ConflictBarometer_2015

SUB-SAHARAN AFRICA
to sign a comprehensive agreement and AUHIP organized
a round of informal talks from December 16 to 18. After
disagreeing on whether SPLM/A-North would be allowed to
keep its troops, both parties agreed to resume discussions in
January 2016.
Against the backdrop of the failing negotiations in late 2014,
the fighting in the Two Areas intensified in early 2015. Al-
Bashir expressed his intention to put an end to all conflicts
in the country and regain all rebel-controlled areas before
the presidential elections to be held in April. Throughout
the year, the government army Sudanese Armed Forces (SAF)
continued its campaign ''Operation Decisive Summer 2'' with
ground forces, intensive aerial bombardments, and shelling.
On the ground, SAF forces were supported by the paramilitary
Rapid Support Forces (RSF). On January 20, for instance, SAF
bombed a Médicins Sans Frontièrs hospital in Frandala in
the Nuba Mountains of South Kordofan. In the same region,
SAF dropped cluster bombs on a civilian-populated area on
February 6. Moreover, they bombed a new primary school
and a church in Heiban County, South Kordofan, on March 5,
killing at least one civilian and injuring ten. When SAF recaptured
al-Qneziah and Oanagarto areas in South Kordofan
from SPLM/A-North on January 12, the rebels sustained heavy
losses in lives and equipment. SPLM/A-North claimed that in
renewed clashes in the same region two days later, it killed
100 SAF troops, leaving dead one of their own. According to
UN sources, SAF carried out 68 bombings and shellings in the
Two Areas between February 1 and March 22, leaving at least
ten people dead and 61 injured. The attacks also resulted
in displacements and caused significant destruction of civilian
infrastructure and livelihood, killing livestock as well as
damaging hospital and school facilities. In an SPLM/A-North
attack on Kalogi, South Kordofan, on March 12, 40 civilians
died, 45 were injured, and an estimated 25,000 displaced.
According to the UN, at least ten civilians were killed and
19 injured in 55 incidents of bombing, shelling, or ground
attacks in the counties of Umdorein, Delami, Al Buram, and
Heiban, South Kordofan, throughout April. In an attack on
Mediam Al Jabal village, Blue Nile, on April 8, SAF reportedly
ordered the residents to leave their homes and then set fire
to the 450 houses. On April 12, SPLM/A-North fired shells
on the village Al Madina, Blue Nile, killing seven civilians
and severely injuring another seven. During the presidential
elections between April 13 and 16, SAF conducted intensive
aerial bombardments, while SPLM/A-North fighters attacked
three major South Kordofan towns with missiles. On April 16,
for instance, four civilians were killed in such an attack on
Kadogli and Dilling towns.
In the aftermath of the elections, the government intensified
its offensive on the ground amid ongoing aerial attacks.
Throughout May, according to the UN, 56 bombings and
shellings, seven ground attacks, and two incidents of looting
were carried out by SAF, leaving at least nine people dead, 19
injured, and 7,000 displaced. The attacks also caused significant
destruction to civilian infrastructure and property, with
about 347 civilian homes burned and dozens of livestock
killed. With the start of the rainy season in June, ground fighting
between SPLM/A-North and SAF troops decreased while
aerial bombardments intensified. For instance, SAF dropped
more than 22 bombs and 74 shells on civilian locations
in Dilling county as well as on Tangle payam in Umdorein
county and on Sabat payam in Dalami county during August.
No fatalities were reported. According to SPLM/A-North, its
forces killed ten SAF troops in the area of Jebel Kolgo, Blue
Nile, on August 17, and another 200 SAF soldiers and RSF
fighters in a battle at Kilgo, Blue Nile, from September 16
to 17. One week later, SAF dropped ten bombs on Allobu
and Tablo villages in Umdorain, causing severe damage. SAF
fired 20 rockets on Umserdiba and Alnugra villages, South
Kordofan, on the following day, wounding two civilians and
damaging several farms. Also in August, SPLM/A-North forces
attacked and took control of the garrisons of Gadeer and
Abu Girein, South Kordofan, seizing a number of canons
and large quantities of guns, machine guns, and Kalashnikov
rifles. In October, aerial bombardment and shelling in South
Kordofan as well as ground fighting in the Ingessana Mountains,
Blue Nile, continued on a smaller scale. According to
SPLM/A-North, its forces repelled a government attack on
the strategically significant area of Jebel Kolgo, Blue Nile,
on October 30, killing 20 SAF soldiers. On November 2,
SPLM/A-North fighters killed several SAF troops in an attack
on a military convoy between Banet and Agadi, Blue Nile.
On November 20, SPLM/A-North claimed to have repelled an
SAF attack and seized a government base in Soda, Blue Nile.
On November 24, al-Bashir declared his intention of seizing
rebel strongholds, therefore deploying additional troops. In
response, SPLM/A-North mobilized troops five days later.
On December 19 and 28 SPLM/A-North fighters repelled
government attacks in Towred and Torda area, Blue Nile,
killing at least 17 people. lmp
SUDAN SOUTH SUDAN
Intensity: 3 | Change: | Start: 2011
Conflict parties:
Conflict items:
Sudan vs. South Sudan
territory, resources
The violent crisis between Sudan and South Sudan concerning
the disputed oil-rich border region of Abyei and the so-called
14-mile area alongside the border continued. While the relations
between the countries remained tense, the conflict was
predominantly conducted via diplomatic means. The conflict
parties only sporadically resumed to the use of violence. The
region remained under UNISFA interim administration, as the
secession of South Sudan in 2011 left the status of Abyei
undefined and subject to a future referendum. Ngok Dinka
inhabiting Abyei aimed for the region to join South Sudan,
while the nomadic Misseriya, roaming between Abyei and
Darfur, preferred Sudanese administration. Intense fighting
between the Misseriya and Ngok Dinka, especially in the
early months of the year, led the UNSC to reiterate its demand
for the two countries to form an Abyei police service
to protect the area including the oil infrastructure. The UNSC
extended its mandate for the mission UNISFA three times
over the past year, most recently on December 15. Against
the backdrop of the upcoming national elections, Sudan's
President Omar al-Bashir promised that the disputed regions
would belong to Sudan [→ Sudan (opposition)]. On March
30, the two heads of the Abyei Joint Oversight Committee
(AJOC) from Sudan and South Sudan held a meeting in which
both sides pushed for a demilitarized zone in Abyei in order
to avoid further tribal conflicts. On April 9, South Sudan
accused Sudan of dropping bombs from Antonov planes on
South Sudanese territory, killing four people and wounding
nine. Later on April 26, at a visit in South Darfur, al-Bashir accused
the South Sudanese government of supporting Darfuri
rebel groups [→ Sudan (Darfur)]. A day later, when Darfuri
Justice and Equality Movement (JEM) fighters reportedly entered
into Sudan, the Sudanese government threatened to
bomb their bases in South Sudan. In the following months,
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