A Crisis Normalised

6
Recommendations
To the government of Sudan:
• Guarantee SAF and all other forces fighting on behalf of the Sudanese government adhere to
international humanitarian law (IHL). In particular, immediately cease all indiscriminate attacks, all
attacks targeted against the civilian population and its infrastructure, and all acts that are intended
to spread terror among civilians. Attacks that are not directed at a specific military objective, or, as
in the case of bombs dropped out of Antonov planes, employ means of combat that are inherently
indiscriminate, violate customary rules of IHL.
• Allow immediate, independent humanitarian access to both SPLM-N and government held areas,
including from neighbouring countries, and ensure the freedom of movement of humanitarian
relief personnel. Restrictions prevent humanitarian actors from providing proper assessments of
the precise needs inside Blue Nile State, but the data available indicates that relief is necessary in
order to ensure fundamental human rights are respected. The government may ask for guarantees
that all assistance is provided in a principled manner, but such concerns should not prevent
humanitarian access altogether.
• Negotiate a permanent ceasefire in the Two Areas to guarantee that humanitarian assistance is
delivered, and commit to a peace process that is based on a truly inclusive national dialogue, in
line with the African Union High-Level Implementation Panel (AUHIP) Roadmap Agreement of
March 2016 (signed by the SPLM-N in August 2016). This also means acknowledging that ending
the turmoil in Sudan’s peripheries – the Two Areas and Darfur – requires a fundamental change in
the country’s governance model.
• In Blue Nile State, initiate a parallel process of inclusive public discussions and consultations to
deal with the local aspects of the conflict. Such a process should recognise the legitimacy of all
opinions voiced by civilians during the popular consultation process of 2011, and must address the
historical root causes for tensions in Blue Nile State. This process could take different forms. One
option would be to follow the path set by the popular consultation and establish a commission that
would hold public hearings throughout the state. However, a more diverse and less political
composition should be considered for the commission, in comparison to that which oversaw the
popular consultation, in order to ensure more productive and open discussions. The conclusions of
this process must inform both national and local government policies.
To the SPLM-N:
• Guarantee all SPLA-N forces adhere to IHL. As party to a non-international armed conflict, the
SPLA-N is also bound by the rules of IHL. In particular, it must avoid any indiscriminate attacks or
attacks that target civilian populations or infrastructure, and must, to the extent feasible, avoid
locating military objectives within or near civilian areas.
SEPTEMBER 2016