’s son, Abdel Rahman al-Sadeq alMadhi, as his presidential assistant. The opposition plans to develop a charter, which they hope will better address the crisis. They hope the international community will join them in urging Bashir to resign before mass protests cause more bloodshed.
SOUTH SUDAN, SUDAN, AND CANADIAN POLITICS // STEPHANIE BROWNSTEIN This past month, the Canada-Africa Parliamentary Association (CAPA) embarked on a parliamentary visit to South Sudan, from January 18th-21st. Founded in 2000, CAPA has worked towards fortifying relationships with African parliamentarians. Mauril Bélanger, co-founder and co-chair of CAPA, stated, “The purpose of the visit is to meet with the National Legislative Assembly in order to encourage the progress of parliamentary democracy, as well as to look at development and security issues in light of Canada’s efforts to bring about peace in the region.” During the visit, six parliamentarians and senators FEBRUARY 2012 //5
“Russia to pull helicopters from South Sudan”, 24 January 2012, http://af.reuters.com/article/sudanNews/idAFL5E8CO3L920120124?sp=true
visited a number of sites and development projects, including the training facilities of the College of Nursing and Midwifery at the Juba Teaching Hospital, and the South Sudan Police Radio Training Centre in Juba. They also exchanged views with the chairpersons of various parliamentary committees and members of the official opposition (Sudanese People’s Liberation movement). The visit was brought to a close with the unveiling of a plaque inaugurating the Peace Committee Building in Mboro County.
“Tribal violence runs amok in South Sudan”, Globe and Mail, 24 January 2012, http://www.theglobeandmail.com/news/world/tribal-violenceruns-amok-in-south-sudan/article2313873/?from=sec431 “Cycle of S. Sudan’s tribal violence kills hundreds”, AP, 13 January 2012, http://www.google.com/hostednews/ap/article/ALeqM5jsUCFu3nW1Kgq3vV-vz_SOWhzQvg?docId=b12c43c1ddb64bc8bc4f38fa00728d6e
HUMANITARIAN AFFAIRS AND SECURITY
“Sudan risks unrest in inflation crisis: opposition,” Reuters Africa, 12 December, 2011, http://af.reuters.com/article/topNews/idAFJOE7BB06J20111212?sp=true
SOUTH SUDAN, SUDAN, AND CANADIAN POLITICS
“Canada-Africa Parliamentary Association Overview,” Parliament of Canada, 20 April 2011, http://www.parl.gc.ca/iia/Association.aspx?DCId=4&DTId=6&P=overview&ORGId=10790&Language=E “CAPA Visit to South Sudan,” Government of Canada, 18 January 2012, http://www.canadainternational.gc.ca/sudan-soudan/eyes_abroad-coupdoeil/CAPA-APCA_2012-01.aspx?lang=eng&view=d#18 “Canada’s Role in the Republic of South Sudan,” National Defence and the Canadian Forces, 13 January 2012, http://www.forces.gc.ca/site/tml/ article-eng.asp?id=2&y=2012&m=01
STAND DIGEST STAFF //
“Canada-Africa Parliamentary Association Delegation to Kenya and South Sudan,” Mauril Belanger, 19 January 2012, http://www.mauril. ca/?q=content/january-19th-2012-–-canada-africa-parliamentary-association-delegation-kenya-and-south-sudan
MANAGING EDITOR // TYLER FOX WRITERS // JESSICA DUFFY, SHAUNA C. KEDDY, STEPHANIE BROWNSTEIN
REFERENCES // DEVELOPMENTS IN SOUTH SUDAN
“Up to 50,000 flee South Sudan tribal turmoil - UN”, Reuters Africa, 2 January 2012, http://af.reuters.com/article/sudanNews/idAFL6E8C216920120102 “UN tries to reach 60,000 fleeing S.Sudan violence”, Reuters Africa, 6 January 2012, http://af.reuters.com/article/sudanNews/idAFL6E8C62KT20120106 “Fleeing S.Sudanese in “desperate need” of food - UN”, Reuters Africa, 7 January 2012, http://af.reuters.com/article/sudanNews/idAFL6E8C70CC20120107 “Tribal clashes in S.Sudan kill at least 24”, 9 January 2012, http://af.reuters.com/article/sudanNews/idAFL6E8C93WG20120109 “Almost 60 killed in South Sudan tribal clashes - govt”, 13 January 2012, http://af.reuters.com/article/sudanNews/idAFL6E8CD1LJ20120113 “Tribal violence in South Sudan kills 47”, 17 January 2012, http://af.reuters.com/article/sudanNews/idAFL6E8CH44F20120117 “Aircraft bomb South Sudan refugee camp - UN”, 24 January 2012, http://af.reuters.com/article/sudanNews/idAFL5E8CO21M20120124 “South Sudan blames Khartoum for bombing refugee camp”, 24 January 2012, http://af.reuters.com/article/sudanNews/idAFL5E8CO2LL20120124
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