SUDAN: Durable solutions elusive as southern IDPs return and ...

The lack of access to documentation poses obstacles for IDPs in accessing land (IRIN, 4
December 2008; UNHCR, November 2007, p.8), accessing the formal economic sector (UNHCR,
November 2007, p.8) and, in some cases, in gaining access to public services (Landinfo,
November 2008, p. 13).
Free Association
Assal reported that in Al Salam camp there is a growing awareness and noticeable efforts to
articulate IDPs’ rights (March 2006, p.22-23). Ten community-based organisations (CBOs),
closely linked with IDPs, lobby and advocate for realising IDP rights. Some of the CBOs help
IDPs in getting identification cards, while others work with the authorities to provide better
services to IDPs. However, only four of the ten CBOs are officially recognised by the
Government.
Participation in the election process
Under the 2005 Comprehensive Peace Agreement, local, State and national elections were
scheduled to take place by July 2009 at the latest, but were postponed until April 2010 (BBC, 2
April 2009). The National Election Act was passed in July 2008, and the National Election
Commission was appointed in late 2008. A national census, which was meant to have been
completed by July 2007, was held in April/May 2008. The results were only released in May 2009;
the Government of Southern Sudan rejected the results (US Institute of Peace, March 2009, p.1;
Sudan Tribune, 6 May 2009; Reuters, 21 May 2009). The former director of the census
commission stated in an interview that the census figure of 520,000 Southern Sudanese in
northern Sudan was incorrect, and that the real number may be between one million and 1.5
million (Sudan Tribune, 24 May 2009; Chatham House, January 2010, p.19).
120