ConflictBarometer_2016

SUB-SAHARAN AFRICA
Panel on Sudan end of last year [→ Sudan (opposition)]. The
government signed the agreement on March 23, while the
Sudan Revolutionary Front (SRF), an alliance of armed groups
including SPLM/A-N, signed on August 8. On June 19, the
SPLM/A-N had already accepted a four-month ceasefire for
South Kordofan and Blue Nile, the so-called Two Areas. As in
previous years, clashes between both conflict parties as well
as systematic shelling of infrastructure and civilian areas with
Antonov aircraft by the Sudanese Air Forces, concentrated in
South Kordofan.
Although in the middle of the dry season, clashes decreased
significantly in the first three months of the year. In January,
SAF reportedly moved southwards from bases in Bout and
Damazin into Kurmuk town, Blue Nile, an area that had long
been controlled by SPLM/A-N. On January 2, SPLM/A-N attacked
an army garrison in Mazlagan, South Kordofan. While
the government spoke of 13 SPLM/A-N fighters killed and
several injured, 30 government troops were killed according
to SPLM/A-N. In the context of ongoing peace talks, a round
of informal negotiations between SRF and government representatives
were held in Berlin, Germany, between January 22
and 24, not advancing on issues concerning the National Dialogue.
While negotiations were held in Berlin, SAF allegedly
attacked the SPLM/A-N base in Aroum, but were pushed back
after two days of clashes, that left many dead on both sides.
On January 23, SPLM/A-N officials publicly questioned the
government's commitment to establishing peace.
Throughout February and March, violence concentrated in
Jebel Kolgo, close to Ed-Damazin, state capital of Blue Nile,
where SAF repeatedly attacked SPLM/A-N strongholds, reportedly
leaving hundreds dead on both sides. Dozens were
allegedly killed in a clash between SAF and SPLM/A-N at a
military base in Abray, South Kordofan, on February 13. Four
days later, an attack by SPLM/A-N on a SAF unit in Blue Nile
left 16 soldiers dead according to SPLM/A-N. On February 20,
SPLM/A-N attacked a military convoy in the Kilo area of Blue
Nile, killing up to 200 people, while few of the attackers were
reportedly killed. In two separate attacks on army convoys
in South Kordofan on February 25, SPLM/A-N allegedly killed
dozens of soldiers and destroyed heavy weaponry. According
to a SPLM/A-N statement from February 28, government
troops were being deployed to Talodi town, South Kordofan.
Clashes intensified in March. By the end of the month, both
parties claimed that the respective other side had suffered
heavy losses. For instance, SPLM/A-N reportedly repelled a
large-scale government attack on areas under SPLM/A-N control
near El Firshay, South Kordofan, on March 8. No fatalities
were reported. In addition, heavy shelling by Sudanese Air
Forces, in both South Kordofan and Blue Nile, killed dozens of
civilians. On March 27, two civilians were killed by missiles
launched by government troops on Um Serdiba, South Kordofan.
Approx. 20,000 were displaced and many killed in series of
aerial bombardment in the vicinities of Heiban and Um Dorein
in the Nuba Mountains, South Kordofan, throughout April
and May. In the same period, violence in the Two Areas killed
about 2,000 people. While violence had previously been restricted
to the Two Areas, SPLM/A-N allegedly killed 32 and
wounded 100 soldiers in fighting in the Angarto area northeast
of Talodi, North Kordofan, on May 10, thus spreading
the violence to surrounding territory. From March to June,
95
SAF dropped at least 227 bombs on the Two Areas. Furthermore,
they launched ground attacks on Al Azarak, Mustaraq
and Mardes, Nuba Mountains. SAF looted stores and burned
down fields and crops.The operation displaced 75,000 people,
mostly from Al Azarak area in Heiban County. Due to the
beginning of the rainy season as well as the aforementioned
ceasefire agreements, violence subsided from June on, with
approx. 40 conflict-related deaths. In October, SPLM/A-N reiterated
concerns regarding the government's commitment
to the ongoing peace negotiations and thus revoked the
Roadmap Agreement. In December, government representatives
announced the continuation of large-scale military
offensives, if SPLM/A-N further restrained from negotiations.
Furthermore, government forces reportedly set up bases in
the Two Areas throughout the rainy season in anticipation of
the yearly resumption of clashes in November. Nevertheless,
al-Bashir had issued an extension of a unilateral ceasefire on
October 10, while SPLM-N, together with two armed groups
from Darfur, also declared a unilateral cessation of hostilities
at the end of the month.
As in previous years, both the government and SPLM/A-N
committed systematic attacks on civilian-populated areas
and were accused of war crimes such as the alleged recruitment
of children by SPLM/A-N and the shelling of humanitarian
infrastructure by government soldiers who allegedly
used cluster and barrel bombs. Furthermore, the government
continued to strictly restrict access to the conflict-affected areas,
also blocking humanitarian aid. The areas most affected
by government airstrikes were Kurmuk county and Blue Nile
with 14 aerial bombardments, including at least 96 bombs,
and Heiban und Dalami counties in South Kordofan with 30
attacks, including 146 bombs, respectively. Throughout the
year, hundreds of people were killed, but no exact numbers
were recorded. Furthermore, fighting had displaced approx.
600,000 since the beginning of the conflict in 2011. Due to
the severe destruction of crops and farming lands, the already
severe food situation further deteriorated, leaving as many
as 200,000 IDPs at risk. lmp, nbm
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 socalled
''14-mile area” alongside the border continued. Abyei
remained under temporary United Nations Interim Security
Force for Abyei (UNISFA) control, as the secession of South
Sudan in 2011 had left Abyei's status undecided. Both Sudan
and South Sudan were vying for long-term control. However,
the region was yet to conduct a referendum. The indigenous
Ngok Dinka wanted Abyei to join South Sudan, whilst
the nomadic Misseriya favored Sudanese control. After heavy
clashes between Ngok Dinka and Misseriya groups last year,
the situation remained tense but de-escalated [→ Sudan,
South Sudan (Abyei)].
Stating that the situation along the border remained a threat